Concetti Chiave
- The Great War was sparked by multiple factors, including Germany's ambitions in the Balkans under William II, threatening British interests in Egypt and India.
- Tensions rose in the Balkans as Serbia posed a threat to Austria-Hungary, leading to the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, which became a catalyst for war.
- Germany's invasion of Belgium and England's subsequent declaration of war marked the beginning of a global conflict involving major powers and alliances.
- The war saw the use of prohibited strategies like submarine warfare and poison gas, with Germany initially gaining an advantage after Russia's collapse in 1917.
- The intervention of the United States shifted the balance, leading to the armistice on November 11, 1918, and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles in 1919, establishing the League of Nations.
What were the causes of the Great War?
The First War or Great War (1914-18) had several causes. Germany was then ruled by William II. Britain had for many years enjoyed friendly relationships with Germany, but William II, in the earlier part of the century, had tried to extend hid influence over the Balkan States. This new state of affairs would have cut off Egypt and India. France and England therefore tried to eliminate any possible sources of conflict (the so-called entente cordiale, 1904); for the same reason, Anglo-Russian relations were much improved.
Tensions in the Balkans
Germany tried unsuccessfully to break the "entente", and decided to challenge Britain in naval policy by the construction of big capital ships. In addition, Serbia, the strongest of the Balkan States, was extremely dangerous to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, owing to the risk that, on the death of the Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph (aged over 80), the Empire might be disrupted. Both Austria and Germany considered war Serbia was inevitable. In June 1914, at Sarajevo, on Serbian territory, the heir to the Austrian throne, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, was murdered by Austrian subjects of Serbian irredentist sympathetic; this offered an opportunity for war. Austrian broke off relations ith Serbia and attacked at the end of July 1914. The Germans invaded Belgium, violating its neutrality, and England declared war on Germany, in the conviction that, if victorious, Germany would have the chance of European domination.
Declaration of War
After the declaration of war, George V changed his German name of Hanover, assuming the purely English name of Windsor.
Soon war spread throughout the world: on one side were Germany and Austria-Hungary, joined by Turkey and Bulgaria; on the other Britain and the British Empire, Russia, France, Italy and the United States (from 1917).
The war lasted four years. The Germans failed to take the channel ports in 1914, and to capture Verdun in 1916; breaking the rules of war, they adopted a submarine strategy, and used prohibited poison gas. Germany has a temporary advantage when Russia collapsed in 1917, and the French offensive failed in April, while Italy was defeated by the Austrian at Caporetto in late autumn. The German illegalities at sea brought the USA into war the war; the American troops entered the war in late 1917, and fought in force particularly in 1918, when also England and France turned the balance in their favor, and Italy regained over Austria.
Conclusion and Consequences
The United States gave the ultimate blow to the exhausted force of Germany. The armistice was signed on November 11th, 1918, and the peace treaty was signed at Versailles in June 1919. Along with the Versailles Treaty, a world-wide League of Nations was formed at Geneva to keep and avoid forever the savagery of another war.
Domande da interrogazione
- What were the main geopolitical tensions leading up to the Great War?
- How did the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand contribute to the outbreak of the Great War?
- What role did Germany's military strategies play in the escalation of the Great War?
- How did the involvement of the United States influence the outcome of the Great War?
The Great War was preceded by several geopolitical tensions, including Germany's attempts to extend influence over the Balkan States, which threatened British interests in Egypt and India. This led to the entente cordiale between France and England in 1904 and improved Anglo-Russian relations.
The assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand in Sarajevo by Austrian subjects sympathetic to Serbian irredentism provided Austria and Germany with a pretext to consider war with Serbia inevitable, leading Austria to attack Serbia in July 1914.
Germany's military strategies, including the violation of Belgian neutrality and the adoption of submarine warfare and prohibited poison gas, escalated the conflict and contributed to England declaring war on Germany, fearing German domination of Europe.
The United States' entry into the war in late 1917, prompted by German illegalities at sea, provided a decisive advantage to the Allies. American troops fought in force in 1918, helping to turn the balance in favor of England, France, and Italy, leading to the armistice on November 11th, 1918.
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