The Great War: A Comprehensive Examination
World War I
Immediate Background: 1871-1914
The Armed Peace (1871-1914)
Continuing nationalist and imperialist tensions led nations to invest heavily in arms and armies. This created a complex alliance system, where nations were in conflict without open war.
La Belle Époque (1880-1914)
This era was characterized by a relaxed lifestyle and optimism among the upper classes, who believed in the indefinite progress of science and technology.
Underlying Causes
Territorial Conflicts
- Germany sought colonial expansion, clashing with England and France.
- France demanded Alsace and Lorraine from Germany.
- Austria-Hungary and Russia disputed control of the Balkans.
Economic Growth in Germany
Rapid industrialization threatened the economic interests of France and the UK.
Exaltation of Nationalism
Heightened tensions between French and Germans, and within Austria-Hungary, where Czechs, Croats, and Hungarians opposed Austrian dominance. In the Balkans, Bulgarians, Romanians, and Albanians sought independence from the Ottoman Empire. Russian Pan-Slavism aimed to expand influence in Eastern Europe, irritating Austria-Hungary.
Armament
Increased military spending led to a growth in weapons and military personnel, fueled by nationalism. By 1914, Germany was the largest arms spender, while Austria-Hungary spent the least.
Pre-1914 Conflicts and Local Wars
Colonial conflicts included the Russo-Japanese War (1904) and conflicts in Morocco between Germany and France. In 1908, Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Balkan Wars (1911-1912) increased tensions between Austria-Hungary and Russia, an ally of Serbia.
The Spark: Assassination in Sarajevo
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on June 28, 1914, by a Serbian nationalist, precipitated Austria’s declaration of war on Serbia, triggering WWI due to the alliance system.
Geographical Scenarios and Key Players
In 1914, four great empires existed: German, Russian, Austro-Hungarian, and Ottoman. Russia intervened to protect its interests in Serbia, leading to French mobilization.
Triple Entente: UK, France, Russia (later USA in 1917)
Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
Leaders of WWI: William II (Germany), Charles I (Austria-Hungary), Victor Emmanuel III (Italy), George V (UK), Nicholas II (Russia), Raymond Poincaré (France), Woodrow Wilson (USA)
Periods and Milestones
- 1914: Initial war movements
- 1914-1917: Trench warfare
- 1915: Shifting balance of power
- 1918: Armistice
- 1919: Treaty of Versailles
Characteristics of Initial War Movements
Germany planned a quick offensive against France, then focus on Russia. The German defeat at the Marne halted these plans, leading to a two-front war.
Trench Warfare
The war stalled in the West, establishing a front from the North Sea to Switzerland. Trench warfare became a defensive strategy, with soldiers enduring horrific conditions, including lack of food and water, mud, disease, and gas attacks.
USA and the End of Balance
Between 1915-1917, Italy, Romania, Greece, Japan, and China joined the Entente. The sinking of the Lusitania in 1915, with American casualties, and other factors led to the U.S. entering the war in 1917, tipping the balance in favor of the Entente.
Russian Revolution
Russia’s withdrawal in 1917 weakened the Entente, but U.S. support compensated. The Tsarist regime was overthrown due to poverty, discontent, and WWI losses. The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, seized power, establishing a communist dictatorship.
End and Consequences
The Allies, bolstered by U.S. forces, used a strategy of economic blockade to weaken Germany. Internal political crisis and military defeats led to Germany’s surrender. The Treaty of Versailles (1919) imposed harsh terms on Germany, including territorial losses, reparations, military restrictions, and acceptance of war guilt.
WWI resulted in immense casualties, economic disruption, and social upheaval. It also led to significant changes in the map of Europe, with the collapse of empires.
Changes in the Map of Europe (1918)
The four great empires disappeared.
Frank Buckles: the last American soldier alive from WWI