Key Figures and Events of World War I and the Third Reich

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born soldier and politician who became the dictator of Germany. The NSDAP, or Nazi Party, was a political organization founded in Germany after World War I and led by Hitler shortly after its inception.

Munich Putsch

The Munich Putsch was the first attempt by Hitler to seize power in Germany. It was a coup supported by Erich Ludendorff, a former German general from World War I, and the SA. The attempt failed, leading to Hitler's trial and imprisonment.

Mein Kampf

Mein Kampf is the book written by Adolf Hitler while in prison between 1924 and 1925. The beginning serves as his biography, while the latter sections outline his political program, including:

• The superiority of the Aryan race.
• The need for a larger "living space" (Lebensraum) for the German population, which later justified the invasion of Eastern Europe during World War II.

Third Reich

The Third Reich refers to Nazi Germany under Hitler's rule between 1933, when he won the elections, and 1945, when he committed suicide and Germany was defeated in World War II.

Bismarckian Alliance

These were a series of three alliances established by the German Empire starting in 1871 to isolate France and prevent French retaliation. These treaties were secret. The new Kaiser later implemented a policy called Weltpolitik, which was incompatible with Bismarck's strategy, leading to Bismarck's resignation two years later.

Armed Peace

The Armed Peace was the period in European history between 1891 and 1914. It is so named because, despite the absence of open conflict, European nations accumulated vast stockpiles of weapons and formed secret alliances.

Franz Ferdinand and Gavrilo Princip

Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. Gavrilo Princip, a 19-year-old student who supported anarchist ideas and the use of terror to achieve political objectives, assassinated the Archduke. He performed the attack to protest the occupation of Bosnia by Austrian troops in 1902.

Trench Warfare

Trench Warfare was the second phase of World War I on the Western Front. Soldiers fought from static defensive lines, a stalemate that began in late 1914 following the widespread introduction of machine guns.

Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles was the peace agreement that dictated reparations and punishments for Germany after World War I. Germany was held solely responsible for the war. The penalties included:

• Territorial losses: Ceding Alsace-Lorraine and the Danzig corridor.
• Colonial losses: Forfeiture of all overseas colonies.
• Military restrictions: The German army was reduced to approximately 100,000 soldiers.
• Financial reparations: Germany was required to pay 132 billion gold marks.

League of Nations

The League of Nations was an international organization created in 1919 via the Treaty of Versailles, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Its primary objective was peacekeeping after World War I. It ultimately failed and was replaced by the United Nations in 1945.