World War I

How did nationalism contribute to the outbreak of WW I?

Ethnic nationalism destabilized declining multiethnic empires (Russian, Habsburg, Ottoman), leading to internal unrest and border conflicts. Serb nationalism, in particular, provoked Austria through the Black Hand’s assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

What was the significance of the alliance system in increasing tensions before WWI?

Initially designed for balance, alliances became rigid blocks (Triple Alliance vs Triple Entente). Bismarck’s diplomacy was undone by Kaiser Wilhelm II, isolating Germany and escalating the risk of a multi-front war.

How did militarization and culture fuel Europes’s “will to war”?

Military mobilization was seen as patriotic. intellectuals like Treitschke and Bernhardi romanticized war as unifying and biologically necessary. Popular sentiment in cities like Paris and Vienna was euphoric, not fearful.

What was the Black Hand, and how did it lead to war?

A Serbian nationalist-terrorist group seeking national unification through violence. Its member Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, prompting Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia-triggering alliance involvement.

What was the Schlieffen Plan, and why did it fail?

Germany’s plan to defeat France quickly by invading via Belgium, then turn to Russia. It failed due to logistical issues, Belgian resistance, and British intervention — resulting in prolonged trench welfare.

Why was trench warfare considered a “war of attrition”?

Neither side could gain territory. Battles like Verdun and the Somme caused massive casualties with minimal strategic gains, leading to psychological and physical exhaustion.

What new technologies transformed WWI combat?

The machine gun, poison gas (e.g., mustard gas), tanks, and long-range artillery made traditional warfare obsolete and massively increased death tolls and trauma.

What caused the Russian Revolutions of 1917?

Military failures, economic collapse, food shortages, and discontent with Tsarist autocracy led to the February Revolution (abdication of Nicholas II) and later the Bolshevik (October) Revolution under Lenin.

What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and its significance?

It ended Russia’s involvement in WWI, allowing Germany to focus on the Western Front. Russia ceded massive territory, angering many and triggering civil war.

How did Eduard Bernstein and Rosa Luxemburg differ in their socialist strategies?

Bernstein supported evolutionary socialism through gradual reform and parliament; Luxemburg demanded revolutionary mass action. Their split reflected broader tensions with the SPD and global socialism.

Why did Germany seek peace in late 1918?

Military exhaustion, internal uprisings, and fear of revolution pushed leaders to negotiate. Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated, and the Weimar Republic war declared.

What were the amino acids terms of the Treaty of Versailles (1919)?

Germany accepted war guilt (Article 231), paid heavy reparations ($31.4 billion), lost territory )e.g., Alsace-Lorraine), and was forced into disarmament. The treaty was signed symbolically in the Hall of Mirrors.

How did Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points contrast with the Versailles Treaty?

Wilson advocated for national self-determination and peace without punishment. The final treaty, shaped more by France and Britain, imposed severe penalties — breeding resentment in Germany.

What new nations emerged from the collapse of empires after WWI?

Austria-Hungary was dissolved into Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. The Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) and reestablished Poland also formed. Ottoman lands were later partitioned.

Why did WWI saw the seeds for future conflict?

Harsh peace terms, unresolved ethnic tensions, and the collapse of old regimes created instability. In Germany, Versailles was seen as a “Diktat,” fueling revanchism and radical politics.