First World War (1914-1918): Causes and

Consequences:-

First World War (World War I) is considered as one of the largest wars in
history. The world’s great powers assembled in two opposing alliances:
the Allies (British Empire, France and the Russian Empire) versus
the Central Powers (Germany and Austria-Hungary). WWI lasted from 28
July 1914 to 11 November 1918.

The Two Groups: Allies vs Central Powers:-

IN 1914, a war began in Europe which soon engulfed almost the entire world.
The damage caused by this war had no precedent in history. In the earlier
wars, the civilian populations were not generally involved and the casualties
were generally confined to the warring armies. The war which began in 1914
was a total war in which all the resources of the warring states were
mobilized. It affected the economy of the entire world the casualties suffered
by the civilian population from bombing of the civilian areas and the famines
and epidemics, caused by the war far exceeded those suffered by the
armies. In its impact also, the war had no precedent. It marked a turning point
in world history. The battles of the war were fought in Europe, Asia, Africa
and the Pacific. Because of the unprecedented extent of its spread and its
total nature, it is known as the First World War.
Causes of the First World War:-
In the background there were many conflicts between European nations.
Nations grouped among themselves to form military alliances as there were
tension and suspicion among them. The causes of the First World War were:

(1) Conflict between Imperialist countries: Ambition of Germany

 Conflict between old imperialist countries (Eg: Britain and France) vs

new imperialist countries (Eg: Germany).
 Germany ship – Imperator.
 German railway line – from Berlin to Baghdad.

(2) Ultra Nationalism

 Pan Slav movement – Russian, Polish, Czhech, Serb, Bulgaria and

Greek.
 Pan German movement.

(3) Military Alliance

 Triple Alliance or Central Powers (1882) – Germany, Italy, Austria-

Hungary.
 Triple Entente or Allies (1907) – Britain, France, Russia.

Note: Although Italy was a member of the Triple Alliance alongside Germany
and Austria-Hungary, it did not join the Central Powers, as Austria-Hungary
had taken the offensive, against the terms of the alliance. These alliances
were reorganised and expanded as more nations entered the war: Italy,
Japan and the United States joined the Allies, while the Ottoman Empire
and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers.

(4) International Anarchy

 Secret agreement between Britain and France allowing Britain to

control Egypt and France to take over Morocco. Germany opposed, but
settled with a part of French Congo.
 Hague conference of 1882 and 1907 failed to emerge as an
international organisation.
(5) Balkan Wars

 Many Balkan nations (Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece and

Montenegro) were under the control of Turkey. They defeated Turkey
in the First Balkan War. The subsequent war was between the Balkan
countries themselves – Eg: Serbia vs Bulgaria.
 Defeated countries like Turkey and Bulgaria sought German help.

(6) Alsace-Loraine

 During German unification, Germany got Alsace-Loraine from France.

France wanted to capture Alsace-Loraine back from Germany.

(7) Immediate Cause: assassination of Francis Ferdinand

 Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serbian

native (in Bosnia). Austria declared war on Serbia on 28th July, 1914.
[Reason for assassination: Annexation by Austria the Bosnia-
Herzegovina, against the congress of Berlin, 1878]

The Course of the War:-

 Group 1 (Allies): Serbia, Russia, Britian, France, USA, Belgium,
Portugal, Romania etc
 Group 2 (Central Powers): Austria-Hungary, Germany, Italy, Turkey,
Bulgaria etc.
 War on Western Side: Battle of Marne.
 War on Eastern Side: Battle of Tennenberg (Russia was defeated).
 War on the Sea: Batter of Dogger Bank (Germany was defeated), Battle
of Jutland (Germany retreated).
 USA entered in 1917.
 Russia withdrew in 1917 after October Revolution.

Treaty of Versailles, Paris:-

 Germany signed a treaty with Allies (Triple Entente) on 28th June 1919.
It was signed at Versailles, near Paris. (14 points)
 Leaders: Clemenceau – France, Lloyd George – Britain, Woodrow
Wilson – USA, Orlando – Italy.
Treaties after World War I:-
 Treaty of Paris – with Germany.
 Treaty of St.Germaine – with Austria.
 Treaty of Trianon- with Hungary.
 Treaty of Neuilly – with Bulgaria.
 Treaty of Severes – with Turkey.

Effects of First World War:-

1. Rule of King ended in Germany: Germany became a republic on
November 1918. The German Emperor Kaiser William II fled to
Holland.
2. Around 1 crore people were killed.
3. Unemployment and famine.
4. Epidemics.
5. The fall of Russian empire after October revolution (1917) which
resulted in the formation of USSR (1922)
6. Emergence of USA as a super power.
7. Beginning of the end of European supremacy.
8. Japan became a powerful country in Asia.
9. Poland, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia became new independent
states.
10. Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia and Lithvania – became
independent.
11. Rule of Ottamans came to an end in Turkey.
12. New boundary lines were drawn for Austria, Germany and Turkey.
13. Strengthened independence movements in Asia and Africa.
14. League of Nations came into being.
15. Germany had to return Alsace-Loraine to France.
16. German colonies were shared.
17. Germany gave up Saar coal field.
18. Germany gave up Polish corridor, and made city of Danzig
independent.
19. Monarchy was abolished in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Turkey and
Russia.
20. The harsh clauses of the Treaty of Versailles finally resulted in
the second world war
Second World War (1939-1945): Causes and
Consequences:-

We have seen the causes and consequences of the First World War in the
last post. The first world war itself sowed the seeds for Second World War,
primarily because of the humiliating Treaty of Versailles. We shall see the
causes and consequences of the Second World War (WWII) in this post.

The Two Groups: Allies vs Axis Powers:-

Causes of Second World War(1939-1945):-

(1) Humiliation by the Treaty of Versailles

 War indemnity.
 The provision for disarming Germany.
 Saar coal mine to France for 15 years.
 Polish corridor was given to Poland.
 City of Danzing was made free.

(2) Growth of Fascism and Nazism

 Mussolini (Italy) and Hitler (Germany) strongly glorified war and

violence.
  While West was fighting communism, Germany and Italy started
massive militarization.

(3) Rise of Japan

 Imperialism.
 Rome-Berlin-Tokyo axis (1936).

(4) Neglect of minority interests

 New countries like Poland, Czechoslovakia and Austria were formed

after the First World War. While drawing boundaries the interests of
minority groups in each of these countries were neglected.

(5) Military Alliance

 Allies – Britain, France, USA, USSR and China vs Axis Powers –

Germany, Italy and Japan
 Leaders – Churchill (Britain), Roosevelt (USA), Stalin (USSR)

(6) Germany’s attack on Czechoslovakia

In-spite of the Munich Pact between Germany and Britain (1938), Germany
re-attacked and sized Czechoslovakia.

(7) Immediate Cause : Germany’s invasion of Poland (1st September 1939)

 Germany annexed Polished corridor and Danzig city. The sudden

attack on Poland is known as Blitzkrieg (lightning war).
 Brtiain and France declared war on Germany.

Course of the world War II:-

 World War II officially began on September 1, 1939.
 Germany conquered – Poland, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Holland
and France.
 Battle of Britain – Germany vs Britain (air battle; German Air force
=Luftwaffe).
 Battle of Stalingrad – Germany vs USSR. (Operation of Barbaressa
(1941 = Attack on Yugoslavia and Greece; Russia countered attack on
Moscow with Scorched Earth Policy).
 Atlantic Charter (August 1941) – Between Churchil (UK) and Roosevelt
(USA).
  Pearl Harbor Attack (7th December 1941) – Japan on USA.
 Italy vs UK in Africa (1942) – Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, British
Somaliland, Eritrea.
 France was conquered by Germany in 1940, but British and American
troops liberated France in 1944.
 Atom bomb – Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Effects of Second World War:-

 End of colonialism and imperialism.
 End of dictatorship in Germany and Italy.
 Germany was divided into West Germany and East Germany. West
Germanywas controlled by Britain, France and USA. East
Germany by USSR. (Read more about the re-union of Germany in
1989 when you check our post about the fall of the Berlin wall).
 Strengthening of nationalist movements in Africa and Asia. (From
Britain – India, Myanmar, Egypt, Sri Lanka; From America –
Philippines; From France – Indo-China; From Dutch – Indonesia)
 5 crore deaths (2.2 crore soldiers and 2.8 crore civilians)
 Economics problems – Unemployment, low growth etc.
 Emergence of two power blocks – USA and USSR. This resulted in cold
war.

Conclusion
The First World War had been believed to be ‘a War to end all war’. However,
the Peace Treaties had failed to ensure this. On the contrary, the treaties
contained certain provisions which were extremely harsh on the defeated
countries and thus they sowed the seeds of further conflicts. Similarly, some
victorious countries also felt cheated because all their hopes had not been
fulfilled. Imperialism was not destroyed as a result of the war. The victorious
powers had in fact enlarged their possessions. The factors which had caused
rivalries and conflicts between imperialist countries leading to the war still
existed. Therefore, the danger that more wars would be fought for another
‘redvision’ of the world. remained lurking. The emergence of the Soviet Union
was considered a danger to the existing social and economic system in many
countries. The desire to destroy it influenced the policies of those countries .
The contrast between the two situations was too glaring to be missed. Its
increasing awareness led to the growth of nationalist feelings in the colonies.
The soldiers who returned to their respective countries from the theatres of
war in Europe and elsewhere also brought with them the new stirrings.
 ROLE OF INDIA IN WORLD WAR I & II

India and World War 1

WW1’s significance for India
1. The world war ended the myth of invincibility of British Empire in India as the
British faced many humiliating defeats during the war
2. The soldiers that returned after war raised the morale of masses.
3. India supported Britain in world war on its promise of fighting for democracy
but serving Indian with Rowlat act immediately after war shattered Indians.
This led to the rise of national consciousness and soon Non Cooperation
movement was launched.
4. Formation of USSR also led to the rise of communism in India with the
formation of CPI and imparted a socialist tinge to freedom struggle.
Nature of the troops:
1. At first, much recruitment was, notionally, voluntary. But, as in India, local
political elites were incentivised to supply manpower, and they used all
means at their disposal to push villagers into service.
Why did India support British’s war efforts?
1. Indian nationalism, at that time, was dominated by moderates who believed
that if India contribution to the British war efforts would result in British’s
benevolence towards the natives and would grant us more constitutional
reforms
2. Indian army was aloof from the nationalist movement as
magazines,newspapers were not allowed in the barracks and so they fought
for the British Raj
Contribution:
1. The Empire’s biggest contribution was by India. This included 3.7 million
tonnes of supplies, over 10,000 nurses, 1,70,000 animals, £146m of Indian
revenue, and political support — including that of Gandhi, who helped recruit
Indian volunteers in the face of nationalist opposition.
2. Indian Army: the largest volunteer force in the world, which provided 1 million
troops to serve overseas.
3. Over 74,000 were killed — five times more than the combined death toll from
every war that India has fought since independence — and 80,000 were held
prisoner.
Achievements:
1. Protected the northwest of India, buttressed British garrisons in Egypt,
Singapore and China, as well as contributing to seminal battles of the
Western Front, such as the Somme and Neuve Chapelle. At Ypres, in
particular, Indian casualties were exceptionally high, compounded by the
shock of German chlorine gas in April 1915.
2. Greatest impact in West Asia: with 60% of all Indian troops serving in
Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq), and another 10% in Egypt and Palestine.
On Jerusalem’s capture the next year, it was Indian Muslim troops who were
tasked with protecting the Dome of the Rock.
India Gate
 Viceroy laid the foundation stone in 1921
 For the Indians who fought for the Empire, earning a staggering 13,000
gallantry medals in the process, this legacy of ignorance is a scandal.
 India and World war 2

Sikh soldiers Paris

Battle of Kohima and Imphal:
 It was the bloodiest battle of World War II fought in India
 In two weeks of fighting, thousands of soldiers died, the charging Japanese
troops were killed by almost continuous firing from British and Indian
machine guns
 The battle was last year voted as Britain’s greatest battle, beating Waterloo
and D-Day, in a contest by Britain’s National Army Museum last year
 The Japanese regard the battle of Imphal to be their greatest defeat ever.
 But the battle has been largely forgotten in India as an emblem of its colonial
past
 It gave Indian soldiers a belief in their own martial ability and showed that
they could fight as well or better than anyone else.
In both WW1 and WW2 Indian soldiers formed the backbone for Great
Britain’s land forces as Britain’s main advantage was its naval power. Millions
of Indian soldiers and volunteers participated in both wars on Britain side. in
would be no exaggeration to say that without Indian soldiers, Britain might
have lost the war and Germany would have conquered Europe.

Indian leaders’ reaction:

 The left saw it as people’s war as USSR was involved. They supported
British war efforts and the ban on them was removed
 Mahatma Gandhi at first did not want to take advantage of British’s troubles
with war, but after Cripps’ mission failed(could not guarantee dominion
status) and as the Japanese were right at the borders of India, he started the
Quit India movement.
Aftermath of WW2:
B ritain was now too weak to remotely govern India and also they understood
that their hegemony over Indian people has eroded.
SYNOPSIS :-

1.INTRODUCTION

2.WORLD WAR -1

a. causes of world war -1

b.impact of world war-1

3.WORLD WAR -2

a. causes

b.effect

4.ROLE OF INDIA IN WORLD WAR:-

5.CONCLUSION:-

6.BIBLIOGRAPHY:-
BIBLIOGRAPHY :-

1.tapan biswal ;- international relation

2.united nation framework

3.world history.org