The Great War: A Comprehensive Analysis of World War I

The First World War

Relations tightened during an armed peace.

The Reasons for the Outbreak

The causes of the First World War were:

• Territorial claims of different countries like Russia and Austria-Hungary.
• Economic rivalries, especially between Germany and the UK.
• Colonial interests in Germany (Moroccan crisis).
• The formation of two blocs:
  • Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy)
  • Triple Entente (France, UK, and Russia)

Belligerent Countries

The Triple Alliance was joined by the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria, while Italy switched to the opposing bloc. This bloc was called the Central Powers.

The Triple Entente was joined by Belgium, Romania, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Japan. This bloc was called the Allies.

The Central Powers had a more powerful army than the Allied bloc.

Characteristics of the Conflict

• New weapons and defensive systems: machine guns, poison gas, trenches.
• New technical advances: telephone and telegraph.
• Increased control systems.
• Women in the workforce: While men fought, women took their positions (nurses, arms manufacturers).
• Economy centered on armaments production: The civilian population suffered rationing.
• Propaganda: Used to maintain the morale of the population and troops.

The War

In July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia after the bombing of Sarajevo (the Austro-Hungarian heir was murdered).

Stages of the Conflict:

• War of Movement (1914): Germany attempted the Schlieffen Plan (to conquer France and then Russia).
• Trench Warfare (1915-1916): New weapons prevented advances. Submarines were used, and battles were concentrated at one point (German defeat at Verdun).
• Decisive Events (1917): The Triumph of the Russian Revolution (Russia withdrew from the Great War) and the entrance of the U.S. into the conflict.
• The End of the War (1918): The Allies' victorious offensive led to the Germans signing the armistice on November 11, 1918.

Peace in Paris

In 1918, U.S. President Thomas W. Wilson developed a program of fourteen points called the Peace Program. The victors met in Paris in 1919 to establish the conditions for peace.

The Peace in Paris (1919-1920) consisted of 5 treaties:

• Treaty of Versailles with Germany
• Treaty of Saint-Germain with Austria
• Treaty of Trianon with Hungary
• Treaty of Neuilly with Bulgaria
• Treaty of Sèvres

The conditions imposed on the defeated countries were:

• Loss of territory.
• Disarmament.
• Demand for reparations.

Germany felt humiliated and desired revenge.

Consequences of the War

• Heavy losses of human lives.
• Social transformation (incorporation of women into the social world).
• Territorial changes, most notably the birth of new states.
• Economic disaster, not only for the material losses but because Europe was indebted to several countries, especially the United States. The U.S. became the first world power.