The Great War, or World War I, commenced in 1914 following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. This act of regicide triggered a widespread conflict across Europe that endured until 1918. In this war, the Central Powers, consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire, faced off against the Allied Powers, including Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Canada, Japan, and the United States. The utilization of new military technologies, coupled with the brutal realities of trench warfare, led to unprecedented levels of devastation and loss. When the war finally concluded, with the Allied Powers emerging victorious, the death toll reached a staggering figure of over 16 million, encompassing both soldiers and civilians (History.com Editors, 2009).
Six Causes of WW1
・Europian expansionism
In the 1900s, a number of European countries controlled huge worldwide empires that spanned vast swaths of land. The dominions of Britain and France owned sizable colonial territories and possessed the most power before the start of World War I, colonizing places like India, modern-day Vietnam, and West and North Africa. The rise of tensions between European countries as a result of the growth of Britain’s and France’s empires, known as imperialism, was a major factor in the outbreak of World War I. These conflicts emerged as a result of the fact that many colonies were taken over by imperial control after being taken over by the dominating nation through coercive tactics. These colonial areas were frequently exploited by their mother nations, which caused a great deal of hatred and discontent. Tensions increased between rival empires, notably Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire, as British and French expansionism continued. The Central Powers, composed of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire, were actively involved in the struggle for the entirety of World War I as a result, which ultimately led to the foundation of the Allied Powers (Britain and France) (Norwich University Online, 2017).
・Serbian nationalism
In the period leading up to World War I, various political forces were at play, and one significant force was nationalism, particularly Serbian nationalism. The roots of Serbian nationalism can be traced back to the mid- to late-1800s, although two specific nationalist incidents are directly connected to the onset of WWI. Within the Balkans, the Slavic Serbs aimed for independence from Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. In 1878, they made an attempt to gain control over Bosnia and Herzegovina, aiming to establish a unified Serbian state. As the Ottoman Empire declined, Serbian nationalism continued to grow, eventually reaching its pinnacle with the assassination of the Archduke of Austria in 1914. The assassin, a Bosnian Serb, set in motion the official start of the Great War (Norwich University Online, 2017).
The assassination of Franz Ferdinand
Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on June 28, 1914, with Ferdinand being specifically targeted as the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. On that fateful day, the Archduke traveled to Sarajevo to oversee the inspection of imperial armed forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina, regions that had been acquired by Austria-Hungary from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. While Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were riding in an open car in Sarajevo, Princip fired shots at them, resulting in their tragic deaths. Subsequently, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum, which Serbia rejected, leading Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, supported by Germany. Russia, in turn, came to Serbia’s defense, thereby setting in motion the initiation of the First World War (Norwich University Online, 2017).
Conflicts of alliances
During the era of imperialism preceding World War I, European countries established alliances that pledged mutual support in case of a conflict involving their allies and other major powers. Prior to the outbreak of World War I and during World War I, significant alliances were established among various nations. These included the alliance between Russia and Serbia, the close ties between France and Russia, the alliance formed by Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary, the collaboration between Britain, France, and Belgium, the partnership between France, Britain, and Russia, and the alliance between Japan and Britain. The Triple Entente, formed in 1907 between France, Britain, and Russia, created significant tensions among nations. Germany perceived this encircling alliance as a threat to its power and existence. As tensions escalated due to the alliance system, these preexisting alliances contributed to the declaration of war between various nations when confronted with conflicts. These conflicts arising from alliances, which obligated nations to defend each other, eventually led to the formation of the Allied and Central Powers in World War I. By the beginning of the war, Italy and the United States had joined the Allied Powers, comprising Russia, France, and Great Britain. In contrast, the Central Powers included Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria (Norwich University Online, 2017).
The “blank check” assurance symbolized the collusive plotting of Germany and Austria-Hungary as they hatched their plans.
At the outset of World War I, the alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary was commonly referred to as the “blank check assurance.” In July 1914, during a meeting involving members of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, the German Emperor, the German Chancellor, and the Ambassador to Berlin, Germany provided Austria-Hungary with unconditional support following the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. This “blank check” assurance, characterized by unwavering support, provides Austro-Hungarian leaders with the confidence to initiate a war against Serbia. Historians today consider this decision one of the most contentious in the annals of modern warfare, primarily because Germany did not retract its unconditional support when given the opportunity to do so. Consequently, it is widely acknowledged as one of the key factors attributing responsibility to Germany for the escalation and prolongation of World War I. aimed to secure military and political victories in the Balkans (Norwich University Online, 2017).
・Germany millenarianism-spirit of 1914
Millenarianism denotes a belief embraced by religious, political, or social groups, envisioning a significant forthcoming transformation that will bring about comprehensive changes. As World War I approached, Germany experienced a notable manifestation of this phenomenon, known as the Spirit of 1914. Historians note that there was strong support from the German populace for engaging in the war. The German government perceived its involvement in the conflict, alongside Austria-Hungary, as a means to solidify its position as a leading global power. This idea was supported by popular nationalism, which strengthened the country’s support for its monarchy. The German government projected itself as being capable of accomplishing more through unity and nationalistic zeal as a result of the initial achievements experienced by Germans in the early battles of World War I. This sense of millenarianism, however, was short-lived since Germany showed itself to be ill-equipped to withstand the extended nature of the war, which had a devastating and demoralizing impact on its people. In the end, this prepared the way for the Third Reich to arise less than two decades later (Norwich University Online, 2017).
Who won and lost World War I?
The Allied Powers, comprising the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Japan, and Italy, emerged as the victors in World War I, triumphing over the Central Powers, which encompassed Imperial Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Ottoman Empire (History.com Editors, 2009).
End of WW1
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the Great War, also known as World War I, came to an end. At 5 a.m. Germany agreed to an armistice with the Allies that morning since it was running low on supplies and troops and was about to be invaded. This noteworthy occurrence occurred in a train car outside of Compiégne, France. Nine million troops died in the First World War as a result of its devastating effects, while another 21 million were injured. Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, France, and Great Britain lost at least a million people apiece among the participating countries. In addition, at least five million civilians died from sickness, starvation, or exposure (History.com Editors, 2010).
Reference
History.com Editors (2009). World War I. [online] HISTORY.com. Available at: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history [Accessed 21 May 2023]
History.com Editors (2010). World War I ends. [online] HISTORY. Available at: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/world-war-i-ends [Accessed 21 May 2023]
Norwich University Online (2017). Six Causes of World War I. [online] Norwich University Online. Available at: https://online.norwich.edu/academic-programs/resources/six-causes-of-world-war-i [Accessed 21 May 2023]
