World War I: Causes, Phases, and Global Consequences

The Origins and Alliances of World War I

WWI, or The Great War, broke out in Europe in 1914 and covered a large territorial extension. The conflict involved two primary factions:

• The Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire, which Bulgaria and other states joined later.
• The Allies or Triple Entente: France, Russia, the UK, and Serbia, which the USA and other countries joined later.

Major Causes of the Great War

Political and Territorial Conflicts

Political conflicts between the major powers arose due to territorial disputes and nationalistic problems, such as the Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913. Additional tensions stemmed from colonialism and imperialism, including clashes between imperialist powers for the control of certain territories.

Economic Rivalries

Economic rivalries between countries increased from the beginning of the century due to commercial competition. Consequently, France and the UK distrusted the growth of the German economy and its strong presence in colonial markets.

Military Alliance Systems

The military alliance systems (the Triple Entente and Triple Alliance) led to an arms race known as "peace through strength," which could turn any minor incident into a war of enormous proportions.

The Spark: Assassination in Sarajevo

The main cause of the war was the spark: the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, in Sarajevo, Serbia.

Key Phases of the Global Conflict

War of Movement (1914)

The war began almost simultaneously on the Eastern and Western Fronts. Germany attempted a flash victory over France to concentrate its forces on the Eastern Front and defeat Russia. However, France resisted at the Battle of the Marne, and the Russian advance through Prussia forced Germany to send troops to the Eastern Front. At the end of the year, the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers.

Trench Warfare (1915-1916)

In the absence of a decisive victory, the fronts settled into extensive lines of trenches protected by machine guns and barbed wire. Exhausting offensives were launched from these trenches at Verdun and the Somme. In this phase, the war became a global conflict with the entry of Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, Portugal, and Japan, among others.

The Crisis of 1917

The USA joined the war in 1917 on the side of the Allies after many of its trade ships had been sunk. Meanwhile, Russia withdrew after the triumph of the communist revolution and the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

The End of the War (1918)

In 1918, the Allies launched an offensive on all fronts, causing the surrender of the Central Powers. That same year, US President Woodrow Wilson set out the Fourteen Points, a statement of principles for world peace. Finally, Germany was left alone and without supplies; Emperor Wilhelm II had to abdicate, and the government of the new republic signed the armistice surrender.

Lasting Consequences of the War

• Approximately 9 million people killed and a large number of people injured or disabled.
• Serious material losses in croplands, industries, transport, and buildings.
• Sharpened contrasts between the working classes, the poor middle classes, and a minority made rich by war-based businesses.
• Increased participation of women in work outside the home.
• Promotion of pacifist and anti-militarist ideologies.
• Increased desire for revenge by the defeated countries.