WW1 Overview

Causes

Militarianism, Alliances, Imperailism, Nationalism

Militarianism

Arms race in European countries →intense potential for war

Alliances

Treaties meant that conflict could quickly escalate

Imperialism

European countries compete for resources and presence in Africa and Asia

Nationalism

Patriotism → Instability

• Serbians seek to unify Slavic people in Balkan peninsula, threatening Austria-Hungary

The trigger for WWI

Assassination of Archduke Franz → Austria-Hungary attacks Serbia and Germany joins to help

Conduct

• Total war

• Propaganda

• New Technologies

• Global Conflict

• Colonial involvement

• Turning Points

Total War

Mobilization of an entire state’s population to support the war effort; government controls production to maximize military output; rationing

Propaganda

Maintain morale and increase commitment

• Advertised war bonds

• Demonize enemy

Trench warfare

• Tunnels used to protect from artillery, very unsanitary

• Ineffective after use of tanks and air units

Dominant combat style of Western front →stalemate and high amt of casualties

Military technologies

Machine guns, poison gas, tanks, air units, submarines

Global Conflict & Colonial involvement

Countries worldwide got roped into this. European countries used soldiers and labors from colonies in Africa, Asia, and India

Turning points

US entry w/ fresh troops is a game changer; Russia’s withdrawal changes power dynamics

Effects of WWI

• Millions of casualties, loss of passion to war

• Technological and medical advancements

  • Surgery, Blood Banks, Recognition of disorders such as shell shock

• Working class increases in influence; less deference to upper classes

• Women seize the opportunity to heighten independence

• Government take over the economy for a bit to re-calibrate (kinda adhering to socialist principles)

• U.S. chillin but Europe super broke

• Treaty of Versailles →Angry Germany

  • BRAT: Blame, Reparations$, Army, Territory

  • Fascist Italy, Communist Russia, Nazi Germany