First World War: Facts, Causes, and Treaties

First World War: Facts, Causes, and Treaties

Causes of the First World War:

The causes of the First World War are as under –

1. Militarism:

• This means the dangerous and burdensome mechanism of great standing armies and large navies, along with an espionage system.

2. Narrow Nationalism or Competitive Patriotism:

• The love of one’s country demanded the hatred of the other.

• Love of Germany demanded the hatred of France and vice versa.

3. Economic Imperialism:

• It led to international rivalries.

• Every country tried to capture markets in every nook and corner of the world.

• This led to bitterness and heartburn.

4. Anglo-German Rivalry & The Charter of William II:

• Anglo-German rivalry proved to be the main cause of World War I.

• Germany had become a great industrial country and wanted to have more markets for trade.

• Germany was jealous of the colonial and naval greatness of England.

• William II, emperor of Germany, was very ambitious and wanted to gain influence in Turkey by linking Berlin with Baghdad by a railway line.

• This gave rise to a great rivalry between England and Germany.

• William II was arrogant, haughty, and ambitious.

• He wanted Germany to be the strongest power in the world.

• He believed in the policy of ‘world power or downfall’.

5. Lack of International Organisation:

• There was a lack of an International Organisation to control international relations.

6. Immediate Cause:

• The immediate cause of the war was the murder of Archduke Ferdinand, who was the heir to the Austrian throne.

• He and his wife Sophie were killed in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, an annexed territory of Austria, by a Serbian.

• The Austrians held the Government of Serbia responsible for the murder and ultimately attacked Serbia.

• There was a strong rivalry already between Austria-Hungary and Serbia in the Balkans.

WWI: Central Powers Vs Allied Powers

Central Powers

• Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey (entered Nov. 1914), Bulgaria (entered Oct. 1915), etc.

The Allies or Entente Powers

• Great Britain/England/United Kingdom (UK), France, Serbia, Belgium, Japan, Russia/USSR (left Dec. 1917), Italy (entered April 26, 1915), Romania (entered Aug. 1916), USA (entered April 6, 1917), etc.

Beginning of the War

• To begin with, Austria was in favour of the local war, but as time passed, the situation became graver.

• Other countries jumped into the fray.

• Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey & Bulgaria were on one side; they were called the Central Powers.

• On the other side were England, France, Serbia, Belgium, Japan, and Russia; they were called the Allied Powers.

• The Allied Powers were joined by Italy in 1915 andthe  USA in 1917. The war started on July 28, 1914, and ended on Nov. 11, 1918.

Peace Settlement (1919–20)

• The Central Powers were completely defeated by the Allied Powers, and an Armistice was signed on Nov. 11, 1918, followed by a Peace Conference at Paris.

• The defeated countries were not represented at the Peace Conference.

• Though the number of countries represented at the Peace Conference was 27, the terms of the peace treaties were really decided by three countries –the  USA, Britain, and France.

The three persons who played the determining role in framing the terms of the treaties were:

• Woodrow Wilson (President of the USA)

• Lloyd George (Prime Minister of Britain)

• George Clemenceau (Prime Minister of France)

After prolonged discussion, the Treaty of Versailles (Versailles – a city of France) was signed between the Allies and Germany on June 28, 1919. This Treaty:

• Rearranged the boundaries of Europe

• Formed many new states – Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Estonia, Lithuania, etc.

• Resulted in the abdication of William II, the German Emperor, who took asylum in the Netherlands (Holland)

• Contained provisions for disarming Germany

• Limited Germany’s army to 1,00,000 troops

• Required Germany to pay ₤6,50,00,000 as war reparations

The Treaty of Versailles was followed by:

• Treaty of Sèvres (1919)

• Treaty of Neuilly (1919)

• Treaty of Trianon (1920)

• Treaty of Sèvres (1920)

Final Thoughts

The First World War marked a turning point in modern history, bringing immense destruction and reshaping global politics. Driven by militarism, nationalism, imperialism, and complex alliances, the war exposed the dangers of unchecked ambition and rivalry among nations. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand was merely the spark in an already volatile environment.

The eventual defeat of the Central Powers and the harsh Treaty of Versailles laid the groundwork for future conflicts, including World War II. The war also emphasized the urgent need for international cooperation and peacekeeping mechanisms.

Understanding its causes and consequences helps us recognize the importance of diplomacy and collective responsibility in global affairs.