NAME: IHTISHAM UL HAQ
ROLL NO: 06
DEPARTMENT : POLITICAL SCIENCE
SEMESTER : 2nd
SUBJECT: ENGLISH
ASSIGHNTNMET TOPIC : WORLD WAR FIRST
DATE : 3/5/2025
WORLD WAR FIRST HISTORY CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES:
Introduction:
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also
known as the Great War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies
(or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting took place mainly in Europe and the
Middle East, as well as in parts of Africa and the Asia-Pacific, and in Europe was
characterised by trench warfare; the widespread use of artillery, machine guns,
and chemical weapons (gas); and the introductions of tanks and aircraft. World
War I was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, resulting in an estimated 10
million military dead and more than 20 million wounded, plus some 10 million
civilian dead from causes including genocide. The movement of large numbers of
people was a major factor in the deadly Spanish flu pandemic.
CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I
World War I occurred between July 1914 and November 11, 1918. By the end of
the war, over 17 million people would
be killed including over 100,000 American troops. The reason why war erupted is
actually much more complicated than
a simple list of causes. While there was a chain of events that directly led to the
fighting, the actual root causes are much
deeper and part of continued debate and discussion. This list is an overview of the
most popular reasons that are cited
as the root causes of World War 1.
1. Mutual Defense Alliances
Over time, countries throughout Europe made mutual
defense agreements that would pull them into battle.
These treaties meant that if one country was attacked,
allied countries were bound to defend them. Before
World War 1, the following alliances existed:
Russia and Serbia
Germany and Austria-Hungary
France and Russia
Britain and France and Belgium
Japan and Britain
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russia got
involved to defend Serbia. Germany seeing Russia
mobilizing, declared war on Russia. France was then
drawn in against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Germany
attacked France through Belgium pulling Britain into war.
Then Japan entered the war. Later, Italy and the United
States would enter on the side of the allies.
2. Imperialism
Imperialism is when a country increases their power and
wealth by bringing additional territories under their
control. Before World War I, Africa and parts of Asia were
points of contention among the European countries. This
was especially true because of the raw materials these
areas could provide. The increasing competition and
desire for greater empires led to an increase in
confrontation that helped push the world into WW I.
3. Militarism
As the world entered the 20th century, an arms race
had begun. By 1914, Germany had the greatest increase
in military buildup. Great Britain and Germany both
greatly increased their navies in this time period.
Further, in Germany and Russia particularly, the military
establishment began to have a greater influence on
public policy. This increase in militarism helped push the
countries involved into war.
.
5. Immediate Cause: Assassination of
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The immediate cause of World War I that made
the aforementioned items come into play (alliances,
imperialism, militarism, nationalism) was the assassination
of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. In June
1914, a Serbian-nationalist terrorist group called the Black
Hand sent groups to assassinate the Archduke. Their first
attempt failed when a driver avoided a grenade thrown at
their car. However, later that day a Serbian nationalist
named Gavrilo Princip assassinated him and his wife while
they were in Sarajevo, Bosnia which was part of Austria
Hungary. This was in protest to Austria-Hungary having
control of this region. Serbia wanted to take over Bosnia
and Herzegovina. This assassination led to Austria-Hungary
declaring war on Serbia. When Russia began to mobilize
due to its alliance with Serbia, Germany declared war on
Russia. Thus began the expansion of the war to include all
those involved in the mutual defense.
World War One Timeline:
World War One Timeline on the beginning, major events, and end of what has
been known as the Great War. World War 1 inflicted hitherto unseen violence on
Europe and entangled the entire planet in the conflict—the first time a war was so
far-reaching. It broke empires, launched new nations onto the international stage,
and caused humanity to question its innate goodness. Scroll down to find out
more.
1. Assassination of Franz Ferdinand(8 June 1914):
The Balkan states of Bosnia and Herzegovina, had been annexed from Turkey and
taken into the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This was strongly resented by many
Serbs and Croats and a nationalist group, The Black Hand, was formed.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, and his wife, had decided to inspect Austro-
Hungarian troops in Bosnia. The date chosen for the inspection was a national day
in Bosnia. The Black Hand supplied a group of students with weapons for an
assassination attempt to mark the occasion.
A Serbian nationalist student, Gavrilo Princip, assassinated the Austrian Archduke
Ferdinand and his wife, when their open car stopped at a corner on its way out of
the town.
2. Austria declared war on Serbia(28 July 1914):
The Austrian government blamed the Serbian government for the assassination of
Franz Ferdinand and his wife and declared war on Serbia.
Although Russia was allied with Serbia, Germany did not believe that she would
mobilise and offered to support Austria if necessary.
However, Russia did mobilise and, through their alliance with France, called on the
French to mobilise.
3.Germany declared war on Russia(1 Aug 1914):
Germany declared war on Russia.
4.Germany declared war on France(3 Aug 1914):
Germany declared war on France. German troops poured into Belgium as directed
under the Schleiffen Plan, drawn up in 1905. The British foreign secretary, Sir
Edward Grey, sent an ultimatum to Germany demanding their withdrawal from
the neutral Belgium.
5.British declaration of war(4 Aug 1914):
Germany did not withdraw from Belgium and Britain declared war on Germany.
6.Battle of Tannenberg(Aug 1914):
The Russian army marched into Prussia. However, because of the differences in
railway gauge between Russia and Prussia it was difficult for the Russians to get
supplies through to their men. The Germans, on the other hand, used their
railway system to surround the Russian Second army at Tannenberg before it’s
commander could realise what was happening. The ensuing battle was a heavy
defeat for the Russians with thousands of men killed and 125,000 taken prisoner.
Although the Germans won the battle, 13,000 men were killed.
7.Japan declared war on Germany(13 Aug 1914):
Japan declared war on Germany through her alliance with Great Britain, signed in
1902
8.Battle of Masurian Lakes(Sept 1914):
Having defeated the Russian Second army, the Germans turned their attention to
the Russian First army at Masurian Lakes. Although the Germans were unable to
defeat the army completely, over 100,000 Russians were taken prisoner.
9.Turkey(Sept 1914):
Turkey entered the war on the side of the central powers and gave help to a
German naval bombardment of Russia.
10.Russia declared war on Turkey(2 Nov 1914):
Because of the help given by Turkey to the German attack of Russia, Russia
declared war on Turkey.
11.Britain and France declared war on Turkey(5 Nov 1914):
Britain and France, Russia’s allies, declared war on Turkey, because of the help
given to the German attack on Russia.
12.Early stages of the war(late 1914):
The German advance through Belgium to France did not go as smoothly as the
Germans had hoped. The Belgians put up a good fight destroying railway lines to
slow the transport of German supplies.
Despite a French counter-attack that saw the deaths of many Frenchmen on the
battlefields at Ardennes, the Germans continued to march into France. They were
eventually halted by the allies at the river Marne.
British troops had advanced from the northern coast of France to the Belgian
town of Mons. Although they initially held off the Germans, they were soon
forced to retreat.
The British lost a huge number of men at the first battle of Ypres.
By Christmas, all hopes that the war would be over had gone and the holiday saw
men of both sides digging themselves into the trenches of theWestern Front.
13.Zeppelins Dec 1914:
The first Zeppelins appeared over the English coast.
14. Lusitania sunk 7 May 1915:
There outraged protests from the United States at the German U-boat
campaign, when the Lusitania, which had many American passengers aboard, was
sank. The Germans moderated their U-boat campaign.
15.Italy 23 May 1915:
Italy entered the war on the side of the Allies.
16.Second Battle of Ypres 2 Apr 1915:
Poison gas was used for the first time during this battle. The gas, fired by the
Germans claimed many British casualties.
Dardenelles/ Gallipoli Apr – Aug 1915:
Despite the loss of several ships to mines, the British successfully landed a
number of marines in the Gallipoli region of the Dardenelles. Unfortunately the
success was not followed up and the mission was a failure.
Winston Churchill resigns after Feb 1915:
Winston Churchill, critical of the Dardenelles campaign, resigned his
post as First Lord of the Admiralty. He rejoined the army as a battalion
commander.
Zeppelins April 1915:
The use of airships by the Germans increased. Zeppelins began attacking London.
They were also used for naval reconnaissance, to attack London and smaller
balloons were used for reconnaissance along the Western Front. They were only
stopped when the introduction of aeroplanes shot them down.
Armistice with Turkey 30 Oct 1918:
The allies had successfully pushed the Turkish army back and the Turks were
forced to ask for an armistice. The terms of the armistice treaty allowed the allies
access to the Dardenelles.
Hindenberg line collapsed early Nov 1918:
By the beginning of November the allies had pushed the Germans back beyond
the Hindenberg line.
Armistice signed 11 Nov 1918:
At 11 am, in the French town of Redonthes, the Armistice was signed bringing the
war to an end.
End of World War One timeline.
THE END
