World War 1 Causes

• Imperialism: The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a rivalry between established European
imperial powers like Britain, France, and Russia, and rising powers like Germany, Austria-Hungary,
Italy and Japan.
○ These nations were competing fiercely for colonies, economic supremacy, and spheres of
influence, fueling tensions.
○ By 1900, Germany’s industrial and military rise, fueled by iron and steel production, and
naval buildup challenging Britain’s supremacy, disrupted the European balance of power.
○ Japan’s victory over Russia in 1904-1905 exposed Russian weaknesses and undermined its
global standing. The 1905 victory highlighted Asia’s rising power to defeat a European
empire and fueled unrest leading to the 1917 Russian Revolution.
○ After the 1917 Russian Revolution, the Bolshevik government under Vladimir
Lenin withdrew Russia from WWI, citing it as an imperialist conflict driven by capitalist
interests, aiming to end Russia’s involvement in what they deemed an unjust war.
• Colonialism: The Industrial Revolution fueled European powers’ pursuit of colonial expansion for
raw materials and markets, sparking conflicts over territories and resources.
○ This race for colonies intensified rivalries and fueled nationalist sentiments, setting the stage
for future confrontations.
○ While Germany is generally blamed for World War I, the conflict was ultimately the result
of competing colonial aspirations and rivalries among European powers.
• Nationalism and demands of nation-states: The rise of nationalism, both ethnic and linguistic,
played a significant role in the outbreak of World War I. Various ethnic groups within Austria-
Hungary and the Ottoman Empire aspired to establish their own nation-states.
○ Examples: Czechs, Slovaks, Poles, Serbs, and Croats within the Austria-Hungary Empire and
Armenians, Greeks, and Bulgarians within the Ottoman Empire.
○ The declining power of the Ottoman Empire (sick man of Europe) in the Balkan region
created a power vacuum and fueled nationalist aspirations among various ethnic groups
within its territories.
○ This desire for self-determination led to conflicts, particularly in the Balkan region.
○ The Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, fought between the Balkan states and the Ottoman Empire,
further destabilised the region and set the stage for future conflicts.
• Role of Germany: Germany’s aggressive pursuit of colonial expansion, naval buildup challenging
British supremacy, and unwavering support for Austria-Hungary after the Sarajevo assassination
fueled tensions, and escalated the crisis.
○ Furthermore, Germany’s calculated risk of a localized war and its underestimation of Russia
and France’s willingness to intervene contributed significantly to the outbreak of a wider
European conflict.
○ While Germany was not solely responsible, its actions and miscalculations were critical
factors that precipitated the descent into World War I.
• Immediate Cause: The immediate trigger was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of
Austria by a Bosnian Serb nationalist on June 28, 1914.
○ This event escalated into a conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, which quickly drew
in other powers due to the complex web of alliances and rivalries.
• Mutual Defense Alliances: The complex web of alliances like the Triple Entente (Britain, France,
and Russia) and Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy) bound nations through
treaty obligations.
○ When Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia after Sarajevo, Russia had to support its ally,
Serbia. Germany then honoured its alliance with Austria-Hungary, leading to declarations of
war against Russia and France.
Britain joined to support its Russian and French allies.

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 ○ Britain joined to support its Russian and French allies.
○ These interlocking alliances divided Europe into opposing camps, transforming a local crisis
into a continent-wide conflagration as countries upheld commitments to respective allies....
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consequences
Economic Consequences
• The participating countries in World War I incurred significant financial costs.
• Germany and Great Britain spent approximately 60% of their GDP on the war.
• To finance the war, countries raised taxes, borrowed money from citizens, and resorted to
printing money, leading to post-war inflation.
• Political Consequences
• Collapse of Empires: The war led to the fall of four major empires – the Russian Empire, German
Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Ottoman Empire.
• This paved the way for the emergence of new nation-states and the redrawing of borders.
• Rise of New Nation-States and Territorial Changes: The dissolution of the old empires led to the
rise of several new nation-states. These newly formed countries, including Poland, Czechoslovakia,
Yugoslavia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, were largely established along ethnic and
nationalist lines.
• The territorial changes were significant, with the dismantling of the Austro-Hungarian Empire into
independent states of Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia.
• Poland regained territories from Russia and Germany.
• Through the League of Nations mandate system, Great Britain and France gained control over
former Ottoman territories in the Middle East, such as Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.
• Weakening of European Powers: The war significantly weakened the major European powers,
such as Britain, France, and Germany, both economically and militarily. This paved the way for the
rise of new powers, such as the United States and the Soviet Union.
• Rise of Nationalism and Self-Determination: The principle of self-determination, advocated by U.S.
President Woodrow Wilson, gained traction, leading to the formation of new nation-states based
on ethnic and linguistic identities.
• However, this also laid the groundwork for future conflicts as borders were redrawn, leaving some
ethnic groups dissatisfied.
Social Consequences
• World War I had a profound impact on society.
• Birth rates declined due to the high number of casualties, leaving millions dead, wounded,
maimed, and creating widows and orphans.
• Many civilians lost their land and became refugees, seeking shelter in other countries.
• Women played a crucial role in the workforce, replacing men in factories and offices during the
war.
• Post-war, many countries granted women more rights, including the right to vote.
• The first world war challenged the dominant role of the upper classes, as the middle and lower
classes demanded a say in shaping their countries.
International Consequences
• The global order underwent a significant shift, with the United States establishing itself as a major
power and the Soviet Union (formed after the Russian Revolution) inspiring other nations to adopt
Communist ideologies.
• This set the stage for the ideological struggle between Capitalism and Communism, known as
the Cold War, which would shape the world for decades to come.
• The United States, having emerged victorious without experiencing war on its own territory,
became a prominent global power.
• The Russian Revolution of 1917 and social unrest in the aftermath of the war fueled protests and
created a pre-revolutionary atmosphere in many countries.
• Extreme nationalism and fear of Communist revolutions pushed some middle-class populations
towards right-wing extremism and the rise of fascist movements.

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 towards right-wing extremism and the rise of fascist movements.
Creation of the League of Nations:
• The League of Nations was established as an international diplomatic organization after World
War I.
• Its purpose was to prevent conflicts and resolve disputes between countries before they escalated
into full-scale warfare.
• The League had mixed success and served as a precursor to the United Nations, achieving some
victories but also facing limitations in its effectiveness.
• Human and Economic Loss
• Over 16 million deaths and mass destruction across Europe.
• War debts and economic dislocation led to global depression.
• Collapse of Empires
• Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Russian, and German empires disintegrated.
• Treaty of Versailles (1919)
• Imposed harsh reparations and humiliation on Germany.
• Created deep resentment and economic instability—breeding ground for Hitler's rise.
• Formation of League of Nations
• Aimed to prevent future wars, but lacked enforcement power.
• Failed to check aggression in the 1930s (Manchuria, Abyssinia).
• Redrawing of Borders
• Arbitrary borders in Middle East (Sykes-Picot Agreement) sowed long-term instability.
• New states in Europe (e.g., Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia) faced ethnic tensions.

Repetition in the Interwar Period and WWII

1. Rise of Fascism & Nazism
○ Economic collapse and Treaty of Versailles led to rise of totalitarian regimes.
○ Hitler exploited nationalist sentiment — a distorted echo of WWI's nationalist fervor.
2. Failure of Appeasement
○ Britain and France failed to contain fascist aggression (e.g., Munich Agreement).
○ Unlike the tragedy of miscalculated alliances, WWII began with avoidable appeasement.
3. Another World War
○ WWII (1939–1945) began with similar causes — nationalism, imperialism, unresolved
grievances — but in more ideological and destructive form.

Critical Reflection: Was it Tragedy, Then Farce?

• Repetition of structural causes: Both wars originated in imperial rivalries, nationalism, and
militarism — showing how history rhymed.
• Difference in scale and nature:
○ WWI was a tragic collapse of diplomacy; WWII a farcical failure to learn from history.
○ WWI ended with idealistic attempts (League of Nations), WWII led to more pragmatic
institutions (UN, Bretton Woods).

India's Role in World War I

• Over 1.3 million Indian soldiers served in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
• India contributed £100 million to the British war effort.
• Hopes were raised that India’s loyalty would be rewarded with constitutional reforms and
autonomy.
Military Contribution: India provided a massive supply of troops, resources, and materials to support the
British war effort.
• A large number of Indian soldiers served in the British Indian Army during World War I, fighting in
various theatres, including Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
• Prominent campaigns involving Indian troops were the Battle of Gallipoli (1915),
the Mesopotamian Campaign(1914-1918), and the Palestine Campaign (1917-1918).

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 the Mesopotamian Campaign(1914-1918), and the Palestine Campaign (1917-1918).
• The Indian Army played a crucial role in defending the British Empire’s interests and territories.
• The iconic India Gate in Delhi was constructed by the British Empire in 1931 to commemorate the
casualties of Indians during World War I (and in the Third Anglo-Afghan War).
• Economic Contribution: India’s economic resources were heavily exploited by the British to
finance the war.
• India contributed financially through taxes and the purchase of war bonds.
• Indian industries were geared towards producing essential war materials, such as clothing,
equipment, and ammunition.
🇮🇳 Impact of World War I on the Indian Freedom Struggle
1. 🪖 Militarization and Political Awakening
• Widespread recruitment and war propaganda politicized rural India.
• Veterans returned with new experiences, broader worldviews, and exposure to nationalist ideas.
2. 💰 Economic Hardship and Unrest
• War led to inflation, food shortages, and economic disruption.
• Increased taxation and forced war loans led to rural distress and urban discontent, fueling anti-
British sentiment.
3. 🛑 Broken Promises: Betrayal of Expectations
• After the war, Indians expected self-governance (Home Rule).
• Instead, they were met with the Rowlatt Act (1919) — a repressive law curtailing civil liberties.
• Created a deep sense of betrayal, pushing moderates towards radical nationalism.
4. 🩸 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919)
• Peaceful protest against the Rowlatt Act led to General Dyer’s brutal massacre in Amritsar.
• Galvanized Indian opinion against colonial rule and exposed the true face of British imperialism.
• Gandhi called it a "dividing line" in India's political history.
5. 🤝 Rise of Mass Movements
• War disillusionment and post-war repression led to:
○ Khilafat Movement (1919–24) to protect Ottoman Caliphate.
○ Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) led by Gandhi, combining Khilafat and nationalist
demands.
6. 📜 Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919)
• Offered limited dyarchy-based self-governance in provinces.
• Fell short of expectations, fueling further agitation.
7. 🌍 Global Influence on Nationalism
• President Wilson’s "self-determination" doctrine inspired Indian nationalists.
• Anti-colonial ideas gained traction through global developments (e.g., Russian Revolution 1917).
• Economic Strain: The war placed a heavy economic burden on India. Resources, finances, and
manpower were diverted to support the British war effort, leading to shortages, inflation, and economic
hardships for the Indian population.
• Nationalist Movement Gained Momentum: India’s significant contributions in terms of soldiers,
resources, and finances strengthened the demand for self-governance and independence from British
rule. The war exposed Indian soldiers to ideas of self-determination and nationalism, further fueling the
independence movement.
• Political Reforms: The British government, acknowledging India’s contributions, introduced
the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919, which aimed to introduce limited self-governance in India.
However, these reforms were deemed inadequate by many Indian leaders, further intensifying the calls
for independence.
• Rise of Revolutionary Movements: The frustration with British rule and the lack of substantial political
reforms led to the rise of revolutionary movements, such as the Ghadar Party and the Hindu-Muslim
revolutionaries, seekin

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📌 Summary Table for Quick Revision
Impact Area Details
Militarization 13 lakh Indians served; returnees spread political awareness
Economic Effects Inflation, food crisis, rural anger
Political Expectations Demand for Home Rule unmet; led to distrust
Repression and Backlash Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh → mass resistance
Rise of Movements Khilafat + Non-Cooperation = First mass national movement under Gandhi
Global Ideas Influence of Wilsonian ideals and Bolshevism on Indian youth

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