World War 1 - Overview
Compiled by Jim Turpy
The First World War (the Great War) was a truly global war. Although centred in Europe, it is not generally realised just how extensive were the military operations that, along with famine and disease, killed more than nine million combatants and seven million civilians between 28 July 1914 and 11 November 1918.
The great powers of Europe had evolved alliances to deter attack by rivals; they felt safer with friends to help, but this resulted in growing political suspicion and tension between the groups, consisting of the 'Allies' (Britain, France and Russia) and the 'Central Powers' (Germany and Austria-Hungary).
When Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was assassinated in Sarajevo by a Bosnian, Austria demanded unreasonable terms from Serbia; Russia immediately supported Serbia, while Germany backed Austria. Because Germany was very anxious to avoid fighting on two major fronts at once, the German Army invaded Belgium in order to bypass the main French defences and drive towards Paris, at which point the war started - the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire joined the Central Powers and Japan declared for the Allies.
After the German thrust towards Paris was halted at the Battle of the Marne, fighting on the Western Front settled into a battle of attrition, using 'mass production' industrial techniques along trenches that – despite the introduction of new weapons such as tanks, aircraft and poison gas - would change little until 1918, while hundreds of thousands of lives were lost in major battles at the Somme and Ypres, but to little effect.
On the Eastern Front, the Russian Army pushed back the Austro-Hungarians, but was stopped by the Germans at Tannenberg. Later, the Russians faced rebellions in Central Asia, before the 1917 Revolution resulted in Russian withdrawal from the war.
The Gallipoli campaign failed in its intention to knock out the Ottomans, while savage fighting in the Alps between Austria and Italy dragged on throughout the war. Britain and France both had to send much-needed troops to Italy and the Balkans to prevent the collapse of their Allies.
At sea, early naval battles were fought off China, Chile and the Falkland Islands, but the only battle involving the main fleets was indecisive, at Jutland in 1916. However, German submarines caused very heavy losses to Allied – and especially British – shipping.
Some of the least-known fighting took place in the colonies: in August 1914 French and British troops invaded the German protectorates of Togoland and Kamerun, and German forces in South-West Africa attacked South Africa; while in Tanganyika German troops fought a guerrilla campaign until the Armistice. Meanwhile, New Zealand occupied German Samoa, an Australian force took over German New Guinea, and Japan seized the other German Pacific islands.
Despite the fame of 'Lawrence of Arabia', few are aware of the severe fighting against the Turks across the Caucasus, Persia, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Greece and the Balkans. Many more peoples – from major nations to local tribes - became involved in the war: Italy, Romania, Portugal and the USA joined the Allies, and Bulgaria the Central Powers, resulting in the mobilisation of more than 70 million men. An immense contribution was made by Indians, Australians, Canadians, South Africans, New Zealanders, and Nepalis – as well as those from smaller colonies such as the West Indies, and from French colonies – to the Allied war effort.
By spring 1918 Germany was outnumbered, short of food and supplies, and facing unrest at home; a desperate offensive on the Western Front was eventually stopped, and the Allies then drove back the Germans in a series of successful battles that ended in victory with the Armistice.
The peace treaties ended the Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires, establishing several 'new' independent countries, and redistributing German colonies. A major outcome was the rise in expectations of many disadvantaged people who had contributed greatly to the war effort: not only in nationalist aspirations in countries such as India, but also in the demands of women for their rights to work, pay and the vote.
The great powers of Europe had evolved alliances to deter attack by rivals; they felt safer with friends to help, but this resulted in growing political suspicion and tension between the groups, consisting of the 'Allies' (Britain, France and Russia) and the 'Central Powers' (Germany and Austria-Hungary).
When Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was assassinated in Sarajevo by a Bosnian, Austria demanded unreasonable terms from Serbia; Russia immediately supported Serbia, while Germany backed Austria. Because Germany was very anxious to avoid fighting on two major fronts at once, the German Army invaded Belgium in order to bypass the main French defences and drive towards Paris, at which point the war started - the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire joined the Central Powers and Japan declared for the Allies.
After the German thrust towards Paris was halted at the Battle of the Marne, fighting on the Western Front settled into a battle of attrition, using 'mass production' industrial techniques along trenches that – despite the introduction of new weapons such as tanks, aircraft and poison gas - would change little until 1918, while hundreds of thousands of lives were lost in major battles at the Somme and Ypres, but to little effect.
On the Eastern Front, the Russian Army pushed back the Austro-Hungarians, but was stopped by the Germans at Tannenberg. Later, the Russians faced rebellions in Central Asia, before the 1917 Revolution resulted in Russian withdrawal from the war.
The Gallipoli campaign failed in its intention to knock out the Ottomans, while savage fighting in the Alps between Austria and Italy dragged on throughout the war. Britain and France both had to send much-needed troops to Italy and the Balkans to prevent the collapse of their Allies.
At sea, early naval battles were fought off China, Chile and the Falkland Islands, but the only battle involving the main fleets was indecisive, at Jutland in 1916. However, German submarines caused very heavy losses to Allied – and especially British – shipping.
Some of the least-known fighting took place in the colonies: in August 1914 French and British troops invaded the German protectorates of Togoland and Kamerun, and German forces in South-West Africa attacked South Africa; while in Tanganyika German troops fought a guerrilla campaign until the Armistice. Meanwhile, New Zealand occupied German Samoa, an Australian force took over German New Guinea, and Japan seized the other German Pacific islands.
Despite the fame of 'Lawrence of Arabia', few are aware of the severe fighting against the Turks across the Caucasus, Persia, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Greece and the Balkans. Many more peoples – from major nations to local tribes - became involved in the war: Italy, Romania, Portugal and the USA joined the Allies, and Bulgaria the Central Powers, resulting in the mobilisation of more than 70 million men. An immense contribution was made by Indians, Australians, Canadians, South Africans, New Zealanders, and Nepalis – as well as those from smaller colonies such as the West Indies, and from French colonies – to the Allied war effort.
By spring 1918 Germany was outnumbered, short of food and supplies, and facing unrest at home; a desperate offensive on the Western Front was eventually stopped, and the Allies then drove back the Germans in a series of successful battles that ended in victory with the Armistice.
The peace treaties ended the Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires, establishing several 'new' independent countries, and redistributing German colonies. A major outcome was the rise in expectations of many disadvantaged people who had contributed greatly to the war effort: not only in nationalist aspirations in countries such as India, but also in the demands of women for their rights to work, pay and the vote.