World War I: Origins, Development, and Aftermath

Posted on Mar 13, 2025 in History

Origins and Causes of World War I

The antecedents of the conflict can be traced back to the early twentieth century, when tensions, which Bismarck had concealed with his alliance systems, came to light and intensified during the period of armed peace:

  • Arms Race: An arms race among all the European powers and the formation of two blocs (Triple Alliance and Triple Entente).
  • Balkan and Moroccan Crises: These crises occurred from 1905 to 1914.

Causes:

  • Territorial Tensions: France claimed Alsace-Lorraine from Germany; Russia and Austria vied for control of the Balkans and Poland; minority nationalists revolted against the authorities of the Turkish Empire.
  • Economic Tensions: Fierce competition existed between Britain and Germany.
  • Colonial Tensions: There were significant colonial tensions.

Development of the War (1914-1918)

Characteristics of the War:

  • Great geographical extension.
  • Total War: Involved the entire society and affected the economic and military spheres.
  • High mortality: More sophisticated weaponry, many fronts spanning many miles, and misidentification of the enemy contributed to high mortality.

Contenders:

  • Allies (Entente): France, Britain, Russia, Serbia, Japan, USA, Italy, Romania, Greece.
  • Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkish Empire.
  • Neutral Powers: Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands.

Outbreak of War:

A terrorist attack that killed the heir to the Austrian crown (June 1914) led to Austria accusing Serbia and presenting an ultimatum. Serbia’s rejection of the ultimatum initiated the war (September 1914) with the mobilization of troops by respective allies.

Proceedings of the War

War of Movement (September-December 1914):

  • On the Western Front, the Schlieffen Plan (German advance towards Paris) was implemented, resulting in Germany’s failure at the Battle of the Marne.
  • On the Eastern Front, a German victory at Tannenberg halted the Russian advance.

War of Positions (1915-1917):

  • Stabilization of troops in the trenches (battle of attrition).
  • On the Western Front, a new German attack on France failed (Battle of Verdun, 1916).
  • On the Eastern Front, the Germans continued their victories, occupying part of Poland, against the Russian-Romanian army.
  • In 1917, two key events occurred:
    • The triumph of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, which withdrew from the war (removing the Eastern Front).
    • The USA joined the war alongside the Allies.

Great Offensive (1918):

  • Marshal Ludendorff launched a major attack against France, but Germany suffered a dismal failure in the 2nd Battle of the Marne.
  • The Allies used the fatigue of the Central Powers to execute a major offensive, ultimately leading to Germany’s defeat.
  • The German capitulation was submitted on November 11, 1918, by the Weimar Republic (Emperor William II had fled), marking the end of the war.

Consequences

Very serious in all areas:

  • Demographic: Population stagnation (approximately 10 million dead), female overpopulation, millions of orphans and amputees.
  • Materials: Destruction of all types of infrastructure, leading to a deep economic crisis in both winning and losing countries.
  • Political: Loss of hegemony by Europe, shifting to the USA, USSR, and Japan; crisis of absolute monarchies and the rise of democracy.
  • Social: A new society emerged after the war (incorporation of women into the workplace, dominance of the urban population), accompanied by a huge moral crisis.