World War I: Four Stages of the Great War

The Four Stages of World War I

The war lasted four years, though initially anticipated to be short. It can be divided into four distinct phases:

Phase 1 (1914): War of Movement

This phase began with aggressive offensive tactics aimed at a swift resolution. Germany advanced through Belgium and Luxembourg towards Paris, intending to defeat France quickly before turning its attention to Russia. However, France held strong in Alsace and Lorraine, halting the German advance at the Battle of the Marne. Russia mobilized and launched a rapid offensive.

Phase 2 (1915-1916): Trench Warfare

The conflict devolved into static trench warfare, resulting in over two million casualties with minimal territorial gains. Demoralization spread among the entrenched armies. Despite advances in eastern Russia, key offensives like Verdun and the Somme highlighted the stalemate on the Western Front.

Phase 3 (1917): Russian Withdrawal and US Entry

Following the Russian Revolution, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed, marking Russia's exit from the war. Russia ceded territories including Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine, falling under the economic and political control of the Central Powers. Allied morale suffered until the United States joined the war.

Phase 4 (1918): Allied Victory and Armistice

The Allied forces launched a coordinated offensive against the Central Powers from all sides, gradually pushing them back. Germany signed an armistice, and Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated, leading to the establishment of the Weimar Republic in Germany.