World War I

World War I, also called First World War or Great War, an global war that in 1914–18 involved most of the nations of Europe along with Russia, the United States, the Middle East, and other regions. The war was virtually unparalleled in the slaughter, carnage, and destruction it caused. In the previous wars, the civilian populations were not generally involved and the casualties were generally confined to the warring armies. 

 

This war which began in 1914 was a full war in which all the resources of the warring states were mobilized. It affected the economy of the entire world. The casualties suffered by the civilian population from bombing of the inhabitant areas and the famines and epidemics, caused by the war surpassed those suffered by the armies.

 

•    WW I was fought between the Allied Powers and the Central Powers.

•    The main members of the Allied Powers were France, Russia, and Britain. The United States also fought on the side of the Allies after 1917.

•    The main members of the Central Powers were Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.

•    War on Western Side: Battle of Marne.

•    War on Eastern Side: Battle of Tennenberg (Russia was defeated).

•    War on the Sea: Batter of Dogger Bank (Germany was defeated), Battle of Jutland (Germany retreated).

•    Battle of Gallipoli (Dardanelles Campaign) also known as Churchill’s Disaster.

•    Russia withdrew in 1917 after October Revolution.

•    At the First Battle of Ypres, Khudadad Khan became the first Indian to be awarded a Victoria Cross.

 

There was no single event that led to World War I. The war happened because of several different events that took place in the years building up to 1914.

•    The new international expansionist policy of Germany: In 1890 the new emperor of Germany, Wilhelm II, began an international policy that sought to turn his country into a world power. Germany was seen as a threat by the other powers and destabilized the international situation.

 

•   Mutual Defense Alliances: Countries throughout Europe made mutual defence agreements. These treaties meant that if one country was attacked, allied countries were bound to defend them.

The Triple Alliance-1882 linking Germany with Austria-Hungary and Italy.

The Triple Entente, which was made up of Britain, France, and Russia, concluded by 1907.

 

•    Imperialism: Before World War I, Africa and parts of Asia were points of contention among the European countries because of their raw materials. The increasing competition and desire for greater empires led to an increase in the confrontation that helped push the world into World War I.

 

•    Militarism: As the world entered the 20th century, an arms race had begun. By 1914, Germany had the greatest increase in military buildup. Great Britain and Germany both greatly increased their navies in this time period. This increase in militarism helped push the countries involved into war.

 

•    Nationalism: Much of the origin of the war was based on the desire of the Slavic peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina to no longer be part of Austria Hungary but instead be part of Serbia. In this way, nationalism led to the War.

 

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was shot while he was visiting Sarajevo in Bosnia. He was killed by a Serbian person, who thought that Serbia should control Bosnia instead of Austria. Because its leader had been shot, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. As a result:

a.    Russia got involved as it had an alliance with Serbia.

b.    Germany then declared war on Russia because Germany had an alliance with Austria-Hungary.

c.    Britain declared war on Germany because of its invasion of neutral Belgium - Britain had agreements to protect both Belgium and France.

 

•    1878- Serbia gained independence from the Ottoman Empire

•    1881- Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy form the Triple Alliance to defend each other in war.

•    1904- Britain forms the Entente Cordiale with France

•    1907- Russia Joins with Britain to form the Triple Entente

•    1908- Austria-Hungary Occupies Bosnia-Herzegovina to stop Serbia from taking control

•    1912-1913    Balkan Wars are fought between the Balkan League (Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and    Montenegro). The Balkan League emerges victorious.

•    1914 – June 28    Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo

•    1914 – July 28    Austria declares war on Serbia. Russia prepares to defend Serbia from Austria

•    1914 – August 1    Germany declares war on Russia to defend Austria

•    1914 – August 3    Germany Declares war France, Russia’s ally

•    1914 – August 4    German armies march through Belgium to France. Britain declares war on Germany.  World War I begins.

•    1914 – August 26 Germany defeats Russian forces at the battle of Tannenberg

•    1914 – September At the battle of the Marne, the Allies halted the German advance on Paris. German victory in the same month ends Russian involvement in East Prussia.

•    1914 – November At the end of the battle of Ypres, German forces are prevented from itching the English Channel.

 

•    The conflict developed on several fronts in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The two main scenarios were the Western front, where the Germans confronted Britain, France and, after 1917, the Americans. The second front was the Eastern front in which the Russians fought against Germans and Austro-Hungarians.

•    After a brief German advance in 1914, the western front was stabilized and a long and brutal trench warfare started: it was a "war of attrition" (the western front remained immovable). Meanwhile on the Eastern Front the Germans advanced but not conclusively.

•    In 1917, two events changed the course of the war: the United States joined the Allies and Russia, after the Russian revolution, abandoned the conflict and signed a separate peace.

•    In Germany, people were running short of food and fuel. The German navy mutinied and there was widespread unrest. On November 9, the German ruler, Kaiser William II, renounced and on November 11, 1918 an armistice was signed between Germany and the allies, bringing the fight to an end.

•    In January 1919, the Allies met at the Paris Peace Conference, which formally ended the war. It drew up the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed a harsh peace upon Germany and laid the responsibility of starting the conflict squarely on Germany’s shoulders.

 

•    Rule of King ended in Germany: Germany became a republic on November 1918. The German Emperor Kaiser William II fled to Holland.

•    Around 1 crore people were killed.

•    The fall of Russian empire after October revolution (1917) which resulted in the formation of USSR (1922)

•    Emergence of USA as a super power.

•    Beginning of the end of European supremacy.

•    Japan became a powerful country in Asia.

•    Poland, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia became new independent states.

•    Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia and Lithvania – became independent.

•    New countries were created out of old empires. Austria- Hungary was carved up into a number of independent states.

•    Russia and Germany gave land to Poland. Countries in the Middle East came under the control of France and Britain.

•    What was left of Ottoman Empire became Turkey.

•    Strengthened independence movements in Asia and Africa.

•    League of Nations came into being.

•    Monarchy was abolished in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Turkey and Russia.

 

•    World war changed society completely. Birth rates declined because millions of young men died (eight million died, millions wounded, maimed, widows and orphans). Civilians lost their land and fled to other countries.

•    The role of women also changed. They played a major part in replacing men in factories and offices. Many countries gave women more rights after the war had ended, including the right to vote.

•    The upper classes lost their leading role in society. Young middle and lower class men and women demanded a say in forming their country after the war.

 

•    On June 28, 1919, World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of Versailles was an attempt to prevent the world from going into another war.

 

France regained Alsace and Lorraine

Eupen and Malmedy passed into the hands of Belgium

Eastern territories were annexed by Poland which caused East Prussia to become territorially isolated.

Danzig and Memel, former Baltic German cities were declared free cities

Denmark annexed northern Schleswig-Holstein

Germany lost all of its colonies and the victors annexed them

 

Drastic limitation of the German navy.

Dramatic reduction of the Army (only 100,000 troops, prohibition of having tanks, aircraft and heavy artillery).

Demilitarization of the Rhineland region.

 

The treaty declared Germany and its allies responsible for all 'loss and damage' suffered by the Allies and as a consequence they were forced to pay war reparations to the victors.

 

a.    Treaty of St.Germaine – with Austria.

b.    Treaty of Trianon- with Hungary.

c.    Treaty of Neuilly – with Bulgaria.

d.    Treaty of Severes – with Turkey.

 

•    India being a former British colony played a vital role in helping Britain and its allies win over Germany and allies, a role that is often overlooked.

•    Being a British colony, the Indian Army contributed a large number of soldiers to the European, Mediterranean and the Middle East conflicts of war in World War I.

•    They served in places as diverse as France and Belgium, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Gallipoli, Palestine and Sinai.

•    Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army once said: "Britain couldn't have come through the wars if they hadn't had the Indian Army."

•    The British raised men and money from India, as well as large supplies of food, cash, and ammunition, collected by British taxation policies. In return, the British promised to award self-rule to India at the end of the war which eventually was not delivered.