World War I: Contenders, Phases, and Aftermath

The Contenders

Initially, the primary participants were the countries of the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente. The Triple Alliance, initially comprising Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, was eventually limited to the Central Powers, with the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria joining. Italy, despite its initial alignment, ultimately joined the Allies. The Entente, also known as the Allies, included Serbia, Belgium, Romania, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Japan, and the United States. Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Albania, and the Nordic nations remained neutral.

Phases

War of Movement (1914)

The initial phase saw the failure of the Schlieffen Plan, a German strategy to advance through Belgium and encircle the French army. The Battle of the Marne forced German armies to retreat. Despite German successes on the Eastern Front against Russia, the stalemate indicated the impossibility of a short war.

Trench Warfare (1915-1917)

Armies became entrenched, and the war transformed into a war of attrition. States took control and planned the economy, establishing various companies. The conflict became a strategic contest. The French and British employed their naval power to blockade Austro-German war supplies, while the Germans responded with submarine warfare.

Final Stages (1917-1918)

The Russian Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 3, 1918), signed by the Bolsheviks, initially seemed to favor the Central Powers. However, the United States' entry into the war (April 6, 1917), coupled with failed offensives, social unrest, and the outbreak of revolution, hastened the war's end. Emperor William II abdicated, and Germany signed the armistice on November 11, 1918.

Key Features

• Duration: The war lasted four years (1914-1918), far exceeding initial expectations, and saw the development of new weapons and warfare techniques.
• Total War: It required a state-directed economy to mobilize all human and economic resources.
• Geographic Scope: It initially exceeded the European area, involving European colonies and countries outside Europe.

Consequences

• Significant Population Loss: Approximately 10 million people died, primarily Germans, Russians, and French, not including the wounded, maimed, and unborn children.
• Economic Disaster for Europe: Europe suffered not only from material losses but also from the burden of war debts, especially to the United States. Consequently, Europe lost its global hegemony, and the U.S. economy emerged as the leading world power.
• Social Transformations: Women entered the workforce in roles previously held by men, and many remained employed after the war, contributing to the granting of suffrage. There was a significant economic downturn.
• Territorial Changes: New states emerged, such as Lithuania and Yugoslavia, and Germany lost its colonies.
• Ethical and Moral Impact: The war led to a shift in lifestyles and the loss of many Western values. New cultural trends reflected the devastating agony of the conflict.