Home Quest UPSC Notes World War 1
World War 1 (1914
-1918), Causes,
Consequences,
Key Events
24-07-2024 03:45 PM
39 min read
World War 1 Causes
First World War Key Events
World War 1 Phases
First World War Consequences
India and World War 1
World War 1 UPSC PYQs
World War 1 FAQs
Prelims: History of the World
Mains: History of the World will include
events from 18th century such as
Industrial Revolution, world wars,
Redrawal of National Boundaries,
Colonization, Decolonization, political
philosophies like Communism,
Capitalism, Socialism etc.— their forms
and effect on the society.
World War I, commonly referred to as the
:
World War I, commonly referred to as the
Great War, was a devastating worldwide
conflict that engulfed the world from 1914 to
1918, sparked by the assassination of
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. The
war's origins can be traced back to the rising
tide of imperialism, nationalism, and
militarism that gripped Europe in the late 19th
century. Ethnic tensions escalated as colonial
powers fought for dominance over the world,
drawing nations into the conflict through a
complex web of alliances. The First World
War began in Europe but quickly escalated,
drawing in countries from around the world
into a devastating conflict that would claim
millions of lives and reshape the global
political landscape.
World War 1 Causes
World War I, one of the most devastating
conflicts in human history, had its roots in
several complex and intertwined factors.
Imperialism: The late 19th and early
20th centuries saw a rivalry between
established European imperial powers
like Britain, France, and Russia, and
rising powers like Germany, Austria-
Hungary, Italy and Japan.
These nations were competing
fiercely for colonies, economic
supremacy, and spheres of
influence, fueling tensions.
By 1900, Germany's industrial
and military rise, fueled by
iron and steel production, and
naval buildup challenging
Britain's supremacy, disrupted
the European balance of
power.
Japan's victory over Russia
in 1904-1905 exposed
Russian weaknesses and
undermined its global
standing. The 1905 victory
highlighted Asia's rising power
to defeat a European empire
and fueled unrest leading to
the 1917 Russian Revolution.
After the 1917 Russian
Revolution, the Bolshevik
government under Vladimir
Lenin withdrew Russia from
WWI, citing it as an imperialist
:
conflict driven by capitalist
interests, aiming to end
Russia's involvement in what
they deemed an unjust war.
Colonialism: The Industrial Revolution
fueled European powers' pursuit of
colonial expansion for raw materials
and markets, sparking conflicts over
territories and resources.
This race for colonies
intensified rivalries and fueled
nationalist sentiments, setting
the stage for future
confrontations.
While Germany is generally
blamed for World War I, the
conflict was ultimately the
result of competing colonial
aspirations and rivalries
among European powers.
Nationalism and demands of nation-
states: The rise of nationalism, both
ethnic and linguistic, played a
significant role in the outbreak of
World War I. Various ethnic groups
within Austria-Hungary and the
Ottoman Empire aspired to establish
their own nation-states.
Examples: Czechs, Slovaks,
Poles, Serbs, and Croats
within the Austria-Hungary
Empire and Armenians,
Greeks, and Bulgarians within
the Ottoman Empire.
The declining power of the
Ottoman Empire (sick man of
Europe) in the Balkan region
created a power vacuum and
fueled nationalist aspirations
among various ethnic groups
within its territories.
This desire for self-
determination led to conflicts,
particularly in the Balkan
region.
The Balkan Wars of 1912-
1913, fought between the
Balkan states and the Ottoman
Empire, further destabilised
the region and set the stage
for future conflicts.
:
Role of Germany: Germany's
aggressive pursuit of colonial
expansion, naval buildup challenging
British supremacy, and unwavering
support for Austria-Hungary after the
Sarajevo assassination fueled
tensions, and escalated the crisis.
Furthermore, Germany's
calculated risk of a localized
war and its underestimation of
Russia and France's
willingness to intervene
contributed significantly to the
outbreak of a wider European
conflict.
While Germany was not solely
responsible, its actions and
miscalculations were critical
factors that precipitated the
descent into World War I.
Immediate Cause: The immediate
trigger was the assassination of
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
by a Bosnian Serb nationalist on June
28, 1914.
This event escalated into a
conflict between Austria-
Hungary and Serbia, which
quickly drew in other powers
due to the complex web of
alliances and rivalries.
Mutual Defense Alliances: The
complex web of alliances like the
Triple Entente (Britain, France, and
Russia) and Triple Alliance
(Germany, Austria-Hungary, and
Italy) bound nations through treaty
obligations.
When Austria-Hungary
declared war on Serbia after
Sarajevo, Russia had to
support its ally, Serbia.
Germany then honoured its
alliance with Austria-Hungary,
leading to declarations of war
against Russia and France.
Britain joined to support its
Russian and French allies.
These interlocking alliances
divided Europe into opposing
camps, transforming a local
crisis into a continent-wide
:
conflagration as countries
upheld commitments to
respective allies.
First World War Key
Events
There were several events that laid the
foundation of World War, some of the key
events were:
Events Summary
The Moroccan Crisis - Aimed to challenge
(1905-1906) the understanding
between France and
Britain
regarding Egypt and
Morocco's possible
French takeover.
- The Germans
declared their backing
for the Sultan of
Morocco to preserve
his country's
independence and
called for an
international
conference.
- Conference held in
Algeciras, Spain
(January 1906).
- Britain, Russia, Italy,
and Spain supported
the French demand to
control Moroccan
banks and police,
leading to German
diplomatic defeat.
The British - Britain and Russia's
agreement with agreement caused
Russia (1907) concern for Germany
as it was perceived as
confirmation that
Britain, France, and
Russia were planning
to 'encircle' it.
:
- The agreement
settled differences in
Persia, Afghanistan,
and Tibet, aiming for
improved relations
and British investment
in Russian industrial
modernisation.
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The Bosnia Crisis - Austria-Hungary
Home General Studies All Programmes
(1908) Toppers
annexed Bosnia-
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Herzegovina, a region
that was previously
under Ottoman rule.
- Serbia opposed the
annexation and sought
support from Russia.
Announcements - Russia protested
against Austria-
Hungary's actions
Admission Portal Link
and mobilized its
CSAT Course (New Batch) military, leading to
tensions between the
11-M PCM G.S. Classroom great powers.
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Guidance Programme
The Agadir Crisis - In July 1911,
For Course Counselling etc., you can (1911) Germany sent a
now send us a WhatsApp message. gunboat to the
Please Click Here. Moroccan port of
2-Y PCM G.S Fledgling
Agadir, claiming to
protect German
interests during a local
rebellion.
- France, which had
established a
protectorate in
Morocco, saw
Germany's move as a
threat to its influence
and responded with
military force.
- Britain supported
France, fearing
German expansion
and a threat to its
colonial interests.
The First Balkan War - Balkan states
(1912) (comprising Serbia,
Bulgaria, Greece, and
Montenegro) sought
:
to overthrow Ottoman
rule and redistribute
territories.
- The Balkan states
achieved early
victories, pushing the
Ottomans out of most
of their European
territories.
- However, tensions
between the Balkan
states soon arose over
the division of the
conquered territories.
- The war ended in
May 1913 with
the Treaty of London
but also sowed the
seeds of future
conflicts in the region.
The Second Balkan - Bulgaria, dissatisfied
War (1913) with the territorial
gains of the First
Balkan War, attacked
its former allies Serbia
and Greece.
- Romania and the
Ottoman Empire joined
the war against
Bulgaria, seeking to
regain territories they
had lost in the
previous conflict.
- The war ended in
August 1913 with the
Treaty of Bucharest,
which imposed
significant territorial
losses on Bulgaria.
World War 1 Phases
World War I unfolded over several distinct
phases from 1914 to 1918. This global war,
initially centred in Europe, witnessed the
participation of major world powers and their
colonial empires, resulting in widespread
destruction and loss of life on an
unprecedented scale.
:
Beginning: The war began on July
28, 1914, with the Austro-Hungarian
declaration of war on Serbia after the
assassination of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand.
Phase 1: The Opening Campaigns
(1914)
The war began with the Opening
Campaigns, marked by the initial
German offensive known as the
Schlieffen Plan, which aimed to
swiftly defeat France before turning
against Russia.
This phase witnessed major battles
like the First Battle of the Marne and
the Battle of Tannenberg, where the
Allied forces halted the German
advance, leading to a stalemate and
the establishment of trench warfare
along the Western Front.
Phase 2: Stalemate and Attrition
(1915-1917)
The second phase was defined by a
prolonged stalemate and a war of
attrition, characterized by bloody
battles like Verdun, the Somme, and
Gallipoli, where both sides suffered
immense casualties with little
territorial gain.
This phase also saw the entry of new
participants, including the Ottoman
Empire and Italy, as well as the
withdrawal of Russia following the
1917 Bolshevik Revolution.
Phase 3: The Tide Turns (1917-1918)
The final phase witnessed a crucial
turning point with the entry of the
United States on the Allied side in
1917.
This phase also saw the
implementation of new military tactics
and technologies, such as the
widespread use of tanks and aircraft.
Ultimately, the combined efforts of
the Allied powers, coupled with the
exhaustion of the Central Powers, led
to the defeat of Germany and its
allies.
End: The war ended on November 11,
:
1918, with the signing of the Armistice
after the defeat of Germany and its
allies.
Multiple fronts: The conflict took
place on multiple fronts in Europe,
Africa, and Asia. The main fronts
were the Western Front with
Germany against Britain, France, and
later the U.S., and the Eastern Front
with Russia against Germany and
Austria-Hungary.
First World
War Consequences
The war in 1914 was unprecedented in
human history, characterized by a general
conflict between highly organized states
utilizing modern technology and resources. It
disrupted the international order that had
existed in Europe since the Congress of
Vienna in 1815.
Economic Consequences
The participating countries in World
War I incurred significant financial
costs.
Germany and Great Britain spent
approximately 60% of their GDP on
the war.
To finance the war, countries raised
taxes, borrowed money from citizens,
and resorted to printing money,
leading to post-war inflation.
Political Consequences
Collapse of Empires: The war led to
the fall of four major empires - the
Russian Empire, German Empire,
Austro-Hungarian Empire, and
Ottoman Empire.
This paved the way for the
emergence of new nation-
states and the redrawing of
borders.
Rise of New Nation-States and
Territorial Changes: The dissolution
of the old empires led to the rise of
several new nation-states. These
newly formed countries, including
:
Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia,
Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and
Lithuania, were largely established
along ethnic and nationalist lines.
The territorial changes were
significant, with the
dismantling of the Austro-
Hungarian Empire into
independent states of Austria,
Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and
Yugoslavia.
Poland regained territories
from Russia and Germany.
Through the League of
Nations mandate system,
Great Britain and France
gained control over former
Ottoman territories in the
Middle East, such as
Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and
Iraq.
Weakening of European Powers: The
war significantly weakened the
major European powers, such as
Britain, France, and Germany, both
economically and militarily. This
paved the way for the rise of new
powers, such as the United States
and the Soviet Union.
Rise of Nationalism and Self-
Determination: The principle of self-
determination, advocated by U.S.
President Woodrow Wilson, gained
traction, leading to the formation of
new nation-states based on ethnic
and linguistic identities.
However, this also laid the
groundwork for future
conflicts as borders were
redrawn, leaving some ethnic
groups dissatisfied.
Social Consequences
World War I had a profound impact on
society.
Birth rates declined due to the high
number of casualties, leaving millions
dead, wounded, maimed, and
creating widows and orphans.
Many civilians lost their land and
became refugees, seeking shelter in
:
other countries.
Women played a crucial role in the
workforce, replacing men in factories
and offices during the war.
Post-war, many countries granted
women more rights, including the
right to vote.
The first world war challenged the
dominant role of the upper classes,
as the middle and lower classes
demanded a say in shaping their
countries.
International Consequences
The global order underwent a
significant shift, with the United
States establishing itself as a major
power and the Soviet Union (formed
after the Russian Revolution) inspiring
other nations to adopt Communist
ideologies.
This set the stage for the
ideological struggle between
Capitalism and Communism,
known as the Cold War, which
would shape the world for
decades to come.
The United States, having emerged
victorious without experiencing war
on its own territory, became a
prominent global power.
The Russian Revolution of 1917 and
social unrest in the aftermath of the
war fueled protests and created a
pre-revolutionary atmosphere in many
countries.
Extreme nationalism and fear of
Communist revolutions pushed some
middle-class populations towards
right-wing extremism and the rise of
fascist movements.
Creation of the League of Nations:
The League of Nations was
established as an international
diplomatic organization after World
War I.
Its purpose was to prevent conflicts
and resolve disputes between
countries before they escalated into
full-scale warfare.
:
The League had mixed success and
served as a precursor to the United
Nations, achieving some victories but
also facing limitations in its
effectiveness.
Important Treaties
Signed
Treaty Key Provisions
With
- Signed on June
28, 1919, the Treaty
of Versailles marked
the official end of
World War I and
aimed to prevent
future conflicts.
- Territorial Clauses:
France
regained
control of
Alsace and
Lorraine.
Eupen and
Malmedy
were
transferred
to Belgium.
Eastern
territories
were
annexed by
Poland,
resulting in
East Prussia
becoming
isolated.
Danzig and
Memel,
former Baltic
German
cities, were
declared as
:
free cities.
Northern
Schleswig-
Holstein was
annexed by
Denmark.
Germany lost
all its
colonies,
Treaty of which were
Germany
Versailles annexed by
the
victorious
powers.
- Military Clauses:
The German
navy faced
drastic
limitations.
The German
army
underwent a
dramatic
reduction,
allowing only
100,000
troops and
prohibiting
tanks,
aircraft, and
heavy
artillery.
The
Rhineland
region was
demilitarised.
- War Reparations:
Germany
and its allies
were
declared
responsible
for all losses
and
damages
suffered by
the Allies,
resulting in
the
imposition of
:
war
reparations.
- Broke up the
Austro-Hungarian
Empire
- Restricted
Austria's frontiers to
Treaty of Vienna
Saint- Austria
- Creation of
Germain
Czechoslovakia
from Bohemia and
Moravia provinces
- Serbia gained
control over Bosnia-
Herzegovina
- Territorial losses
for Bulgaria in
Treaty of
Bulgaria favour of Romania,
Neuilly
Greece, and
Yugoslavia
- Separated
Hungary from
Austria
Treaty of - Certain Hungarian
Hungary
Trianon
territories ceded to
Romania,
Yugoslavia, and
Czechoslovakia
- Imposed harsh
conditions on
Turkey
- Triggered Turkish
Treaty of Ottoman national rebellion led
Sevres Empire by Kemal Ataturk
-This rebellion led to
war against Greece,
which occupied
parts of Anatolia
- Detached Syria,
Palestine, and
Mesopotamia from
the Ottoman Empire
:
- Ended Turkey's
Treaty of control over Egypt
Lausanne Turkey
- Eastern Thrace,
including
Constantinople,
remained under
Turkish ownership
India and World War 1
India, as a British colony, played a crucial
role in World War I, contributing over a million
soldiers and significant economic resources
to support the Allied war effort.
Military Contribution: India provided
a massive supply of troops,
resources, and materials to support
the British war effort.
A large number of Indian
soldiers served in the British
Indian Army during World War
I, fighting in various theatres,
including Europe, Africa, and
the Middle East.
Prominent campaigns
involving Indian troops were
the Battle of Gallipoli (1915),
the Mesopotamian
Campaign(1914-1918), and the
Palestine Campaign (1917-
1918).
The Indian Army played a
crucial role in defending the
British Empire's interests and
territories.
The iconic India Gate in Delhi
was constructed by the British
Empire in 1931 to
commemorate the casualties
of Indians during World War I
(and in the Third Anglo-
Afghan War).
Economic Contribution: India's
economic resources were heavily
exploited by the British to finance the
war.
India contributed financially
through taxes and the
:
purchase of war bonds.
Indian industries were geared
towards producing essential
war materials, such as
clothing, equipment, and
ammunition.
Impact on India:
Economic Strain: The war
placed a heavy economic
burden on India. Resources,
finances, and manpower were
diverted to support the British
war effort, leading to
shortages, inflation, and
economic hardships for the
Indian population.
Nationalist Movement Gained
Momentum: India's significant
contributions in terms of
soldiers, resources, and
finances strengthened the
demand for self-governance
and independence from British
rule. The war exposed Indian
soldiers to ideas of self-
determination and nationalism,
further fueling the
independence movement.
Political Reforms: The British
government, acknowledging
India's contributions,
introduced the Montagu-
Chelmsford Reforms of 1919,
which aimed to introduce
limited self-governance in
India. However, these reforms
were deemed inadequate by
many Indian leaders, further
intensifying the calls for
independence.
Rise of Revolutionary
Movements: The frustration
with British rule and the lack
of substantial political reforms
led to the rise of revolutionary
movements, such as the
Ghadar Party and the Hindu-
Muslim revolutionaries,
seeking to overthrow British
colonial rule through armed
struggle.
:
World War 1
UPSC PYQs
Question 1: To what extent can Germany be
held responsible for causing the two World
Wars? Discuss critically (UPSC Mains 2015)
Question 2: How far is it correct to say that
the First World War was fought essentially for
the preservation of the balance of power?
(UPSC Mains 2015-History Optional)
World War 1 FAQs
Q1. What led to Germany being held
accountable for World War 1?
Ans. Germany bears responsibility for World
War 1 due to the significant role played by the
German government. The leaders of
Germany actively encouraged Austria-
Hungary to invade Serbia, thereby enabling
the Balkan conflict. Without Germany's
support, Austria-Hungary would not have
been able to act in the same manner. The
German authorities were fully aware of the
potential escalation of the conflict.
Q2. What were the causes of the outbreak of
World War 1?
Ans. The assassination of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand served as a significant catalyst for
the war. Additionally, Germany is implicated
for its support of Austria-Hungary and its
prominent role in World War 1. Numerous
events unfolded in the sequence of the war's
commencement.
Q3. Why was the First World War so deadly?
Ans. The unprecedented loss of life during
this war surpassed any previous conflict in
history, mainly due to the utilization of novel
technologies by militaries. These included
tanks, airplanes, submarines, machine guns,
modern artillery, flamethrowers, and poison
gas.
Q4. Which country were in the Allied
Powers?
Ans. The Allied powers comprised Russia,
France, Britain, the USA (1917-18), Japan, and
Serbia.
Q5. Which country suffered more in World
:
War 1?
Ans. The German army endured the majority
of both military and civilian losses.
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