Lecture Notes on World War I

Introduction

• Date: 28th June 1914
• Event: Assassination of Austro-Hungarian Prince by a 19-year-old student
• Result: Triggered World War I
• Duration: 4 years
• Casualties: 20 million people
• Outcome: End of several ancient empires, wide-scale conflict

Prelude to War

European Political Landscape in 1914

• Austro-Hungarian Empire, German Empire, Russian Empire, Ottoman Empire, UK, and France
• Most of Europe under monarchies, except France, Switzerland, and San Marino
• Balkan countries: Serbia, Bosnia, Romania, Bulgaria (crucial to the story)

Key Historical Events

• 1878: Treaty of Berlin - Austro-Hungarian Empire administrates Bosnia-Herzegovina
• 1908: Austro-Hungarian Empire annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Balkan Conflicts: Russian Empire supports Balkan countries against the Ottoman Empire
• Secret Deals: Russia and Austro-Hungary deal on territorial exchanges
• 1909: Formation of alliances due to escalated Balkan tensions

Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand

• Date: 28th June 1914
• Location: Bosnia
• Assassin: Gavrilo Princip
• Consequences: Immediate cause of war declaration by Austro-Hungary on Serbia

Chain Reaction Leading to War

• Austro-Hungary: Declares war on Serbia
• Russia: Supports Serbia against Austro-Hungary
• Germany: Supports Austro-Hungary against Russia
• France: Supports Russia and Serbia
• Italy: Originally in alliance, but refrains
• Ottoman Empire: Supports Austro-Hungary
• United Kingdom: Enters due to Triple Entente
• Global Involvement: USA, Japan, British colonies

Underlying Causes of WWI

Nationalism

• Aggressive nationalism based on race and superiority
• Example: Germany united under Bismark

Imperialism

• Desire to expand territorial borders for resources and pride
• Capitalist motivations for resource exploitation

Militarism

• Significant military spending by major powers
• Naval and military build-ups

Alliances

• Triple Alliance (1882): Germany, Austro-Hungary, Italy
• Triple Entente (1907): Great Britain, France, Russia

Human Element and Propaganda

Commoners' Role

• Soldiers: Often poor, joined military for employment

Propaganda

• Newspapers and media glorified war efforts
• Promoted nationalism and heroism through literature and poetry
• Notable figures: Alfred Tennyson, Rupert Brooke, Henry Ford

Anti-War Sentiment

• Various political and social movements against the war
• Examples: Socialist Parties, Bolsheviks, Poets like Rudyard Kipling and Thomas Hardy

Notable Anti-War Moments

• Christmas Truce (1914): Temporary truce and celebration between British and German soldiers
• Mutinies: Instances in France and Russia

Conclusion

• World War I's complexity involves various layers of political, social, and economic factors
• A future discussion anticipated on the outcomes and subsequent geopolitical shifts, including World War II and India's role

Additional Information

• References to other historical educational content and the Kargil War