Page 12 - PowerPoint Presentation
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Bahria Town School and College (Girls Campus) Lahore
Interesting facts about the Central Powers
allied powers World War I was fought between two major
alliances of countries: the Allied Powers and the
• Belgium declared itself as neutral at the start Central Powers. The Central Powers began as an
of the war, but joined the Allies after they were alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary.
invaded by Germany. Later the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria became
• It is estimated that around 42 million military part of the Central Powers.
personnel were mobilized by the Allies during • Germany - Germany had the largest army and
the war. Around 5,541,000 were killed in action was the primary leader of the Central Powers.
and another 12,925,000 were wounded. Germany's military strategy at the start of the
• The two Allied countries with the most war was called the Schlieffen Plan. This plan
soldiers killed were Russia with 1,800,000 and called for the quick takeover of France and
France with around 1,400,000. Western Europe. Then Germany could
• Vladimir Lenin became the leader of Soviet concentrate its efforts on Eastern Europe and
Russia after Tsar Nicholas II was overthrown Russia.
during the Russian Revolution. Lenin wanted • Austria-Hungary - World War I essentially Interesting Facts about the
Russia out of the war, so he made peace with began when Archduke Ferdinand was Central Powers
Germany. assassinated. Austria-Hungary blamed the
• The United States was never an official assassination on Serbia and subsequently • The Central Powers were also known as the
member of the Allies, but called itself an invaded Serbia setting off a chain of events Quadruple Alliance.
"Associated Power." that resulted in the war. • The name "Central Powers" comes from the
• Ottoman Empire - The Ottoman Empire had location of the main countries in the alliance.
strong economic ties to Germany and signed They were centrally located in Europe
a military alliance with Germany in 1914. The between Russia to the east and France and
entrance into the war led to the eventual Britain to the west.
downfall of the Ottoman Empire and the • The Central Powers mobilized around 25
formation of the country of Turkey in 1923. million soldiers. Around 3.1 million were
• Bulgaria - Bulgaria was the last major country killed in action and another 8.4 million were
to join the war on the side of the Central wounded.
Powers in 1915. Bulgaria claimed land held by • Each member of the Central Powers signed a
Dua e Sehar Serbia and was eager to invade Serbia as part different treaty with the Allies at the end of
Vladimir Lenin of the war the war. The last, and most famous, treaty was
the Treaty of Versailles signed by Germany. 12
