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World War I, often referred to as the Great War and the War to End All Wars, was one of the darkest chapters in human history that irreversibly altered the geopolitical landscape of the world forever. The global conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918 pitted the Central Powers – mostly Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey against the Allies – primarily France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan, and later, the United States. Besides the defeat of the Central Powers, it led to the downfall of four major imperial dynasties: Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey. In this article, we will skim through the major events and dates associated with World War I.
Beginning of the War
The intricate web of alliances, ambitions for empires, intense nationalism, and militarism in Europe during the early 20th century fuelled World War I. Various mutual defence alliances between various countries had created a sense of tension inside Europe. If one country was attacked, allied countries were bound to defend them. The Triple Alliance — 1882, linking Germany with Austria-Hungary and Italy, and the Triple Entente — 1907, which was made up of Britain, France, and Russia were two such alliances which stood against each other.
The one event that can be said to have triggered the chain of reactions that led to the global war was the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. The killer, a Bosnian Serb nationalist named Gavrilo Princip, was part of a secret society that claimed the liberation of the South Slavs of Austrian-Hungary. Following this event, Germany backed Austria-Hungary presented an ultimatum and demanded concessions from Serbia but declared war when Serbia did not meet their demands.
Intensification of the War
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Austria-Hungary’s war declaration triggered the alliance network in Europe, and a domino effect caused a series of wars in the following years. Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, 1914, after Russia mobilized its forces supporting Serbia. Germany invaded Belgium and Luxembourg as part of the Schlieffen Plan to defeat France quickly. This caused Britain to join the war on August 4, 1914, because it had to protect Belgian neutrality.
On September 5, 1914, Russia, France, and Great Britain signed the Treaty of London, promising not to make separate peace with the Central Powers. The alliance was then officially named the Allied, or Entente.
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Central Powers |
Allied Powers |
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German Empire |
British Empire |
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Austria-Hungary |
France |
| Ottoman Empire |
Russia |
| Bulgaria |
United States |
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Italy |
War Becomes Global
World War I became a global conflict with the entrance of more nations on either side of the warfare. The Ottoman Empire joined the war against the Central Powers in the Middle East and North Africa. Japan stayed with Britain and joined the Allies. They took over German colonies in the Pacific and China. The conflict also extended to the oceans, resulting in naval battles such as the Battle of Jutland (1916) between the British and German fleets.
Several American merchant ships were sunk by Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare, which drew the United States into the conflict. On April 6, 1917, the U.S. Congress declared war against Germany. The American army and resources contributed to the Allies and helped tip the balance in their favour.
The war was fought along two main lines, the Western Front, which ran from Belgium, through France to Switzerland, and the Eastern Front, which ran from the Baltic to the Black Sea. The Middle East and along the border between Italy and Austria saw sporadic fighting. Other countries, like India, which were not directly part of the conflict, were also dragged into the war as they were the colonies of the war front nations, thus spreading the war even further.
The Diminution of the War
The widespread utilization of machine guns, rapid-fire modern artillery, submarines, flamethrowers, tanks, aeroplanes and poison gas were seen during different phases of the war, making it deadly and destructive. By 1917, the war had cost countless human lives and drained economies.
The Bolsheviks seized power after the 1917 Russian Revolution, abducting Tsar Nicholas II. Soon, Russia withdrew from the war front, allowing Germany to focus its efforts on the Western Front.
In 1918, when the Central Powers were exhausted and new American soldiers joined the fight, things began to change. Germany and Austria-Hungary faced internal trouble and economic problems that led to the surrender of the Allies. The fighting on the Western Front was effectively ended when the armistice between Germany and the Allies was signed on November 11, 1918.
The Treaty of Versailles of June 28, 1919, is considered to be the official peace treaty signed by Germany that ended the First World War. The treaty was unjust to Germany and deemed Germany liable for initiating the conflict. As a condition of the agreement, Germany was compelled to relinquish its overseas territories and substantial sums of money to its former adversaries.
The Impact of the First World War
The impact of World War I on the world was profound and lasting. The harsh terms imposed through the Treaty of Versailles left Germany with embarrassment and economic downfall. The same treaty that ended World War I became the same document that set the stage for another world war. It left a sense of geopolitical tensions and resentment among the defeated nations. The conflict also altered the geography of Europe, resulting in the demise of the Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, German, and Russian empires.
Brief Timeline of World War I
- June 28, 1914: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife, Sophie, in Sarajevo by a Serbian nationalist.
- July 28, 1914: World War I begin. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, which triggered a chain reaction of alliances and mobilizations.
- August 1, 1914: Germany declares war on Russia.
- August 3, 1914: Germany declares war on France and invades Belgium.
- August 4, 1914: Britain declares war on Germany, marking the beginning of widespread European conflict.
- 1915-1917: Stalemate on the Western Front, characterized by trench warfare and horrific casualties.
- April 6, 1917: United States enters the war on the Allies’ side.
- November 11, 1918: The Germans and the Allies sign an armistice, ending the fighting on the Western Front.
- June 28, 1919: Germany and the Allies sign The Treaty of Versailles, officially ending World War I.
World War I – Quiz PDF
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World War I – Quiz
1. Which event is considered to have triggered the chain of reactions that led to World War I?
A) Assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand
B) Invasion of Poland
C) Signing of the Treaty of Versailles
D) Bombing of Pearl Harbor
2. Which country made the first declaration of war?
A) Germany
B) Serbia
C) Russia
D) Austria-Hungary
3. Which countries made up the Central Powers during World War I?
A) Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire
B) France, Russia, United Kingdom
C) United States, Italy, Japan
D) Serbia, Romania, Greece
4. Which event marked the official end of the First World War?
A) The abdication of Tsar Nicholas II
B) The signing of the Treaty of Versailles
C) The Bolsheviks seizing power in Russia
D) The withdrawal of Russia from the war front
5. Who won the World War I?
A) The Axis Powers
B) The Central Powers
C) The Allied Powers
D) None of the above
Answers
[1-A, 2-D, 3-A, 4-B, 5-C]
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Study Notes – World History |
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| American war of Independence | |
| World War 2 | |
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the main alliances during World War I?
The main alliances during World War I were the Central Powers, consisting primarily of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey, and the Allied Powers, which included countries such as France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan, and later, the United States.
What event triggered the start of World War I?
The assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, by a Bosnian Serb nationalist named Gavrilo Princip is considered the event that triggered the chain of reactions leading to the global conflict.
