World War-1

The First World War was a global conflict which lasted from 1914 to 1918. It was the deadliest conflict in human history until that time with 40 million people losing their lives. The war began in Europe with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by Serbians. It quickly spread to other parts of the world. It was fought between the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy against the the Triple Entente of France, Russia, and Britain. Later United States also joined the Entente. The Britain led alliance won the war and the Paris Peace Conference was held to conclude peace treaties.

During the 19th century, Europe was experiencing rapid economic developmentin technology and manufacture of goods. European powers went across the world to sell their goods. This led to competition among European countries for expansion and to conquer more colonies. The European powers were now entering into secret alliances to balance power against each other. This urge for domination and rising suspicion set the stage for a major conflict in the region.

Competition among European was heightened by the end of the 19th century when colonies were no longer available in Asia and Africa. Compromise was not possible due to mutual hostilities and in 1914 a war began in Europe which soon engulfed the entire world. It involved all the major countries of the world and their colonies. The damage caused by this war had no precedent in history. Since the war was spread over a very large part of the world for the first time, it is known as World War I. It marked a turning point in world history.

• System of Secret Alliances:In 1882, Germany, Austria and Italy signed the Triple Alliance pledging mutual military assistance against rival powers. England, Russia and France signed the Triple Entente in 1907. The two blocs rushed to amass weapons, maintain large armies and lead nationalist propaganda against each other. The situation was ripe for a war.
• Imperialist Ambition of Germany, Italy & Japan: As these major powers grew to challenges Britain, they also needed colonies to fulfil their economic needs.
• Nationalism: It was the excessive fervor of nationalism that intensified the rivalries of states like Germany and Great Britain. The newspapers in all countries were fanning the flames of war, even if there were peaceful solutions.

• 1904 Anglo-French Entente Cordiale signed where Britain backed France’s takeover of Morocco. This angered Germany as it wanted to take over Morocco
• 1907 British Agreement with Russia to settle differences in Persia, Afghanistan and Tibet.
• 1908 Bosnian Crisis where Austria, backed by Germany took over Bosnia, which was a Turkish province. This angered Turkey.
• 1911 Agadir Crisis where Germans recognised that Morocco is a protectorate of the French. This diplomatic defeat of Germany led to anti-British sentiment in them.
• 1912 First Balkan War (between Turkey and its erstwhile territories of Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria and Montenegro) ended with Albania being declared an independent state which angered Serbia.
• 1913 Second Balkan War started as Bulgaria wanted to take Macedonia from Serbia, however Bulgaria was defeated and had to forfeit their gains in the First Balkan War. Anglo-German influence prevented further escalation of the war by keeping Austria, who wanted to assist Bulgaria, out of the war.
• 1914 Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by Serbian assassins led to declaration of war by Austria.

Germany hoped to defeat France and then focus all its forces on Russia. But on the French (western) front, trench warfare started which stagnated the war. On the Russian (eastern) front there were no decisive winners despite heavy losses to both sides. The war expanded as other countries joined. With USA supporting the Entente parties in 1917 and the Russian Revolution in early 1918, the Triple Entente powers were able to win the war. Below is a detailed description of these events:-

• 1914: Germany's plan to swiftly defeat France through Belgium was foiled as Russia attacks the Eastern Front, diverting German troops.
• 1915: The war expands globally, with battles in West Asia, Africa, and the Far East. After the German advance had been halted, a new type of warfare developed.The warring armies dug trenches from which they conducted raids on each other. The kind of warfare that the armies were used to earlier- fighting in the open- almost disappeared.
• On the Western Front, which included eastern France and Belgium, the troops of the warring sides dug trenches and continued their raids on each other's positions.
• On the Eastern Front, Germany and Austria succeeded in repulsing the Russian attack and capturing parts of the Russian empire. They were also successful against Romania, Serbia and Italy.
• Outside Europe, there were campaigns against the Ottoman Empire in Palestine, Mesopotamia and Arabia and against Germany and Turkey in Iran where they were trying to establish their influence.
• The sinking of the British ship Lusitania by German U-Boats in 1915 heightened anti-German sentiments in the United States as several Americans died.

• April 1917: United States of America declared war on Germany
• 1917: Russia withdrew from the war after the October Revolution against the Czar. Russian revolutionaries had opposed the war from the beginning and, under the leadership of Lenin, had decided to transform into a revolutionary war to overthrow the Russian autocracy and seize power. There was a civil war with Russian revolutionaries on one side and the Entente foreign powers who opposed the revolution and Russian withdrawal from the war. Eventually, foreign intervention was thwarted.
• March 1918: Russia signs a peace treaty with Germany after withdrawing from the War.
• July 1918: A military offensive is launched by Britain, France, and the USA, leading to the collapse of Germany and its allies.
• September 1918: Bulgaria withdraws from the war.
• October 1918:Turkey surrenders.
• November 3, 1918: The emperor of Austria-Hungary surrenders.
• November 9, 1918: Revolution breaks out in Germany, leading to the establishment of a republic. Kaiser William II, Emperor of Germany flees to Holland.
• November 11, 1918:The new German government signs an armistice, marking the end of World War I.

The Paris Peace Conference, 1919: Concluding the World War I

Paris Peace Conference had representation from 27 nations, the key players were the 'Big Five,' including the U.S.A., Britain, France, Italy, and Japan.

• The Treaty of Versailles, signed with Germany on June 28, 1919, imposed harsh conditions, including territorial losses, disarmament, and reparations.
• The Treaty of Saint-Germain dissolved the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Bulgaria, Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire faced similar territorial adjustments through treaties of Neuilly, Trianon, and Sevres, respectively.

• Harsh Treaties Led to World War II: The Peace Treaties concluding World War I, largely dictated by the victorious powers, sowed seeds of discontent, fueling nationalist sentiments and economic instability, ultimately contributing to the conditions that led to the outbreak of World War II.
• Nazi Germany: The harsh terms imposed on Germany, including territorial losses, disarmament, and reparations, created a sense of resentment and humiliation among the German people. This resentment, coupled with the economic hardship caused by the war, paved the way for the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.
• Unstable Fragmented Europe:The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire also created instability in the region, leading to the emergence of new and fragile nations. The redrawing of the map of Europe left many ethnic groups dissatisfied with their new borders, which contributed to further conflict and unrest.
• Rise of Extremism in Europe: The economic devastation caused by World War I also had a profound impact on the world. The war led to widespread poverty and unemployment, which created a breeding ground for extremist ideologies.
• League of Nations: One of the most important consequences of the war was the establishment of theLeague of Nations. The League was an international organization designed to prevent future wars by promoting cooperation and diplomacy among nations. However, the League was ultimately unsuccessful in preventing World War II.
• Tench Warfare: World War I heavily employed trench warfare, where soldiers lived in dug-in trenches for months, was a new and terrible way to fight. It caused a lot of psychological trauma for soldiers, who had to deal with constant danger, fear, and death.
• Women in the Mainstream: The war also changed the roles of women in society. Many women went to work to replace the men who were fighting, and this helped to start the women's suffrage movement.
• Enhanced Weapons Capabilities: New technologies, like tanks and chemical weapons, were used in the war for the first time. These weapons were very powerful and destructive, and they raised questions about the ethics of war.

The First World War, a conflict of unimaginable scale and brutality, left a huge mark on the 20th century. While the guns fell silent in 1918, the war's physical and psychological scars continued to resonate for generations. It was in many ways a catalyst for change with women’s rights and anti-colonialism movements cropping up across the world. However, it also created weapons of mass destruction and led to World War II which is the deadliest conflict in human history.

The War changed the way people fought, thought, and lived. Therefore, we must not simply remember the First World War as a tragedy of the past, but as a stark reminder of humanity's capacity for both destruction and innovation.