World War I (1914-1918)
● Duration: July 28, 1914 – November 11, 1918 (4 years, 3 months, 2 weeks, and 4 days)
● Key Participants:
○ Allied Powers: British Empire, France, Russian Empire (until 1917), United
States (from 1917), Italy (from 1915), Japan, Serbia, Belgium, Romania,
Portugal, Greece.
○ Central Powers: German Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire,
Bulgaria.
● Key Theatres: Western Front (France/Belgium), Eastern Front (Russia), Italian Front,
Balkan Front, Middle Eastern Front, African Front, Naval Warfare.
Causes:
World War I, often called "The Great War," was triggered by a complex interplay of long-term
factors and immediate events:
● Militarism: An arms race among European powers, characterized by large standing
armies, powerful navies, and the glorification of military power.
● Alliances: A complex web of interlocking military alliances (e.g., the Triple Entente and
the Triple Alliance) meant that a conflict between two nations could quickly escalate.
● Imperialism: Rivalries over colonies and global economic dominance fueled tensions
between major powers, particularly between Britain and Germany.
● Nationalism: Intense nationalistic fervor and aspirations for self-determination among
various ethnic groups (especially in the Balkans) contributed to instability. The decline of
the Ottoman Empire created a power vacuum in the Balkan region.
● Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: The immediate trigger was the
assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian nationalist
in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. This led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia,
setting off a chain reaction through the alliance system.
Major Events:
● 1914: German invasion of Belgium and France; Battle of the Marne halting the German
advance; start of trench warfare on the Western Front; Russia mobilizes on the Eastern
Front.
● 1915: Italy joins the Allies; extensive trench warfare and attrition battles (e.g., Gallipoli
Campaign).
● 1916: Battle of Verdun and Battle of the Somme (both extremely costly in terms of
human lives); introduction of tanks.
● 1917: United States enters the war; Russia withdraws after the Bolshevik Revolution;
unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany.
● 1918: German Spring Offensive fails; Allied counteroffensives (Hundred Days
Offensive); collapse of the Central Powers; Armistice signed on November 11.
Outcomes and Impact:
● Human Cost: An unprecedented loss of life, with an estimated 9 to 15 million military
personnel and civilians killed.
● Collapse of Empires: The war led to the dissolution of four major empires: the
Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, German, and Russian Empires.
● New Nation-States: The collapse of empires led to the creation of new nation-states in
Central and Eastern Europe (e.g., Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Baltic states).
● Treaty of Versailles (1919): Imposed harsh terms on Germany, including significant
territorial losses, demilitarization, and heavy reparations, which contributed to
resentment and future instability.
● League of Nations: Established to promote international cooperation and prevent future
wars, though it ultimately failed to prevent World War II.
● Rise of New Powers: The war weakened European powers, paving the way for the rise
of the United States and the Soviet Union as global powers.
● Technological Advancement: Accelerated developments in military technology (tanks,
aircraft, chemical weapons).
● Social and Political Change: Contributed to women's suffrage movements, changes in
social structures, and strengthened independence movements in colonized territories.
