WORLD WAR I
INTRODUCTION
Modern Indians think of the World War as a muddy, bloody mess - a futile
massacre in which a generation of young men were slaughtered at the behest of
asinine generals.
Those who survived barbed wire and machine gun bullets went mad or
wrote poetry. Their sacrifice achieved nothing, succeeding only in laying down
the foundations for another bloody conflict 20 years later. World War One has
become a byword for how awful, stupid and useless war can be.
Yet these modern beliefs bear only a passing resemblance to the ways the
war was experienced at the time. The background to the long term causes of
World War One can be traced back to the end of the C19th. Alliances, broken
alliances and German naval expansion all caused much friction in Europe with
two camps developing - both of which distrusted the other. The immediate spark
of World War One may well have been the murder at Sarajevo but suspicion and
mistrust had been growing since 1882.
India played a significant part in World War One. However, India’s part in
the war is frequently overlooked as a result of the horrors experienced in trench
warfare and by Europe’s tendency to home in on battles such as those fought at
the Somme and Verdun, which many assume only Europeans fought in.
CAUSES
Imperialism
Imperialism is when a country increases their power and wealth by bringing
additional territories under their control. Before World War 1, Africa and parts of Asia were
points of contention amongst 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 World War I.
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 to war.
Nationalism
Much of the origin of the war was based on the desire of the Slavic peoples in Bosnia
and Herzegovina to no longer be part of Austria Hungary but instead be part of Serbia. In this
way, nationalism led directly to the War. But in a more general way, the nationalism of the
various countries throughout Europe contributed not only to the beginning but the extension
of the war in Europe. Each country tried to prove their dominance and power.
Immediate Cause: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The immediate cause of World War I that made all 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 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 alliances.
ALLAINCES
The alliance between Germany and Austria was natural. Both spoke the
same language - German - and had a similar culture. In previous centuries, they
had both been part of the same empire - the Holy Roman Empire.
Austria was in political trouble in the south-east of Europe - the Balkans.
She needed the might of Germany to back her up if trouble got worse. Italy had
joined these countries as she feared their power on her northern border.
Germany was mainland Europe's most powerful country - so from Italy's point of
view, being an ally of Germany was an obvious move. Each member of the Triple
Alliance (Germany, Austria and Italy) promised to help the others if they were
attacked by another country.
The Triple Entente was less structured than the Triple Alliance. "Entente"
means understanding and the members of the Entente (Britain, France and
Russia) did not have to promise to help the other two if they got attacked by
other countries but the understanding was that each member would support the
others - but it was not fixed.
CRISIS IN THE BALKANS
A. Ottoman Empire ruled the Balkan peninsula
B. 1900s separation stated – Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Romania and
Serbia all formed their own nations
C. Nationalism plays a roll in these new nations identities
1. Serbia – ethnic Slavs wanted to create a Slavic state (backed by
Russia which had Slavs)
2. Austria felt threatened by this because it had Slavs in its country
3. Austria and Russia wanted to rule Serbia (Sphere of Influence)
D. Austria annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908 (contained large Slavic
populations) this upset Serbian leaders
E. 1914 Serbia wanted to take over Bosnia and Herzegovina (Austria would
attack)
F. Heir (Archduke Franz Ferdinand) to the Austria visited Sarajevo with his
with and was assassinated by a member of the Serbian Group The Black
Hand, which wanted to liberate Serbia from Austrian influence.
G. This led to an ultimatum from Austria on Serbia, which was backed by
Kaiser Wilhelm II, Germany, to do whatever Austria wanted.
H. Serbia responded with it’s own conditions and Austria rejected it
I. July 28, 1914 Austria responed by declaring war on Serbia and Russia
moved troops towards Austria’s borders
ALLIANCE SYSTEM COLLAPSES
A. Russia (part of the Triple Entente) is Serbia’s ally and moves Russian
Troops towards Austria (Triple Alliance)
B. Russia knows Germany is Austria’s ally and also moves troops towards
Germany.
C. Germany responds by declaring war on Russia, August 1, 1914
D. Germany also declares war on France two days later
Schlieffen PLAN
A. Germany’s attack plan
B. Germany attacks France first and then Russia
C. Supposedly Russia cannot mobilize their forces as fast as France (Russia’s
lack of railroad infrastructure)
D. Germany invades Belgium to get to France
E. Great Britain has ties with Belgium and declares war on Germany
CONFLICT GRINDS TO A HALT
A. Western Front
1. Germans took over Belgium and moved within the border of Paris
2. France, English vs. Germans
3. Battle in the Marne Valley (Germany Defeated)
4. Settle down on the French and German Border
B. Eastern Front
1. Russians, Serbs vs. Germans, Austrians and Turks
2. Stretched from Serbia in the south to the Russian/Austria/German
Border on the East and North.
FIGHTING EXTENDS BEYOND EUROPE
A. New Alliances form
1. Japan enters the war on the Allie’s side along with Italy (1915)
2. Ottoman Turks and Bulgaria allied with Germany (1915)
3. The Battle at Dardanelles (Gallipoli Peninsula) Allies attack the
Ottoman Empire (Allies defeated)
a) Allies wanted to topple the Ottoman Empire – help Arabs to
free themselves
i. Take control of Baghdad, Jerusalem, and Damascus
B. Japan takes German colonial possessions in China, Pacific Islands
C. US enters the war (April 2, 1917)
1. Germany attacks ships sending materials to England and France –
with their U-Boats (submarines)
2. 1915 Germany sinks the Lusitania (128 US citizens dead) did carry
ammunitions
3. Arthur Zimmerman – Germany’s foreign secretary – sends a letter
to a German ambassador in Mexico
a) It states Germany will help Mexico take back the land it lost
to the US in the US / Mexico War (1846 –1848)
b) US declares war on Germany (some say for economic
reasons)
INDIA IN WORLD WAR 1
When war broke out in 1914, India was in a state of growing
political unrest. The Indian National Congress had gone from being a
group that simply discussed issues to a body that was pushing for more
self-government. Before the war started, the Germans had spent a great
deal of time and energy trying to stir up an anti-British movement in
India. Many shared the view that if Britain got involved in a crisis
somewhere in the world, Indian separatists would use this as an
opportunity to advance their cause.
These fears were unfounded. When war was declared on August
4th, India rallied to the cause. Those with influence within India believed
that the cause of Indian independence would best be served by helping
out Britain in whatever capacity India could – including the Indian
National Congress. Offers of financial and military help were made from
all over the country. Hugely wealthy princes offered great sums of money,
and even areas outside of British India offered help – Nepal offered help
and in total sent 100,000 Gurkhas and the Dalai Lama in Tibet offered
1000 of his troops to the cause. Despite the pre-war fears of unrest,
Britain, in fact, could take many troops and most of her military
equipment out of India as fears of unrest subsided. Indian troops were
ready for battle before most other troops in the dominions.
WAR COMES TO A CLOSE
Russia withdraws from the war in March 1918 due to change of government
and signs a treaty with Germany. Germany wins the war on the Eastern Front,
and Germany moves troops to the Western Front. Battle at Marnes II, July 1918,
with the help of roughly 2 million US troops the Allies move towards Germany to
attack. Ottoman Turks, and Bulgaria surrender, and Austria-Hungary has a
revolution and German soldiers mutinied and Kaiser Wilhelm II steps down. On
November 11, 1918 French sign an armistice with Germany to stop fighting
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was the peace settlement signed after
World War One had ended in 1918 and in the shadow of the Russian Revolution
and other events in Russia. The treaty was signed at the vast Versailles Palace
near Paris - hence its title - between Germany and the Allies. The three most
important politicians there were David Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau and
Woodrow Wilson. The Versailles Palace was considered the most appropriate
venue simply because of its size - many hundreds of people were involved in the
process and the final signing ceremony in the Hall of Mirrors could accommodate
hundreds of dignitaries. Many wanted Germany, now led by Friedrich Ebert,
smashed - others, like Lloyd George, were privately more cautious.
Over 32 countries were represented, in the treaty but four countries were
the big players - United States (Woodrow Wilson), France (Georges
Clemenceau), Great Britain (David Lloyd George), and Italy (Vittorio Orlando).
Russia and the Central Powers were not represented. Wilson proposed a peace
plan called the Fourteen Points
1. 1st Five – freedom of seas, end to secret treaties, free trade,
reduced militarism, and adjustment of colonial claims with fairness
towards colonial people
2. 6th - 13th – Specific suggestions for changing borders and creating
new nations (underlying idea behind these points was self-
determination)
3. 14th – create a general association of nations to deal with
international situations (League of Nations)
Germany was to blame for the war and had to pay reparations to the
Allies (Article 231) of the treaty. Germany’s colonial possessions in Africa and
Asia were declared mandates. Allies rule until the people are able to rule
themselves. Ottoman Empire had to give up it’s territory in the Middle East –
Palestine, Iraq, Trnasjordon, Syria and Lebanon. Russia had to give up their
Eastern Block countries Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland. Austria-
Hungary split into – Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia. Quicksand
Treaty – United States rejected the League of Nations, Colonial Nations felt
cheated by the mandates, Japan and Italy wanted more, Germany was bitter