On July 28, 1914, the First World War began. Cause of the war served as an aggravation of the contradictions between the two military-political blocs: the Triple Alliance and the Entente. Both unions aspired to political hegemony in the world.
Reason for war served as the murder of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne Franz Ferdinand on June 28, 1914. The heir was killed in Sarajevo, in Bosnia, by a member of the Mlada Bosna organization (In 1908, during the revolution in the Turkish Empire, Austria-Hungary seized the region of Bosnia from the empire inhabited by Serbs). On June 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to Serbia. Serbia turned to Russia for help.
July 28, 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Soon Germany and its ally Italy, as well as their opponents: Great Britain, France, Russia and other countries of the Entente, entered the war. The war has become global.
Germany did not want to fight a war on two fronts. In 1914, she planned to launch the main attack on France. Having treacherously violated the neutrality of Belgium, German troops invaded Belgium. Troops from France and Britain came to the aid of Belgium. The Entente leadership turned to Russia for help. Without prior preparation, two Russian armies entered the territory of East Prussia. The German military command was forced to withdraw dozens of divisions from the Western Front and transfer them to the Eastern Front. Paris was saved. But at the cost of destroying two Russian armies in East Prussia.
In 1915. The German military command decided to defeat Russia, knowing about its military-technical problems (lack of officers and weapons). In the spring, the German army went on the offensive on the Eastern Front. Emperor Nicholas II turned to the allies for help. But they were silent. Then the country carried out a restructuring of industry for the production of military products, conducted new mobilizations for the army and trained new officers. In the autumn of 1915, the offensive of the German army was stopped.
On the Western Front in 1915, the German side committed a crime near the Belgian river Ypres, opening chlorine bottles. This gas attack cost the lives of thousands of French soldiers. In 1915, due to the intensified disagreements between Italy and Austria-Hungary, Italy withdrew from the Quadruple Alliance (which included Turkey) and joined the Entente. Then Bulgaria took the place in the Quadruple Alliance.
In 1916. the main hostilities took place on the Western Front. The German army again tried to defeat France. The battle began in February near the city of Verdun, which lasted 11 months and in which more than 900 thousand soldiers from both sides died. It was called the "Verdun meat grinder". On the Eastern Front, the Russian army launched an offensive against the Austro-Hungarian army in the summer of 1916, which ended in disaster for the latter. German troops came to the aid of the Austrians.
The three-year war undermined the military forces of Germany. The war was the impetus for the start of the revolution in Russia. Revolution of 1917. in Russia complicated the military confrontation of both sides. But the scales were leaning more and more clearly in the direction of the Entente. The US Army began to fight on its side. The offensive of the Entente troops in the second half of 1918 led to the surrender of Turkey, Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary and Germany. November 11, 1918 An armistice was signed and peace negotiations began.
Causes and background of the First World War
Introduction
The First World War was one of the most difficult trials for humanity at the beginning of the 20th century. World War I began on August 1, 1914. It was attended by two military-political blocs - the Entente and the Triple Alliance. The First World War shook the economic system of the capitalist world to its foundations and revealed the close relationship between war and the economy. The course of hostilities largely depended on the solution of economic problems. For the first time in history, the decisive factor in the war was the military-industrial potential, which was an integral part of the entire complex of the national economy of each of its participants. The transition of the economy of the belligerent states to a military footing was carried out in emergency conditions. Their impact at the first stage of the war led to the disruption of the pre-war economic system, a sharp reduction in industrial production (except for the military sector), the closure of many commercial enterprises, which in turn led to a sharp reduction in international economic ties. The war, in turn, confronted the allies in the war with the problem of coordinating their military-economic measures.
New trends have given new content to international economic relations, bringing to life unprecedented phenomena of interstate regulation of the economy within the framework of the Entente. On the one hand, and the Quarter Union, on the other. The joint discussion of issues of military-economic cooperation, the creation of interstate economic bodies, attempts to implement interstate accounting and control in the distribution of material resources for supplying the army are becoming the most important elements in the relationship between the allies.
In Russia, the military-industrial potential was relatively small due to the weak development of mechanical engineering; most of the machinery and equipment had to be imported from abroad. Despite the fact that over the past few decades, Russia has managed to significantly reduce its economic gap, relying both on internal resources and on the technological knowledge and capital of entrepreneurs from industrialized countries, it was significantly inferior in preparedness for war compared to both allies and , in particular, with its main adversary - Germany. The First World War dealt a tangible blow to world economic relations, severed numerous threads of international exchange, financing, supply of raw materials and food. The world economy, which at the beginning of the 20th century turned into a single economic mechanism, broke up into a number of more or less isolated regions. The disruption or disorganization of traditional foreign economic relations posed complex problems for the economies of the warring states.
There is no doubt that the influence of the war on the state of the national economy had some common features. In all European belligerent countries, the ratio between imports and exports in foreign trade turnover has changed dramatically: the share of imports has increased sharply, while exports, on the contrary, have decreased. Before the war, Russia was less connected to the international market than other European countries. The First World War, which was devastating for the national economy of Russia, radically changed and greatly complicated the state and further development of the entire complex of Russia's international relations. The forced concentration of all industrial activity on military production destroyed external economic ties, which had a significant impact on its economy, financial condition and foreign trade relations.
1. The factor of space in the strategic policy of the First World War.
The political climate on the eve of and during the First World War was characterized by an increased interest in space issues and adherence to the ideological schemes of the early 20th century.
First, the widespread social Darwinism contributed to the fact that interstate rivalry was perceived as a logical continuation of the struggle for survival. As a result, every European nation felt that its very existence was threatened. Under these conditions, space was seen as the most important component of national security. Germany was extremely concerned about the insufficient size of its territory and its position as a country in a hostile environment in the center of Europe. The Russian-French alliance of 1893-1894 further strengthened the Germans' feeling of constriction and lack of living space.
On the eve of the war, the colonial division of the world was completed. But could it be final? There were always patches of disputed territories, in particular the remnants of crumbling empires (for example, the Portuguese possessions in Africa, which, according to a secret agreement concluded by Great Britain and Germany in 1898, were subject to division between the two powers; the Ottoman Empire slowly fell apart throughout the 19th century and represented tasty morsels for young predators). Having colonies means not only having markets and sources of raw materials, but also being a great and respected power.
The beginning of the 20th century was also marked by the emergence of a number of unifying tendencies: Pan-Germanism, Pan-Slavism, and so on. Europe turned out to be a place of collision of these forces, which were concentrated around one or another great power (the Germans around Germany, the Slavs around Russia). Each of these movements demanded for itself a vast homogeneous space and sought to break up, grind up the existing heterogeneous formations, primarily Austria-Hungary, a mosaic state, united only by the belonging of each of its parts to the Habsburg dynasty.
Europe perceived itself as a single theater of military operations - and was supposed to become one in the near future. Thus, the famous Schlieffen plan, developed between 1898 and 1905, provided for a Franco-Russian alliance directed against Germany. In the event of a war in Europe, Germany, sandwiched between two hostile states, was supposed to strike first of all to the west, attack France, bypassing its defenses on Belgian territory from the east (despite Belgian neutrality). Then, having won a convincing victory in the West, the German troops were to go to war with Russia.
Finally, the territorial goals in the war were of great historical importance. France never forgot about Alsace and Lorraine taken from her. Only the return of the annexed provinces could wash away the shame and humiliation of 1870.
In turn, Great Britain entered the war on August 4, 1914, largely in obedience to an age-old geopolitical reflex: to resist any great power seeking to establish its control over Belgium and thereby deprive England of its connection with the European continent.
2. Russia in the First World War in 1914-1916. Background and reasons.
1. Background and reasons.
1.1. The aggravation of the global confrontation between the great powers, primarily England and Germany, the beginning of the struggle for the redistribution of the world, including the redistribution of colonies.
1.2. The development of contradictions in certain regions, perceived by the countries - world leaders as key points in the struggle for spheres of influence. The confrontation in the Balkans between Russia and its ally Serbia and Austria-Hungary, along with allied Bulgaria, reached a particular urgency. The explosiveness of the situation was aggravated by the fact that England, Germany, France and Italy also pursued their interests here. By 1914, Germany had become the dominant military power in the Balkan region, taking control of the Ottoman army. Russia's desire to master the Black Sea straits was now blocked not only by England, but also by the German-Turkish military alliance.
The situation in the Middle and Far East was not easy, where the new superpowers the United States and Japan sought to spread their influence.
1.3. A huge role was played by the political and economic rivalry between Germany and France, who fought for the establishment of production and marketing hegemony in Europe.
1.4. The internal political tasks of the Russian state objectively contradicted the tendency to start hostilities. The early start of the war could not but be disastrous for the completion of reforms designed for a long period of time. But a feature of the autocracy of the early twentieth century. and personally Nicholas II were an underestimation of the revolutionary potential of Russian society and illusions regarding a pacifying external confrontation, not destroyed by the Russo-Japanese war.
From the beginning, the Russian leadership for a long time misjudged the military prospects, counting on an early successful end to the war after a decisive blow from the Allies and rejecting all German proposals for a separate peace in 1914-1916.
2. Preparation
2.1. Army reorganization. In 1908-1913. A number of military reforms were carried out in Russia. The size of the army has increased, the service life has increased, the system of combat training has improved. The officer corps has changed: more than 2,000 senior officers have been fired, class restrictions on admission to officer schools have been abolished. As a result, the Russian army became equal in size to the armies of Germany and Austria-Hungary. But its qualitative transformation by 1914 had not yet been completed.
2.2. Arms growth. Military spending increased over this period by 3.7 times, reaching 40% of the country's budget. After the destruction in the Russo-Japanese War, the fleet began to revive. Back in 1907, the "Small Shipbuilding Program" was adopted, and in 1912 - the "Shipbuilding Program of the Baltic Fleet". The armaments of the ground forces were also modernized, but only in 1913 was the "Great Program to Strengthen the Army" adopted, during which, in 1914-1917. it was planned to increase and modernize artillery, strengthen engineering troops, create military aviation and road transport. By the beginning of the war, the program had just begun to be implemented.
As a result, Russia lagged behind in terms of military budget, artillery, and so on. from Germany, which completed its military program by 1914. It was also very important that Russia lagged behind by 2.5 times in terms of the capacity of the railways leading to the areas of future battles.
2.3. diplomatic training. In 1913 Russia was able to sign a naval convention with England, which completed the formation of the Entente as a military alliance.
2.4. military plans. Germany considered the summer of 1914 the most favorable moment to start the war, since the Entente countries, especially Russia, were not fully prepared for war. The German General Staff planned to defeat France with the help of a lightning war (blitzkrieg) and, together with Austria-Hungary, throw all their forces into the fight against Russia.
Russia expected to launch an offensive in the northwest against Berlin and in the southwest against Vienna after the completion of mobilization. The tsar's uncle, Nikolai Nikolaevich, was appointed commander-in-chief.
Both sides expected to win the war within 3-4 months.
3. The beginning of the war
3.1. Cause to start a war. On June 15 (28), 1914, in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, on the day of the opening of the provocative military maneuvers of Austria-Hungary, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian emperor, was killed. Austria, accusing a Serbian nationalist organization of the murder, demanded the entry of troops into Serbia and the admission of investigators to its territory. On the advice of Russia, Serbia accepted the ultimatum, rejecting only the Austrian occupation, which was unacceptable to Serbian sovereignty. Despite Russia's appeal to Austria-Hungary and Germany, on July 15 (28) Austrian artillery bombarded the capital of Serbia - Belgrade.
3.2. Declaration of war. On July 30 (17), Russia announced a general mobilization, informing Berlin that these actions were not anti-German, but taking a tough stance against Austria. Germany, in an ultimatum form, demanded an end to the mobilization and, having received no answer, on July 19 (August 1, according to a new style), 1914, declared war on Russia. On August 2, France began mobilizing, declaring support for Russia. On August 3, Germany declared war on France and launched an offensive through Belgium and Luxembourg. England entered the war on August 4, and Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia on August 6. The war engulfed all of Europe, and later a significant part of the world. On August 23, Japan joined the Entente, in 1915 - Italy, in 1917 - the USA. Turkey (1914) and Bulgaria (1915) acted as allies of Germany and Austria-Hungary. In total, 38 states of the world participated in the war.
4. The course of hostilities
4.1. The first offensives of 1914 After the defeat of the Franco-British troops on the border of France and the rapid advance of the German troops to Paris, Russia, even before the completion of mobilization, at the request of France, launched a simultaneous offensive in East Prussia and Galicia.
4.1.1. In East Prussia, the 1st (P.K. Rennenkampf) advancing from the east and the 2nd (A.V. Samsonov) Russian armies advancing from the east inflicted a number of defeats on a small German grouping at the end of August. After the transfer of 2 corps from France and reserve units, Germany, using the inconsistency of the actions of the Russian troops, surrounded and defeated the 2nd army of General Samsonov, who committed suicide, and forced the 1st army to retreat.
4.1.2. In Galicia, the offensive in August-September 1914 was more successful. The 8th Army (A. Brusilov) took Lvov, Russian troops laid siege to Przemysl, pushing the Austrians back 300 km. from the border across the river San. It seemed that Austria-Hungary was defeated.
4.1.3. For the invasion of Germany, the Russian command, without consolidating success in the southwest, began the transfer of troops from Galicia to Poland, but in September-October, the Austro-German armies launched a preemptive attack on Lodz and Warsaw. In the bloody and large-scale Warsaw-Ivangorod and Lodz operations in October-November, both sides suffered heavy losses (2 million people - Russia, 950 thousand - its opponents), but did not fulfill their tasks. At the same time, Russia stopped the Austro-German offensive, but was unable to undertake a campaign against Berlin and retreated deep into Poland. A positional war began at the front.
4.1.4. The war with Turkey began with an attack on October 29 by the Turkish-German fleet on Sevastopol, Odessa, Novorossiysk and Feodosia and the offensive of Turkish troops in the Caucasus. The Caucasian army, going on a counteroffensive, defeated the superior Turkish forces, pushing them back to Erzrum in December, which facilitated the actions of the allies on the Mesopotamian front.
4.1.5. The results of the hostilities of 1914 consisted in the disruption of plans for a quick victory for Germany and Austria-Hungary. The Russian offensives in East Prussia and Galicia made it possible for the Allies to win a victory on the Marne in September and stabilize the front in France. As a result, Germany, despite some successes, was forced to wage a protracted war on two fronts.
During the fighting, the superiority of the German army over the Russian army in artillery and ammunition supply was revealed, the weakness of the Austrian and Turkish troops was manifested.
4.2. Defeats in 1915
4.2.1. Southwestern front. After some Russian successes in January-March (taking Przemysl, reaching the Carpathian Range, repulsing the German offensive from East Prussia), the situation changed in April-May. The Austro-German troops, using massive artillery shelling, forced the Russian troops to retreat, experiencing a severe "shell hunger" and captured most of Galicia and Volhynia. But the front in the southwest was not broken.
4.2.2. Western front. In the summer, the German armies occupied Poland with Warsaw, then part of Belarus, Lithuania with Vilna, Latvia and went to Riga. By October, the front stopped, a long trench war began.
4.2.3. Results of 1915. The entire composition of the pre-war trained personnel army went out of order. Russia lost its western territories, but retained its main industrial, fuel and agricultural base. At the same time, German superiority in artillery, especially heavy artillery, increased, and the narrowness of the Russian railway network became even more obvious.
In August, Nicholas II took command of the troops, appointing an experienced strategist M.V. Alekseev as Chief of the General Staff.
The allies, joined by Italy, did not undertake a single significant operation during this period, confining themselves to large deliveries of arms and coal to Russia.
4.2.4. 1916 "Brusilovsky breakthrough". The German command transferred the main military efforts from the Eastern to the Western Front. The battle began for the fortress of Verdun, which protected the path to Paris. The Italian army was in a difficult position.
The Russian army, which planned to deploy the main offensive in the summer with the forces of the Western Front in Lithuania and Belarus with the support of the Southwestern and Northern Fronts, was forced to change the timing and direction of the main attack. In May, General Brusilov's 8th Army broke through the Austrian positions, pushing the enemy back 120 km. The offensive of the Western Front was suspended to reinforce Brusilov's troops, but German reinforcements allowed the Austro-Hungarian army, which lost 1.5 million people, to stabilize the front line in Galicia and Bukovina.
The Caucasian army took Erzrum and Trebizond. Romania took the side of the Entente, but was quickly defeated, which lengthened the front line by 500 km.
As a result of the struggle of 1916, the Anglo-French and Italian armies were saved from defeat. England and France in these conditions in 1915-1916. concluded agreements with Russia on its post-war territorial acquisitions in the Baltic states and the future transfer of control over the Bosporus and Dardanelles, as well as Constantinople, to it.
5. Economic situation
5.1. Industry
5.1.1. The volume of industrial production in 1914-1916. grew by 22%. By 1916, the industry was completely restructured, the pre-war armament program was completed. Both large-scale and cooperative and artel production, which worked for defense, developed. With some reduction in "peaceful" light industry, heavy industry produced goods 3 times, and for military orders 10 times more than before the war. The production of cars, armored cars, aircraft began. Domestic electrical engineering and radio industry were created. The lack of shells, rifles and uniforms was no longer observed. Russia in 1916, taking into account the supplies of the allies, fully provided for all the needs of the army and was ready for large-scale offensives in military-technical terms.
Railway construction continued, but the transport network could barely cope with the needs of the front. The supply of the rear deteriorated sharply in the presence of sufficient food supplies.
5.1.2. New forms of industrial organization. An important role in the mobilization of small industry was played by the formed public Zemsky and City Unions (Zemgor), which were primarily involved in organizing medical care, collecting food for the army, etc.
To distribute orders and raw materials in 1915, on the basis of representative organizations of the big bourgeoisie, Military-Industrial Committees arose.
The coordination of all defense activities was carried out by the government through the Special Conferences on defence, fuel, food, transportation, which included representatives of ministries, entrepreneurs and politicians, led by it.
5.2. Agriculture.
suffered in more. In connection with the mobilization of almost half of the able-bodied agricultural workers, the confiscation of 2.5 million working horses for the army and the occupation of part of the Russian territory, the sown area decreased by 10%, grain harvest - by 20%, meat production - by 70%.
At the same time, thanks to the cessation of grain exports, the adoption of the "dry law" and the introduction in 1916 in a number of provinces of food requisition, there was enough bread and food in the country as a whole. The lack of food in the front-line cities, including the capital, was caused by transport problems.
5.3. Finance.
Military spending was 3 times the state's income, which was seriously reduced due to the ban on the sale of alcohol. The budget deficit was covered by increased money emission, external and internal loans. As a result, the public debt increased by 4 times compared to the pre-war level, surpluses of paper money were formed, and inflation was growing rapidly. In 1914-196. prices have increased by 4-5 times.
6. The development of the socio-political crisis
6.1. In 1914, all sections of society supported the government. Thousands of people demonstrated in support of the war in front of the Winter Palace. Many were seized by anti-German sentiments. St. Petersburg was renamed Petrograd. Workers' strikes have practically ceased (1.5 million strikers in January-July and 35 thousand in August-December).
Political parties, including liberals, supported the war to a victorious end and voted in the Duma in favor of providing war loans. Only the Trudoviks and the Social Democrats abstained, who recognized the need to defend the country. But already in September, Lenin, recalling the words of Marx: “the proletariat has no fatherland,” proclaimed the thesis that the defeat of the autocracy and its army in the war would be a lesser evil for the workers of Russia than its victory.
6.2. In 1915 the political situation changed.
6.2.1. Social movement. The defeats of the Russian army again caused dissatisfaction with the government. The workers' strike movement resumed (600,000 strikers). Peasant unrest began, the number of which, however, was small (177). Hundreds of public unions and committees to help the front, primarily the All-Russian Zemstvo Union and the All-Russian Union of Cities, united in Zemgor, played an increasing role in the socio-political life of the country.
6.2.2. Political parties and the Progressive Bloc. Cadets, Octobrists and moderate rightists blamed the government for the military defeats. Zemstvos and cities demanded the convocation of the Duma. Nicholas II made some concessions, convening the Duma in July and dismissing a number of ministers, including Minister of War Sukhomlinov and Minister of Justice Shcheglovitov.
In August, for the first time, an opposition majority was formed in the Duma - the Progressive Bloc, which united liberals and moderate rightists, headed by the moderate V. Shulgin and the cadet Milyukov. The coalition demanded the formation of a "public trust" government, ie. of the politicians recommended by the bloc, the implementation of political reforms. Although the ministers supported the Duma, the emperor suspended the parliament and replaced the "liberal" ministers. The political crisis seemed to be over.
6.3. But in 1916, anti-government sentiment intensified.
6.3.1. Protests of soldiers, workers and peasants. At the front, desertion increased, discipline weakened, spontaneous fraternization of Russian and German soldiers was carried out. Performances began in the army, including armed ones. Mass workers' strikes broke out (1 million strikers), many of whom put forward political and anti-war slogans (30% of the strikers). In October there was a sharp rise in the strike movement, in December the activity of the proletariat, agitated not only by the left, but also by the liberals. The number of peasant protests increased significantly (294).
6.3.2. United political opposition. The Duma Progressive Bloc, supported by Zemgor, in November 1916 put forward an even more radical demand for the creation of a "responsible ministry" - a government accountable to parliament. Not only the Cadet Milyukov and the Octobrist Guchkov spoke against the government, but even the ardent monarchist Purishkevich. The Progressives who had left the Bloc suggested that they appeal to the people and the army.
6.3.3. autocracy reaction. Nicholas II did not want to give in to the demand of society, only shuffling the composition of the government, which Purishkevich called ministerial leapfrog. None of the 4 chairmen of the Council of Ministers and 6 ministers of the interior, who were replaced in 1915-1916. did not suit the Duma and society.
The extreme right tried to raise the authority of the monarch by removing Grigory Rasputin, who influenced the tsar, a symbol of the decay of the autocracy. On December 16, he was assassinated by a group of high society conspirators. But only repressions followed: the meetings of the Duma were interrupted, the appointed government of N.D. Golitsyn turned out to be even more conservative, the State Council was renewed, headed by I. Shcheglovitov, and the growing strike movement was suppressed.
A clash between the regime and broad sections of society became inevitable.
So, we can conclude that the right relied on the wisdom of the monarch, the liberals developed plans for a palace coup, a few social democrats and socialist-revolutionaries tried to organize the workers. The elements of popular protest, provoked by increased contradictions and an unsuccessful war, as always unexpected for reformers and revolutionaries, overturned all plans, determining Russia's entry into a new era.
Conclusion
The 20th century raised difficult questions for world civilization. One of them was the First World War. It was the result of a crisis in international relations. The peculiarity of the crisis was that for the first time in history it covered all European powers. The war led to an unprecedented militarization of the warring countries. In scale, it had no equal in history. The war, grandiose in terms of military-political and social consequences, lasted 4 years and 3 months, from July 19 (August 1), 1914 to November 11, 1918, involved 38 states (out of 55) with a population of 1.5 billion people, or 87% of the world's population. The human losses in the war were enormous: more than 10 million killed and 20 million wounded and maimed.
The attitude towards the First World War of various classes and parties in the world was not the same. The parties of the Second International supported the governments of their countries. The International has virtually collapsed. There was no unambiguous attitude to the war in Russia either. If the Bolsheviks opposed the war, then the bulk of Russia's political parties supported it. The beginning of the war caused the rallying of Russian society on the basis of the ideals of imperial consciousness and state traditionalism.
A wave of demonstrations with patriotic slogans and appeals swept across the country. IV State Duma voted for military loans. The Russian army was the largest of the armies of the warring countries in terms of numbers. Its soldiers showed courage and heroism, but Russia was not ready for a long war. As a result of heavy fighting and defeats in 1915, half of the Russian army was destroyed. By 1916, at the cost of enormous exertion of forces, Russia had restored the army, and the industry provided it with weapons.
Large losses on the fronts, the prolongation of the war caused discontent in the country. The crisis of power began to acquire an irreversible character. The autocracy was losing the ability to govern the country and wage war.
By the beginning of 1917, of all the countries of the Entente, the position of Russia turned out to be the most difficult. The living conditions of the working people worsened catastrophically. Social tension has led to a radical change in the internal situation. The February Revolution was accomplished and won in Russia. Under the pressure of circumstances, on March 2, 1917, Nicholas II abdicated.
The war pushed Europe into crisis as well. There were revolutions in Germany, Hungary, Slovakia. In 1917-1920. the strike movement gained considerable scope in England and France.
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Contemporaries said that this would be a war that would put an end to all wars, and they were greatly mistaken. World War I began on August 1, 1914 with a provocation and regicide and ended with the first Compiègne truce on November 11, 1918. The influence on the territories and countries that participated in the war was so great that it became possible to sum up its results and conclude the Treaty of Versailles only in the middle of the next, 1919 of the year. Six out of ten people across the planet have experienced this war in one way or another. This is one of the dark pages in the history of mankind.
They say she was inevitable. The disagreements between the future participants were too strong, leading to constantly creating and collapsing alliances. The most inconsistent was precisely Germany, which almost at the same time tried to turn Great Britain against France and organize a continental blockade of Britain itself.
Prerequisites for World War I
If you look at the positions from which the countries were involved in the First World War of 1914-1918, the reasons, in fact, will lie on the surface. England, France and Austria-Hungary at the beginning of the twentieth century sought to redistribute the world map. The main reason for this was the collapse of colonialism and prosperity only at the expense of its own satellites. The main European powers were faced with a difficult choice, since the resources important for the economy and prosperity of the country (primarily its elite) could no longer be taken away from India or Africa.
The only possible solution lay precisely in military conflicts over raw materials, labor and territories for life. Major conflicts that flared up on the basis of territorial claims were as follows:
What started the war
It is very clear to say when World War I (WWI) started. At the end of June 1914, on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the city of Sarajevo, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire Franz Ferdinand was killed. It was a provocation on the part of the Austrians and, with the active participation of British diplomats and the press, a reason for the escalation of the conflict in the Balkans.
The killer was a Serbian terrorist, a member of the extremist organization "Black Hand" (otherwise called "Unity or Death") Gavrilo Princip. This organization, along with other similar underground movements, attempted to spread nationalist sentiment throughout the Balkan Peninsula in response to the 1908 annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary, setting off the Bosnian crisis.
There have already been several assassination attempts on the account of such formations. both successful and unsuccessful, to prominent political figures of the empire and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The day of the assassination attempt on the Archduke was not chosen by chance, because on June 28 he was supposed to participate in events dedicated to the anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. Such events on this date were considered by many Bosnians a direct insult to their national pride.
In addition to the assassination of the Archduke, these days there were several attempts to liquidate public figures who opposed the outbreak of hostilities. So, a few days before June 28, an unsuccessful attempt was made on the life of Grigory Rasputin, known, among other things, for his anti-war sentiments and great influence at the court of Emperor Nicholas II. And the next day, June 29, Jean Jaures was killed. He was an influential French politician and public figure who fought against imperialist sentiments, colonialism and, like Rasputin, was an ardent opponent of the war.
British influence
After the tragic events in Sarajevo, the two largest powers in Europe - Germany and the Russian Empire - tried to avoid an open military confrontation. But this situation did not suit the British at all and diplomatic levers were put into play. So, after the murder of Franz Ferdinand by Princip, the English press openly began to call the Serbs barbarians and call on the top of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to give them a decisive and tough answer. At the same time, through the ambassador, they created pressure on the Russian emperor, calling for Serbia to provide all possible assistance if Austria-Hungary decides on any provocations.
And she made up her mind. Almost a month after the successful assassination attempt on the heir, Serbia was presented with demands that were impossible to fulfill. For example, one of its points was the admission of police officers to the territory of a foreign state. The Serbs did not accept only this point, which, as expected, served as a declaration of war. Moreover, the first bombs fell on its capital the very next morning, which clearly indicated the readiness of the Austro-Hungarians to fight immediately.
The Russian Empire, which has always been considered a shield of Orthodoxy and Slavism, had, after unsuccessful attempts at a diplomatic ceasefire, to declare the mobilization of the entire country. Thus, Russia's participation in the First World War was inevitable.
The course of the war
After a series of provocations, hotbed of military conflict began to flare up even faster. In about six months, two main military alliances were formed that took part in the confrontation:
Events of 1914
There were several major theaters of war- the war blazed in France, in Russia, in the Balkans, the Middle East and the Caucasus and in the former colonies of Europe. The German Schlieffen plan, which included a blitzkrieg, lunch in Paris and dinner in St. Petersburg, failed due to Germany's systematic underestimation of its rivals and repeated revision of strategic tables. In general, the vast majority of the participants in the war were absolutely sure of its imminent end, confidently speaking about the possibility of winning in a few months. No one expected the conflict to take on such proportions, especially on the Western Front.
First, Germany occupied Luxembourg and Belgium. At the same time, the French invaded Alsace and Lorraine, which were important to them, where, after the successful actions of the German army, which held back and then reversed the offensive, the situation changed dramatically. The French, instead of capturing their historical territories, ceded part of their land without putting up a strong enough resistance. After the events called by historians the "Run to the Sea" and the holding by France of its most important ports, a period of trench warfare followed. The confrontation severely exhausted both sides.
Eastern front was opened by an offensive on the territory of Prussia by Russian troops on August 17, and the very next day a major victory was won over the Austro-Hungarians in the Battle of Galicia. This made it possible to withdraw the empire from the confrontation with Russia for a long time.
Serbia this year drove the Austrians out of Belgrade and firmly occupied it. Japan declared war on the Triple Alliance and launched a campaign to take control of the German island colonies. At the same time, in the Caucasus, Turkey entered the war with Russia, entering into a coalition with the Austrians and Germans. Thus, she cut off the country from the allies and involved in hostilities on the Caucasian front.
The failure of Russia in 1915
On the Russian front, the situation worsened. The army was poorly prepared for an offensive in the winter, failed it and received a counter-offensive operation from the Germans in the middle of the year. Poorly organized supply of troops led to a large-scale retreat, the Germans carried out the Gorlitsky breakthrough and, as a result, first received Galicia, and then a significant part of Polish territory. After that, the stage of trench warfare began, largely due to the same reasons as in the west.
In the same year, on May 23, Italy entered the war with Austria-Hungary, which led to the collapse of the coalition. However, Bulgaria, which took part in the confrontation on its side in the same year, not only marked the rapid formation of a new union, but also accelerated the fall of Serbia.
Key moments in 1916
During this year of the war, one of its largest battles continued - battle of verdun. Because of its scale, the nature of the collisions and the consequences, it was called the Verdun meat grinder. This is where the flamethrower was used for the first time. The losses of all troops amounted to over a million people. At the same time, the Russian army launched an offensive known as the Brusilovsky breakthrough, pulling significant German forces away from Verdun and easing the Entente's situation in the region.
The year was also marked by the largest naval battle - Jutland, after which the Entente fulfilled its main goal - to dominate the region. Some members of the enemy tried even then to agree on peace negotiations.
1917: Russia's exit from the war
1917 was rich in major events in the war. It was already obvious who would win. It is worth noting 
The 3 most important moments for understanding the situation:
- The United States, after waiting for time, joined the obvious winner - the Entente.
- The revolution in Russia actually brought her out of the war.
- Germany uses submarines, hoping thereby to turn the tide of battles.
1918: German capitulation
Russia's withdrawal from active hostilities made things easier for Germany, because without the Eastern Front, she could concentrate her forces on more important things. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was concluded, parts of the Baltic region and the territory of Poland were occupied. After that, active operations began on the Western Front, which were not crowned with success for her. Other participants began to withdraw from the Quarter Union and conclude peace treaties with the enemy. In Germany, a revolution began to flare up, forcing the emperor to leave the country. The end of the active phase of hostilities can be considered the signing of the act of surrender of Germany on November 11, 1918.
If we talk about the results of the First World, then for almost all participating countries they were with a minus sign. Briefly on points:
It is worth noting that even then the prerequisites for the Second World War began to take shape. It was only a matter of time before a leader emerged who would rally the revenge-hungry inhabitants of defeated Germany.
(one thousand nine hundred and fourteen - one thousand nine hundred and nineteen)
About the main causes of World War 1 by points in brief in the table
- About the nature, causes and participants of World War I very briefly
- German "throwing" preconditions for war
- Reasons for different countries…in the table
So, what are the grounded causes (cause) of World War I ....
Briefly studying the history of the causes of the outbreak of the First World War, point by point, it is worth mentioning the main one among them, namely the sharpest contradictions that arose during the division of spheres of influence in the world between the major world powers. Simply put, each of them tried to snatch the most profitable and fat piece of the pie. However, in reality, the problems and contradictions between the countries lay much deeper.
About the nature and causes of World War I very briefly
German "throwing"
In a brief review of the causes and prerequisites of the First World War, the first point should be noted Germany's dissatisfaction with its position and the small number of its own colonies.
The German Empire, which was formed as a result of the Franco-Prussian war, initially did not at all claim hegemony in the world. However, with the rapid development of the economy, it needed additional markets. And the creation and rapid strengthening and increase of the armed forces made possible the struggle of the German Kaiser for power on the continent and in the world.
To solve this problem, the German authorities either tried to conclude an alliance with England against France, or “incited” other states to a continental blockade of Great Britain.
Subsequently, having learned about the conclusion of the Franco-English secret agreement, Germany made an attempt to win Russia over to its side. 
But all these political moves turned out to be fruitless. Since England and France were in this period of history on friendly terms. In addition, the Russian Empire also figured in the sphere of French interests.
In order not to be completely alone, Germany, located in the very center of Europe, was forced to look for allies among the weaker countries. These were Austria-Hungary and Italy.
At the same time, the only way to solve their problems, the German government saw a new redistribution of spheres of influence in the world by crushing England, France and Russia.
Reasons for participation of different countries…
TABLE by country
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Causes of the entry of the British Empire ... England had many reasons for not accepting Germany. |
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... France ... |
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… Russia… |
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... Austria-Hungary ... |
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… and Turkey (Ottoman Empire) |
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As for other countries, for them the war was a means to achieve their plans. Serbia's aspirations... |
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… Bulgaria… |
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… Poland… |
