World War I Overview

Overview

This lecture covers the origins, course, and consequences of World War I, highlighting its global impact, technological innovations, and cultural legacy.

Causes of World War I

• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip triggered a web of alliances into action.
• Austria issued an ultimatum to Serbia, which led to war declarations involving Russia, Germany, France, Britain, and others.
• Alliances and beliefs in the glory of war contributed significantly to the escalation.
• Other interpretations blame Russia’s early mobilization, the rigidity of German planning, or imperialist rivalries.

Course of the War

• Trench warfare, especially on the Western Front, resulted in stalemate and immense suffering.
• The war involved global participants, including colonial troops from India, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
• Early offensives succeeded more on the Eastern Front, where Germany outperformed Russia.
• Disease killed more soldiers than combat, with dysentery, typhus, cholera, and gangrene widespread.

Technology and Tactics

• New technologies (tanks, airplanes, poison gas) appeared, but machine guns and barbed wire were most deadly.
• Outdated tactics, such as infantry charges, led to high casualties.
• The Battle of the Somme exemplified mass casualties due to modern weaponry.

Soldier Experience

• Life in the trenches was dominated by fear, poor conditions, and constant shelling.
• Morale was sustained by camaraderie, duty, fear of punishment, and alcohol.
• Soldiers received little pay and lived in harsh, unsanitary environments.

Consequences and Legacy

• The Treaty of Versailles blamed Germany, harming its economy and politics.
• World War I contributed to the Russian Revolution, leading to Bolshevik rule.
• The U.S. emerged as a world power, moving from debtor to creditor nation.
• The Ottoman Empire collapsed, leading to the creation of Turkey.
• Few colonies gained autonomy despite their contributions to the war.
• The war produced a sense of disillusionment, seen in “lost generation” literature and a cultural shift toward cynicism.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Trench Warfare — fighting from long, fortified ditches, resulting in stalemate.
• Schlieffen Plan — German strategy to quickly defeat France by invading through Belgium.
• No Man’s Land — area between opposing trenches, heavily defended and dangerous.
• Treaty of Versailles — peace treaty ending WWI, placing blame and reparations on Germany.
• Lost Generation — writers and artists disillusioned by WWI’s destruction and futility.
• Bolsheviks — Russian revolutionary group led by Lenin, establishing communist rule after WWI.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review the causes and consequences of World War I for upcoming exams.
• Read about the Russian Revolution and its connection to the war.
• Explore literature and art from the "lost generation" for further cultural context.