ww1 explained Flashcards
Basics:
Duration: July 28, 1914 - November 11, 1918
Main Belligerents: Allies vs. Central Powers
Major Fronts: Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Pacific
Casualties: Approx. 9 million soldiers, 8 million civilians
Causes and Outbreak:
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip (June 28, 1914) in Sarajevo, Bosnia, which triggered the war.
Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war on Serbia (July 28, 1914), following the assassination, igniting the alliance system.
Bosnia Crisis:
Background: Bosnia and Herzegovina were annexed by Austria-Hungary in 1908, angering Serbia and Russia, both of whom had interests in the Balkans.
Impact: The annexation intensified nationalistic fervor among Serbs and other Slavic peoples, leading to the formation of radical groups like the Black Hand, which played a pivotal role in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Aftermath and Consequences:
The Treaty of Versailles and other treaties reshape Europe, creating new nations like Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia.
Fall of empires: Russian, Ottoman, German, and Austro-Hungarian.
Significant geopolitical shifts and setup for future conflicts, including WWII.
Key Figures:
Key Figures:
Gavrilo Princip
Archduke Franz Ferdinand,
Kaiser Wilhelm II,
Woodrow Wilson,
Vladimir Lenin
Balkan Crises:
Balkan Wars (1912-1913): Two conflicts that involved the Balkan states (Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, and Serbia) fighting the Ottoman Empire and then each other over territorial disputes. These wars weakened the Ottoman Empire and heightened tensions in the region, setting the stage for the larger conflict of WWI.
Political Instability: The Balkan Wars also increased political instability in the region, with shifting alliances and territorial gains fueling nationalistic ambitions and ethnic tensions.
Direct Link to WWI: The instability in the Balkans directly contributed to the conditions leading to World War I, as the region’s strategic importance drew interest and military posturing from the great powers of Europe, particularly Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Germany.
Major Events:
1914: War begins. Western Front trench warfare starts. Eastern Front sees more dynamic movements.
1917: U.S. enters war. Russian Bolshevik Revolution leads to Russian withdrawal.
1918: Major German offensives fail; Allied counteroffensive forces German retreat. Armistice on November 11 ends fighting.
Military Tactics and Technology:
Trench warfare dominates Western Front.
Introduction of tanks, chemical weapons, and aircraft.
Naval warfare includes battles like Jutland and use of U-boats.
Social and Economic Impact:
Major shifts in national economies and global power structures.
War leads to significant social changes, including roles of women in workforces.
Massive human and economic costs lead to widespread changes in societal and political landscapes.
Cultural References:
Known as “The Great War” before WWII.
Impact on literature, art, and collective memory, often depicted as futile and grim.
Legacy:
Veterans’ experiences shape post-war societies.
War memorials and
Remembrance Days commemorate the conflict.
Ongoing discussions about the war’s role in shaping modern history.
Important Dates:
June 28, 1914: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
July 28, 1914: Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
August 4, 1914: Britain declares war on Germany
April 6, 1917: United States enters the war
November 11, 1918: Armistice Day, end of fighting
