Understanding the First World War: A Comprehensive Analysis

Consequences of WWI

Short-term: Economic depression, 16,000,000 deaths, Germany lost support, destruction, League of Nations.

Long-term: Extremism (fascism, communism), loss of colonies and territories, new countries, WWII and Cold War.

Definitions

Armistice: Agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; a truce.

Allied Powers: Nations joined for mutual benefit (Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and the United States).

Balkans: Also called the Balkan Peninsula, the easternmost of Europe’s three great southern peninsulas.

Central Powers: Nations fighting against the Allied Powers (Austria-Hungary, Germany, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire).

Conscript: To enlist someone obligatorily into the armed services.

Kaiser: German emperor.

No Man’s Land: Disputed ground between the front lines or trenches of two opposing armies.

Reparations: Compensation for war damage paid by a defeated state.

Trench Warfare: Combat in which opposing troops fight from trenches facing each other.

Triple Entente: The alliance between Great Britain, France, and Russia (1907).

Militarism: Build-up of armed forces to prepare for war.

Imperialism: Belief of a country in building up an empire and controlling less powerful countries.

Nationalist: Pride in a country, with people wanting to govern themselves or defend themselves.

The Start of WWI

June 28th: Gavrilo Princip (Serb student) shoots Franz Ferdinand (the Austrian Archduke) and his wife.

July 23rd: Austria-Hungary asks for compensation from Serbia.

July 28th: Austria-Hungary declares war.

July 29th: Russian mobilization in favor of Serbia.

August 1st: Germany declares war on Russia.

August 2nd: France declares war on Germany.

August 3rd: Germany declares war on France.

August 4th: Germany attacks neutral Belgium. Great Britain declares war on Germany.

August 6th: Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia.

August 7th: Lord Kitchener calls for 100,000 men to join the British Army to defend Belgium.

August 13th: Great Britain and France declare war on Austria-Hungary.

World War I (1914-1918)

Causes: Political tensions (colonialism), alliances, industrial revolution.

Key Aspects:

• Trenches
• Zeppelin
• Air attacks
• U-boat
• Gas attacks
• Tank
• Steel helmet
• Uniforms
• Camouflage
• Recruitment