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At the beginning of the twentieth century, Europe had a delicate balance of power, which was undermined by a series of events: Germany's challenge to British naval supremacy; British gravitation toawards the Franco-Russian alliance; subsequent German and Austrian challenges to the Anglo-French-Russian "[Triple Entente]?"; German alarm at Russia's rapid recovery from her 1905 defeat by Japan and subsequent revolutionary disorder; and the rise of powerful nationalist aspirations among the Balkan states, which in turn looked to Berlin, Vienna or St. Petersburg for diplomatic support. |
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At the beginning of the twentieth century, Europe had a delicate balance of power, which was undermined by a series of events: Germany's challenge to British naval supremacy; British gravitation toawards the Franco-Russian alliance; subsequent German and Austrian challenges to the Anglo-French-Russian "Triple Entente"; German alarm at Russia's rapid recovery from her 1905 defeat by Japan and subsequent revolutionary disorder; and the rise of powerful nationalist aspirations among the Balkan states, which in turn looked to Berlin, Vienna or St. Petersburg for diplomatic support. |
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The outbreak of the conflict is often attributed to the network of European alliances established over the previous decades - Germany-Austria-Turkey vs. France-Russia, Britain and Serbia being aligned with the latter. In fact none of the alliances was activated in the initial outbreak, though Russian general mobilisation and Germany's declaration of war against France were motivated by fear of the opposing alliance being brought into play. |
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The outbreak of the conflict is often attributed to the network of European alliances established over the previous decades - Germany-Austria-Italy vs. France-Russia, Britain and Serbia being aligned with the latter. In fact none of the alliances was activated in the initial outbreak, though Russian general mobilisation and Germany's declaration of war against France were motivated by fear of the opposing alliance being brought into play. |
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Dissatisfaction with the Russian government's conduct of the war grew despite the success of the June 1916 Brusilov offensive in eastern Galicia, when Russian success was undermined by the reluctance of other generals to commit their forces in support of the victorious sector commander. Allied fortunes revived temporarily with Romania's entry into the war on August 27,: German forces came to the aid of embattled Austrian units in Transylvania, and Bucharest fell to the Central powers on December 6. |
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Dissatisfaction with the Russian government's conduct of the war grew despite the success of the June 1916 Brusilov offensive in eastern Galicia, when Russian success was undermined by the reluctance of other generals to commit their forces in support of the victorious sector commander. Allied fortunes revived temporarily with Romania's entry into the war on August 27,: German forces came to the aid of embattled Austrian units in Transylvania, and Bucharest fell to the Central Powers on December 6. |
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The war ended on 1918, but its consequences were long lasting. The [1919] Treaty of Versailles put an official end to the war. The treaty required that Germany pay heavy /reparations?, and included a clause that would create a League of Nations, an international organization that should prevent a new war. The U.S. Senate never ratified the treaty, however, despite Woodrow Wilson's campaign to support the treaty and his idea for a League of Nations. The U.S. instead sought a separate peace with Germany in order to avoid joining the League. |
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The war ended on 1918, but its consequences were long lasting. The June 1919 Treaty of Versailles put an official end to the war with Germany. The treaty required that Germany pay heavy /reparations?, and included a clause that would create a League of Nations, an international organization that should prevent a new war. The U.S. Senate never ratified the treaty, however, despite Woodrow Wilson's campaign to support the treaty and his idea for a League of Nations. The U.S. instead negotiated a separate peace with Germany (August 1921) which included no requirement to join the League. |
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As a result of the Bolsheviks revolting in Russia, German, Austrian and Poland's Pilsudski forces defeated the Russian armies, and the new communist government signed the Treaty of Brest-Litowsk in March 1918. In that treaty, Russia renounced all claims to Couronia, Livonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Finland, and Poland (which had been a province of Russia). |
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As a result of the Bolsheviks' failure to cede territory, German and Austrian forces defeated the Russian armies, and the new communist government signed the Treaty of Brest-Litowsk in March 1918. In that treaty, Russia renounced all claims to Couronia, Livonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Finland, and Poland (which had been a province of Russia). |
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Influenza pandemic: A separate, but related event was the great influenza? pandemic. A new strain of Influenza, originating in the U.S.A. (but misleadingly known as "Spanish Flu") was accidentially carried to Europe with the American forces. The disease spread rapidly through the both the continental U.S. and Europe, spreading, eventually, around the globe. The exact number of deaths is unknown, but in excess of 30 million people worldwide is not an overestimate. |
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Influenza pandemic: A separate, but related event was the great influenza? pandemic. A new strain of Influenza, originating in the U.S.A. (but misleadingly known as "Spanish Flu") was accidentially carried to Europe with the American forces. The disease spread rapidly through the both the continental U.S. and Europe, spreading, eventually, around the globe. The exact number of deaths is unknown, but in excess of 20 million people worldwide is not an overestimate. |
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Geopolitical consequences: Approximately 25 percent of the land of the German Empire was taken by the western allies and given to various countries. The largest confiscated part of Germany was given to Poland; this part was called the "Polish Corridor" because of its access to the sea. In addition the western powers helped Poland gain another huge chunk of land in Ukraine. |
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Geopolitical consequences: Approximately 25 percent of the land of the German Empire was ceded at Allied insistence various countries. The largest confiscated part of Germany was given to Poland; this part was called the "Polish Corridor" because of its access to the sea. In addition the western powers helped Poland gain another huge chunk of land in Ukraine. |
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Less concrete changes include the growing assertiveness of commwealth nations. Battles such as Gallipoli for Australia and New Zealand, and [Vimy Ridge]? for Canada lead to increased nation pride and a greater reluctance to remain inferior to the British. |
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