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Wwi FRQ

World War I was characterized by trench warfare, leading to high casualties and a stalemate on the Western Front, with soldiers facing harsh conditions and the horrors of chemical warfare. Militarism fueled an arms race among European powers, resulting in quick military actions and the failure of diplomacy, while the war's aftermath saw the rise of authoritarian regimes in Germany and Italy due to economic and political instability. The Treaty of Versailles imposed severe penalties on Germany, fostering resentment and contributing to the rise of totalitarian leaders like Hitler and Mussolini, while also leading to the dissolution of empires and the creation of unstable states in Eastern Europe.

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Vijay Hans
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12 views2 pages

Wwi FRQ

World War I was characterized by trench warfare, leading to high casualties and a stalemate on the Western Front, with soldiers facing harsh conditions and the horrors of chemical warfare. Militarism fueled an arms race among European powers, resulting in quick military actions and the failure of diplomacy, while the war's aftermath saw the rise of authoritarian regimes in Germany and Italy due to economic and political instability. The Treaty of Versailles imposed severe penalties on Germany, fostering resentment and contributing to the rise of totalitarian leaders like Hitler and Mussolini, while also leading to the dissolution of empires and the creation of unstable states in Eastern Europe.

Uploaded by

Vijay Hans
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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a) One major characteristic of World War I was trench warfare, which

defined combat on the Western Front and contributed to the war’s high
casualties and prolonged stalemate. Both the Allied and Central Powers
dug vast networks of trenches stretching from the North Sea to
Switzerland, reinforcing defensive positions with barbed wire, machine
guns, and artillery. This defensive style of warfare resulted in battles of
attrition, such as the Battle of Verdun, where hundreds of thousands of
soldiers died with little territorial gain. Additionally, soldiers in the
trenches endured harsh living conditions, including mud, trench foot,
and constant exposure to artillery bombardments. The introduction of
chemical warfare, such as Germany’s large-scale use of chlorine gas at
the Second Battle of Ypres, further exemplified the horrors of trench
warfare, making it one of the defining features of World War I.
b) One major cause of World War I was militarism, which led to an arms
race and increased tensions among European powers. By the early
20th century, major nations such as Germany and Britain significantly
expanded their military capabilities. The Anglo-German naval arms
race saw Germany attempt to challenge Britain’s dominance at sea by
rapidly constructing battleships such as the Dreadnought-class
warships, escalating hostility between the two nations. On land,
European powers, particularly Germany, France, and Russia,
maintained massive standing armies and developed detailed war
plans. The Schlieffen Plan, Germany’s strategy for a two-front war
against France and Russia, relied on rapid mobilization and an invasion
of Belgium, disregarding Belgian neutrality. This militaristic mindset
meant that once war was declared, countries were quick to act on their
preexisting military strategies, making diplomacy nearly impossible
and accelerating the path to total war.
c) World War I led to the rise of authoritarian regimes in Europe,
particularly in Germany and Italy, as economic devastation and
political instability created fertile ground for totalitarian leaders. The
Treaty of Versailles imposed severe penalties on Germany, including
territorial losses (such as Alsace-Lorraine to France), a reduction of its
military to 100,000 troops, and $33 billion in reparations. These harsh
terms fueled widespread resentment in Germany, which political
leaders such as Adolf Hitler exploited by blaming the treaty for
Germany’s suffering and promoting ultranationalist ideologies. The
economic collapse following the Great Depression further weakened
democratic governments, leading to the Nazi Party’s rise and Hitler’s
appointment as Chancellor in 1933. Similarly, in Italy, widespread
dissatisfaction with postwar economic struggles and territorial
disappointments (such as the failure to gain Dalmatian territories
promised in the Treaty of London) contributed to the rise of Benito
Mussolini, who established a fascist dictatorship in 1922. Beyond
authoritarianism, World War I also led to the dissolution of empires,
such as the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires, resulting in the
formation of new, unstable states in Eastern Europe. Many of these
states, such as Poland and Yugoslavia, struggled with ethnic divisions
and political fragmentation, making them susceptible to both internal
turmoil and external aggression from expansionist powers like Nazi
Germany. Thus, the First World War directly shaped the political
landscape of interwar Europe by destabilizing old power structures and
paving the way for the rise of totalitarianism.

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