Perspective on Civilization: The First World War

Prepared by Raizza P. Corpuz

• The 19th century had been a century of incredible achievements, growth and expansion.

• WWI - erupted at the second decade of the 20th century that resulted to massive loss of lives, extensive damages and changed the world order.

• Before the First World War, Europe had never been more powerful, or more self-confident. There was no hint of any possible challenge to its leadership of the civilized world.

• 1914 marked the end of the greatest century of Christian advance and the beginning of what proved to be the worst century of persecution.

• In numbers of soldiers involved, in numbers of casualties, in terms of the disastrous consequences, it was the most catastrophic event in the history of European civilization.

Contemporaries called it the Great War because of it was literally greater than any war ever waged before time

World War I was an industrialized war • used technology of the Industrial Revolution

to help their armies• invented new weapons and made older one

more deadly• new inventions both air and sea

World War I changed ways of Life• It was a total war both human and industrial

resources were turned to be the demands of war

Causes of the War • Most popular view: The question about the Germany and its ally the Austria-

Hungary Empire (Debatable issue) : Peace conference at Paris in 1919 that Germany and its allies had been responsible for causing the Great War. Based on this decision, which was embodied in Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, vast reparations would be payable. This so-called ‘war guilt ruling’ set the tone for the long debate that followed on the causes of the war. From 1919 onwards, governments and historians engaged with this question as revisionists (who wanted to revise the verdict of Versailles) clashed with anti-revisionists who agreed with the victors’ assessment.

• According to President Woodrow Wilson of U.S it was the secretive nature of the European diplomacy and the greed of the Westerners.

• For Lenin and Marxist it was indeed the consequence of the imperialist conflict between great capitalist forces in their attempt to relocated the world market and wealth.

Different Views about its Origin and Causes

1. The Alliance System based on their nature of interests. These were two separate plans drawn up by several different countries to protect each other and in effect, prevent war from breaking out.

A. The TIPLE ALLIANCE known to be the Central Powers in 1882 : GERMANY-AUSTRIA-HUNGARY and ITALY

Objective: for Germany to defend the territories obtained form previous war with France.

B. The TRIPLE ENTENTE or the Allies : FRANCE-GREAT BRITAIN and RUSSIA in 1907 But the Great Britain still claimed that it was free to decide any action.

2. Militarism an increase in military influence on policy making. This could be reflected particularly in Germany and Russia. The German Army at this period was called a "State within the State“

This period saw significant changes to the quality of military weapons and equipment, as well as their quantity.

3. Economic Imperialismis another form of competition between nations as they compete to control natural resources and peoples in other parts of the world. Great Britain had the greatest number of colonies, protectorates, and spheres of influence around the globe, because her navy continued to grow and control the sea routes. Germany, as a new unified nation, felt it had to catch up with Britain and France, especially in Africa and to a lesser extent in China. All European countries justified imperialism for the following reasons: 1. economic gain via exploitation of natural resources and peoples.2. political strength in order to bolster their position in the European balance of

power. 3. military/strategic positioning for controlling/defending colonies overseas.4. religious fervor of missionaries wanting to bring Christianity to other parts of the world.

4. Nationalism

An explosive kind of nationalism existed in the Balkans (Serbia, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia, and Herzegovina) and was based on the Slavic nationalism encouraged by Russia to bring all of the Slavic peoples under its influence.

Serbia pushed for the creation of one "Slavic" state that it would dominate. Austria-Hungary was opposed to giving up territory in which Slavs lived.

FACTORS that Led to the Outbreak of War1. Social Darwinism - the need for the Western countries that they were destined to compete for wealth and power.

2. Nationalism- a driving force that intensify the people consciousness about existing conflict 3. Capitalism- the development of capitalism emboldened Europeans to embark of imperialistic policies.

Significant Events During the WWI 

1914: Francis Ferdinand assassination: Austria declared war against Serbia: Germany invaded Belgium: Great Britain declared war against Germany: Start of the Trench Warfare ( a tactic of war wherein the opposing

forces would build their lines of defense that face each other 1915: Lusitania sank

: Turkey prevented the Allies attempt to open Dardanelles

1916: Germany lost in the Siege of Verdun (was one of the largest and longest battles of the First World War on the Western Front between the German and French armies)

1917: The Czar of Russia was overthrown1918: Germany forced Russia to sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ( a peace treaty signed on 3 March 1918 between the new Bolshevik government of Soviet Russia and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire), that ended Russia's participation in World War I.

: ended the battle of the western front

1919: The Treaty of Versailles was signed

THE GREAT WAR SHAPE THE HISTORY

• Politically, it resulted in the downfall of four monarchies--in Russia in 1917, in Austria-Hungary and Germany in 1918, and in Turkey in 1922.

• It contributed to the Bolshevik rise to power in Russia in 1917 and the triumph of fascism in Italy in 1922.

• It ignited colonial revolts in the Middle East and in Southeast Asia.

• Economically, the war severely disrupted the European economies and allowed the United States to become the world's leading creditor and industrial power.

• The war also brought vast social consequences, including the mass murder of Armenians in Turkey and an influenza epidemic that killed over 25 million people worldwide.

THE POWER OF HUMAN PROGRESS and the SEARCH FOR MEANING OF

LIFE

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