Understanding the Causes and Stages of World War I
The Causes of World War I
France wanted the territory of Alsace-Lorraine, which had been ceded to Prussia in 1871 during the course of German unification. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria, and Prussia. The government was tolerant of Polish nationalism in the Prussian area, while the Russian Tsar aimed to unify and integrate Poland into the Russian Empire.
In the Balkans, tensions had escalated before the Great War, particularly between Austria and Russia. Russia was interested in having an outlet to the sea and needed support for the compensation sought from Serbia. Austria had lost Italian territory during the unification of Italy.
Within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, nationalist movements arose in different territories, including Hungarians, Czechs, and Slovaks. Kaiser Wilhelm II awakened an expansionist zeal, aiming for the union of all Germanic peoples.
All powers launched into a spectacular arms race. France feared Germany, and Germany aimed to overtake France and Britain. Britain had always been the undisputed mistress of the seas, and when a German fleet became as strong as theirs, tensions rose. Germany began constructing submarines that threatened both France and Great Britain.
Great Britain, as the great industrial power of Europe, suffered during the late 19th century. The principles of German development favored aggressive economic policies that promoted exports, allowing Germany to replace Britain as a key supplier.
The Archduke was the heir to the Austrian crown and was murdered in Sarajevo. When Austria assured German support, it sent an ultimatum demanding the suppression of propaganda and the expulsion of Austrian army officers and terrorist organizations (which were rejected). This led to the outbreak of World War I. On July 28, Austria declared war on Serbia. Russia declared war to help Serbia against Austria, and Germany declared war on Russia. Kaiser Wilhelm II declared war on France. Germany invaded Belgium, prompting Great Britain to intervene.
Stages of the War
In the west, the Germans attempted the Schlieffen Plan, which aimed to attack France before the Russians could mobilize. They invaded Belgium and France, but the latter managed to resist and stop the German advance, leading to trench warfare.
On the eastern front, the Russians were defeated by the Germans at Tannenberg, while Austria was also defeated, and Serbia was abandoned after the battle of Lemberg.
The Schlieffen Plan failed, and the Germans found themselves in a stabilized trench warfare situation, which tested the endurance of soldiers under continuous fire for years, often with poor hygiene. The Battle of Verdun became a prototype of trench warfare, where the French resisted the German push. The British won the naval battle at Jutland, but to the east, the Allies failed in their attempt to open the Turkish straits to communicate with Russia. The balance of power favored the Central Powers due to their greater human and economic resources, but they did not achieve a definitive victory.
In the west, the war escalated. The German submarine actions caused significant losses to American ships, motivating U.S. participation in the conflict against the authoritarianism of the Central Powers and in defense of the freedom of peoples. The incorporation of the U.S. helped offset the balance in favor of the Allies, providing substantial supplies, capital, and materials.
In the east, the Bolshevik Revolution led to Russia exiting the war through the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, eliminating the eastern front.
In the final year of the war, when the Americans intervened decisively, the Central Powers began to decline. The war ended in 1918, leading to the crumbling of the Hapsburg Empire, the peace with Turkey and Bulgaria, and the start of a revolutionary movement in Germany.