World War I: Alliances, Conflicts, and Global Impact

Alliances and the Road to War

Bismarck’s Era and the Formation of Alliances

Alliances between countries began to form during the era of Chancellor Bismarck. Germany aimed to establish dominance in Europe by creating a power bloc centered around the German Empire. This alliance system also sought to isolate France and prevent a war to reclaim Alsace and Lorraine.

Bismarck negotiated the Three Emperors’ League (Austria, Russia, and Germany) and the Triple Alliance (Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy). This led to Russia’s isolation and subsequent alliance with France for mutual support against potential German or Austrian threats.

Great Britain, in response, formed an alliance with France and Russia, Germany’s main rivals, creating the Triple Entente.

Conflicts in Morocco and the Balkans

The war expanded to Morocco, a disputed territory between Germany and France. Germany’s support for the Sultan of Morocco against the French was ultimately unsuccessful, as a Franco-Spanish protectorate was established over Morocco.

Another major point of tension was the Balkan region. Former territories of the Ottoman Empire were now contested by Austria-Hungary and Russia. Three successive crises erupted in the Balkans:

  • Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina.
  • The First Balkan War (1912): The Russian Empire supported the creation of a Balkan League (Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Montenegro) to attack Turkey.
  • The Second Balkan War (1913): A war between Serbia and Bulgaria resulted in Bulgaria losing territory to several countries, including Serbia.

The Outbreak of World War I

In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo (Slavic territory occupied by Austria-Hungary) by a student with ties to Serbian movements. Austria-Hungary decided to invade Serbia, triggering a chain reaction of alliances.

Russia, in defense of Serbia, declared war on Austria-Hungary. Germany, allied with Austria-Hungary, declared war on Russia and France. Great Britain then joined the war in support of France. Only Italy initially remained neutral.

While the working class, primarily socialist, desired peace, most people felt a sense of patriotism and supported their governments, leading to a political unity known as the “sacred union.”

Trench Warfare

At the start of the war, Germany and Austria-Hungary held advantages due to their powerful armies and efficient communication, while their enemies were geographically dispersed. Germany aimed for a swift victory, as it faced a two-front war (France to the west and Russia to the east).

The Schlieffen Plan aimed for a rapid victory by invading France through Belgium. German forces reached within 40 kilometers of Paris but were halted by the French army under General Joffre at the Battle of the Marne. This victory prevented the quick German victory and allowed France to hold its ground with its allies.

On the Eastern Front, Russia invaded Austro-Hungarian territory, creating challenges for the Central Powers. Trench warfare became the defining characteristic of World War I, a protracted and brutal form of combat.

Germany’s subsequent attempts to invade France were defeated at the Battle of Verdun. The Battle of the Somme, launched by the Allies, also failed to achieve a breakthrough.

The Globalization of the Conflict

Italy joined the war a year later on the side of the Allies, achieving a victory at Caporetto. The Ottoman Empire also entered the war, expanding the conflict to the Balkans.

As the war progressed, colonial territories became involved. The introduction of submarine warfare extended the conflict to the oceans. A German submarine sank the Lusitania, a British ship carrying American passengers. Submarine warfare and the sinking of U.S. ships played a significant role in the war.

In April 1917, the United States, previously neutral, entered the war. Two million American soldiers were sent to Europe, and the Central Powers could no longer withstand the combined Allied forces. The U.S. also provided crucial supplies to Europe.

A New Kind of War

: Many villages due to fear of war and looting, have migrated to other countries, producing the first movementsREFUGEES The war allowed the participation of volunteers and mercenaries using propaganda to influence public opinion pública.Los country governments instituted the war economy, weapons factories operating at full capacity, was the basis of the economy. THE CRISIS 1917 AND THE END OF WAR: The Long War began to cause desperation in people. The people wanted the war ended, did demonstrations, strikes, there was the patriotic spirit of principle. All this in Britain, France and Italy. The Russians withdrew from the war after the 1918 revolution bolchevique.En saw the outcome of the conflict. In the Balkans, the British, French and Italians, defeated the Turks, Bulgarians and Austrians, Hungary severed its ties with Austria, the Czechs formed a country propio.Los allies defeated the Germans at the Marne, which forced the withdrawal of the army German. From September the Reich began to falter and a revolution in Germany, which made the Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated. The new German government signed the armistice was social. The war was over