WW1: The Christmas Truce and Total War

Christmas Truce of 1914

• Soldiers from France, Germany, and Britain declared a truce on December 24-25, 1914.
• Troops gathered in no man's land, socializing, exchanging gifts, and playing games.
• Post-truce, combat resumed immediately.

Battle of the Somme

• Fought from July to November 1916, involving British and French forces attacking German lines in Northern France.
• First day resulted in 60,000 British casualties; total casualties approached 1 million.

Concept of Total War

• WW1 characterized as the first true "Total War," marked by an all-encompassing nature of conflict.
• Nationalism and glorification of war fueled public support.
• Propaganda utilized one-sided information to gain war support, fostering demonization of the enemy.

Civilian Impact and Participation

• Total war involved conscription of hundreds of thousands from colonies to fight and serve as laborers.
• Civilians contributed through factory work and faced sacrifices including destruction of towns and homes.
• Specific ethnic groups targeted during the conflict, including Jews, Poles, and Muslims in the Ottoman Empire.

Armenian Genocide

• In 1915, the Ottoman Empire initiated the "eradication of Armenians," resulting in 600,000 to 1 million deaths.

Peace Efforts Post-War

• In January 1918, Woodrow Wilson proposed a peace plan, seen as naive by European leaders.
• The 2nd Battle of the Marne in July 1918 marked the last major German offensive, leading to weakening of Central Powers.

Armistice and Aftermath

• Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated on November 9, 1918; the armistice was signed on November 11, marking the end of hostilities.
• The Paris Peace Conference began in June 1919:
  • US advocated for peace, Britain aimed to punish Germany but moderately.
  • France sought to severely weaken Germany.

Treaty of Versailles

• Signed on June 28, 1919, this treaty placed blame for the war on Germany, enforcing demilitarization and reparations of $33 billion.
• Included the "War Guilt Clause," holding Germany responsible for the conflict.
• Resulted in the loss of Germany's colonial territories.

Treaties and New Nations

• Treaty of Saint Germain en Laye resulted in the creation of 9 new countries, including Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia.
• The Ottoman Empire was carved up, leading to significant territorial changes in the region.

League of Nations

• Established as an international body to mediate conflicts and support democratic nations.

Overall Impacts of WW1

• The war resulted in approximately 24 million casualties, with 23 million wounded.
• Disease and starvation led to millions of civilian deaths; trauma among soldiers recognized as "Shell Shock" (now understood as PTSD).
• Economic turmoil ensued in Europe, with the US emerging as a major world power, while Germany faced humiliation.

Russian Revolution

• Under Tsar Alexander III (1881-1894), Russia became rigid, suppressing reform aims.
• Tsar Nicholas II (1894-1917), ill-prepared and young, struggled in leading Russia, which lagged behind Western Europe in development.
• WW1 exacerbated issues, leading to 1.4 million Russian military deaths, inflation, and food shortages.

Rise of Political Consciousness

• Class struggles catalyzed Marxism, which criticized capitalism and sought to reduce inequality, appealing to the labor class.
• The Bolshevik Party, inspired by Marxism, aimed for revolutionary change leading to the establishment of communism in 1919.

February Revolution

• The February Revolution in 1917 forced Tsar Nicholas II to abdicate, resulting in the establishment of a Provisional Government.