World War I: Causes, Events, and Turning Points

• World War I, also known as the Great War, lasted from 1914 to 1918.
• It involved the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria) against the Allied Powers (France, Britain, Russia, Italy, United States).

Causes of World War I

• Militarism: European powers engaged in a massive military build-up, creating an environment of suspicion and fear.
• Alliances: A complex web of alliances obligated nations to defend each other, turning a local conflict into a wider war.
• Imperialism: Competition for colonies and resources created tensions among European powers.
• Nationalism: Strong nationalist sentiments in various European countries led to territorial disputes and ethnic tensions.
• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, was the immediate trigger.

Key Events and Turning Points

• 1914: Germany invades Belgium, initiating the Schlieffen Plan to quickly defeat France before turning to Russia.
• The First Battle of the Marne halts the German advance into France.
• 1915: Trench warfare becomes the dominant form of combat on the Western Front.
• The Gallipoli Campaign, an Allied attempt to capture the Dardanelles, fails.
• 1916: The Battle of Verdun and the Battle of the Somme result in massive casualties with little strategic gain.
• 1917: The United States enters the war after Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare.
• Russia withdraws from the war following the Bolshevik Revolution.
• 1918: The German Spring Offensive attempts to break the Allied lines on the Western Front.
• The Allied counteroffensive, supported by fresh American troops, pushes the Germans back.
• The Central Powers begin to collapse.
• An armistice is signed on November 11, 1918, ending the war.

Major Theaters of War

• Western Front: Characterized by trench warfare, stretching from Belgium to Switzerland.
• Major battles include the Marne, Ypres, Verdun, and the Somme.
• Eastern Front: Fought between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia.
• Characterized by more fluid battles over vast territories.
• Italian Front: Fought between Austria-Hungary and Italy in the Alps.
• Middle Eastern Front: Involved the Ottoman Empire against the British and their allies.
• Campaigns in Gallipoli, Mesopotamia, and Palestine.

Key Figures

• Heads of State/Government:
  • Woodrow Wilson (United States)
  • David Lloyd George (Britain)
  • Georges Clemenceau (France)
  • Kaiser Wilhelm II (Germany)
  • Tsar Nicholas II (Russia)
  • Emperor Franz Joseph (Austria-Hungary)
• Military Commanders:
  • Erich Ludendorff (Germany)
  • Paul von Hindenburg (Germany)
  • Ferdinand Foch (France)
  • John J. Pershing (United States)

Military Technology and Tactics

• Trench Warfare: Soldiers dug elaborate networks of trenches for protection, leading to long stalemates.
• Machine Guns: Caused devastating casualties in offensives across open ground.
• Artillery: Heavy artillery bombardments were used to soften enemy lines before attacks.
• Poison Gas: Used to incapacitate or kill enemy soldiers in trenches.
• Tanks: Introduced to break through enemy lines and overcome trench defenses.
• Airplanes: Initially used for reconnaissance, later for air-to-air combat and bombing.
• Submarines: Used by Germany to attack Allied ships, leading to unrestricted submarine warfare.

The United States in World War I

• Initially neutral, the United States entered the war in April 1917.
• Factors included unrestricted submarine warfare, the Zimmerman Telegram, and the desire to protect American interests.
• The American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) played a crucial role in the final Allied offensive.
• The U.S. entry provided fresh troops, resources, and morale to the Allied cause.

The Treaty of Versailles

• Signed in 1919, officially ending World War I.
• Imposed harsh terms on Germany, including territorial losses, disarmament, and reparations.
• Established the League of Nations, an international organization aimed at preventing future wars.
• Contained the "War Guilt Clause," which blamed Germany for the war.

Consequences of World War I

• Human Cost: Millions of soldiers and civilians were killed or wounded.
• Economic Impact: European economies were devastated, leading to inflation and debt.
• Political Changes: Empires collapsed, and new nations were formed in Eastern Europe.
• The Russian, Austro-Hungarian, and Ottoman Empires dissolved.
• Social Changes: Women entered the workforce in greater numbers, contributing to the women's suffrage movement.
• League of Nations: Established to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars.
• Seeds of World War II: The Treaty of Versailles and unresolved issues contributed to the rise of extremism and nationalism in the interwar period.

Explore the causes, key events, and turning points of World War I, also known as the Great War, which lasted from 1914 to 1918. Understand the roles of militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism in escalating the conflict.