The Great War
Roots of War
In 1914, World War I (WWI) broke out in Europe. Because of its size and the incredible amount of death and destruction it produced, it came to be called “The Great War.” The war had a number of causes. The nationalism (loyalty to one’s country) born in France and spread by Napoleon was growing ever stronger across Europe. Countries wanted to expand their influence and pursue their own interest. In the Balkans, various ethnic groups launched successful revolutions against the Ottoman Empire and won their independence. Other Balkan territories were annexed by Austria-Hungary. Serbs within Bosnia wanted to establish their own independence. Poles under Russian rule and Irish under the British Empire also desired their freedom. Conflicts arose within many existing nation-states.
Many nations adopted a policy of militarism. They chose to look out for their own interest by building up their military forces to intimidate other countries. This approach led to large armies and an arms race in which countries continually tried to produce more advanced weapons. By 1914, the Russian army boasted over a million soldiers, while Germany and France each had roughly 900,000. Countries also formed alliances. Alliances are agreements between nations to help each other in the event of war. If one country in an alliance is attacked, then the other countries in the alliance agree to come to that nation’s defense. This policy meant that an attack against one nation could drag several countries into war, creating a domino effect. By 1914, almost no nation in Europe could become involved in a war without the whole continent being pulled in with it.
The War Begins
The spark that ignited World War I occurred on June 28, 1914, when a Serbian nationalist assassinated Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary accused Serbia of being involved in the assassination and threatened war. Russia, which was allied with Serbia, vowed to intervene if Austria-Hungary attacked. This brought Germany into the mix because of its alliance with Austria-Hungary. Within two months, the dominos had fallen. Due to existing alliances, Europe was soon divided and at war. Great Britain, France, and Russia formed an alliance called the Triple Entente. Meanwhile, Germany and Austria-Hungary lined up against them as the Central Powers.
The War Front
The war featured new technology and advanced weapons. Machine guns allowed soldiers to fire more rounds of ammunition faster and with more deadly results than ever before. Both sides learned to use poisonous gases to kill enemy soldiers, and sometimes their own when the winds changed unexpectedly. Eventually, tanks and airplanes became important weapons. As a result of all the new weaponry, leaders on both sides had great difficulty adjusting their tactics. The war was soon a stalemate, with neither side gaining an advantage.
Life along the front (area where opposing armies meet in battle) was difficult. Soldiers died by the thousands, as neither side could defeat the other. Eventually, millions of civilians would die as well. Unable to advance, armies on both sides found themselves caught up in trench warfare. Trenches were long ditches in which soldiers would take cover while they fired on the enemy. In between the two sides rested a “no man’s land.” Soldiers considered it a no man’s land because it was open, exposed to enemy fire, and no man could hope to survive there. Since they could not advance without suffering heavy losses, both sides lived for long periods in dirty, rat-infested trenches.
1919 Treaty of Versailles
In 1917, the United States entered the war on the side of the Triple Entente. By September of the following year, Germany realized defeat was inevitable and sought terms for peace. The warring parties finally signed an armistice (agreement to stop fighting), but not until after the deaths of roughly 20 million Europeans. The Allies ignored President Wilson’s pleas not to seek revenge and drafted a treaty designed to punish Germany. The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to accept blame for the war and to pay reparations (compensation) to cover the cost of its destruction. In addition, the face of Europe changed drastically. The post-war treaties dismantled the Ottoman Empire. Over the centuries, the Ottoman Turks had built a vast empire in Eastern Europe, parts of Asia, and potions of North Africa. However, by the twentieth century, their power had weakened, and their empire was already in decline. The final blow came after the Ottoman Empire chose to ally itself with Germany in World War I.
Once the war ended, the Allies redrew national borders in ways meant to promote their own interests and to ensure their future security. A number of new countries emerged. Many of them contained ethnic groups that rivaled one another. In addition, the Allies promised independence to a number of Arab nations, and then went back on their word. Lebanon and Syria fell to France, while Britain took control of Iraq and Palestine (modern-day Israel). Such arrangements were called mandates and became known as the mandate system. The mandate system was seen as a betrayal by many in these Arab nations and served to instill bitterness against the West in many parts of the Middle East. Political and economic instability during the postwar years, combined with the resentment felt by the German people towards the Treaty of Versailles, eventually led Europe back into war within just a few years.
The League of Nations
Following World War I, President Wilson proposed the League of Nations. The League’s purpose was to provide a place where countries could peacefully discuss solutions to their differences rather than go to war. A number of nations joined the League. Ironically, the United States was not one of them. Eventually, without any means to enforce its decisions, the League of Nations proved powerless to stop the onset of a second world war.
Romanov Dynasty
Russia entered World War I under the leadership of Czar Nicholas II. However, the country lagged behind much of the rest of Europe. Its technology was not as advanced, and it lacked modern industrialization. Despite Nicholas’ willingness to fight, Russia was not prepared for war. The nation was poor. Many peasants were starving. The fighting only sapped more money and food away from Russia’s citizens to support the war effort. Millions of Russians, both soldiers and civilians, suffered and died. As the war and misery dragged on, the czar became more unpopular. People of all classes began calling for change in the Russian government. The Russian Revolution finally erupted in 1917. Among the lower working classes, strikes broke out. When Czar Nicholas II ordered troops to put down the uprisings, many of his soldiers switched sides and joined the rebellious crowds. On March 12, Nicholas II surrendered power to a new government. The Romanov dynasty had come to an end in Russia when Nicholas II abdicated his throne.
Hapsburg Dynasty
With the defeat of Germany and Austria, the Hapsburg Dynasty, which had ruled much of Europe since the tenth century, fell from power and faded into history. Several nations will develop as a result to include Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. The Hapsburg’s in Spain will continue to rule until 1931. The economic crisis that will engulf the world after World War I will aid in the fall of the Spanish Hapsburg’s. The Hapsburg’s will be replaced with an elective government.
In 1914, World War I (WWI) broke out in Europe. Because of its size and the incredible amount of death and destruction it produced, it came to be called “The Great War.” The war had a number of causes. The nationalism (loyalty to one’s country) born in France and spread by Napoleon was growing ever stronger across Europe. Countries wanted to expand their influence and pursue their own interest. In the Balkans, various ethnic groups launched successful revolutions against the Ottoman Empire and won their independence. Other Balkan territories were annexed by Austria-Hungary. Serbs within Bosnia wanted to establish their own independence. Poles under Russian rule and Irish under the British Empire also desired their freedom. Conflicts arose within many existing nation-states.
Many nations adopted a policy of militarism. They chose to look out for their own interest by building up their military forces to intimidate other countries. This approach led to large armies and an arms race in which countries continually tried to produce more advanced weapons. By 1914, the Russian army boasted over a million soldiers, while Germany and France each had roughly 900,000. Countries also formed alliances. Alliances are agreements between nations to help each other in the event of war. If one country in an alliance is attacked, then the other countries in the alliance agree to come to that nation’s defense. This policy meant that an attack against one nation could drag several countries into war, creating a domino effect. By 1914, almost no nation in Europe could become involved in a war without the whole continent being pulled in with it.
The War Begins
The spark that ignited World War I occurred on June 28, 1914, when a Serbian nationalist assassinated Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary accused Serbia of being involved in the assassination and threatened war. Russia, which was allied with Serbia, vowed to intervene if Austria-Hungary attacked. This brought Germany into the mix because of its alliance with Austria-Hungary. Within two months, the dominos had fallen. Due to existing alliances, Europe was soon divided and at war. Great Britain, France, and Russia formed an alliance called the Triple Entente. Meanwhile, Germany and Austria-Hungary lined up against them as the Central Powers.
The War Front
The war featured new technology and advanced weapons. Machine guns allowed soldiers to fire more rounds of ammunition faster and with more deadly results than ever before. Both sides learned to use poisonous gases to kill enemy soldiers, and sometimes their own when the winds changed unexpectedly. Eventually, tanks and airplanes became important weapons. As a result of all the new weaponry, leaders on both sides had great difficulty adjusting their tactics. The war was soon a stalemate, with neither side gaining an advantage.
Life along the front (area where opposing armies meet in battle) was difficult. Soldiers died by the thousands, as neither side could defeat the other. Eventually, millions of civilians would die as well. Unable to advance, armies on both sides found themselves caught up in trench warfare. Trenches were long ditches in which soldiers would take cover while they fired on the enemy. In between the two sides rested a “no man’s land.” Soldiers considered it a no man’s land because it was open, exposed to enemy fire, and no man could hope to survive there. Since they could not advance without suffering heavy losses, both sides lived for long periods in dirty, rat-infested trenches.
1919 Treaty of Versailles
In 1917, the United States entered the war on the side of the Triple Entente. By September of the following year, Germany realized defeat was inevitable and sought terms for peace. The warring parties finally signed an armistice (agreement to stop fighting), but not until after the deaths of roughly 20 million Europeans. The Allies ignored President Wilson’s pleas not to seek revenge and drafted a treaty designed to punish Germany. The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to accept blame for the war and to pay reparations (compensation) to cover the cost of its destruction. In addition, the face of Europe changed drastically. The post-war treaties dismantled the Ottoman Empire. Over the centuries, the Ottoman Turks had built a vast empire in Eastern Europe, parts of Asia, and potions of North Africa. However, by the twentieth century, their power had weakened, and their empire was already in decline. The final blow came after the Ottoman Empire chose to ally itself with Germany in World War I.
Once the war ended, the Allies redrew national borders in ways meant to promote their own interests and to ensure their future security. A number of new countries emerged. Many of them contained ethnic groups that rivaled one another. In addition, the Allies promised independence to a number of Arab nations, and then went back on their word. Lebanon and Syria fell to France, while Britain took control of Iraq and Palestine (modern-day Israel). Such arrangements were called mandates and became known as the mandate system. The mandate system was seen as a betrayal by many in these Arab nations and served to instill bitterness against the West in many parts of the Middle East. Political and economic instability during the postwar years, combined with the resentment felt by the German people towards the Treaty of Versailles, eventually led Europe back into war within just a few years.
The League of Nations
Following World War I, President Wilson proposed the League of Nations. The League’s purpose was to provide a place where countries could peacefully discuss solutions to their differences rather than go to war. A number of nations joined the League. Ironically, the United States was not one of them. Eventually, without any means to enforce its decisions, the League of Nations proved powerless to stop the onset of a second world war.
Romanov Dynasty
Russia entered World War I under the leadership of Czar Nicholas II. However, the country lagged behind much of the rest of Europe. Its technology was not as advanced, and it lacked modern industrialization. Despite Nicholas’ willingness to fight, Russia was not prepared for war. The nation was poor. Many peasants were starving. The fighting only sapped more money and food away from Russia’s citizens to support the war effort. Millions of Russians, both soldiers and civilians, suffered and died. As the war and misery dragged on, the czar became more unpopular. People of all classes began calling for change in the Russian government. The Russian Revolution finally erupted in 1917. Among the lower working classes, strikes broke out. When Czar Nicholas II ordered troops to put down the uprisings, many of his soldiers switched sides and joined the rebellious crowds. On March 12, Nicholas II surrendered power to a new government. The Romanov dynasty had come to an end in Russia when Nicholas II abdicated his throne.
Hapsburg Dynasty
With the defeat of Germany and Austria, the Hapsburg Dynasty, which had ruled much of Europe since the tenth century, fell from power and faded into history. Several nations will develop as a result to include Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. The Hapsburg’s in Spain will continue to rule until 1931. The economic crisis that will engulf the world after World War I will aid in the fall of the Spanish Hapsburg’s. The Hapsburg’s will be replaced with an elective government.