Chapter-The First World War

In 1914, a war began in Europe that spread worldwide, involving many nations. With new methods of
defence and destruction and the unprecedented extent of its spread, impact, and damage, it marked a turning
point in history and is known as the First World War.
Causes:
• Nationalism and Imperialism-
▪ Aggressive Nationalism meant love for one's country and hatred of other countries.
➢ Each Nation thought about its own national interest and did not care for the interest of the other
nations.
➢ France wanted to get back its provinces of Alsace and Lorraine from Germany, Italy wanted
Trentino Trieste from Austria.
➢ Serbia wanted that Slavs living in other States should come together to form a greater Balkan State.
➢ These countries developed expansionist policies in the name of nationalism, started increasing their
military power and military strength became synonymous with national prestige.
▪ Imperialism refers to the State Policy or practice by which a powerful nation establishes its
control over another country either by direct territorial acquisition or by gaining political and
economic control.
➢ The imperial Nations exploited the resources of the colonies for their own economic interest.
➢ England and France had a huge colonial empire in Asia and Africa. Other countries like Germany,
Italy, Russia and Japan also wanted colonies as these would provide raw materials for their
industries, markets for their products and add to their power and prestige.
➢ This led to clash of interests and fierce economic competition filled the atmosphere with fear, hatred,
international tension and convinced them that militarism is the only solution.
• Race for Armaments
➢ After the Franco-Prussian War, every major power began stockpiling armaments in the name of self-
defence and preservation of peace filling the atmosphere with fear and hatred.
➢ Germany began to build a powerful navy to achieve parity with Britain.
➢ Germany dug the Kiel Canal deeper so that battleships could enter its waters.
➢ Britain and France were concerned with Germany's growing military strength. This led to fierce
competition and race for armaments in Europe.
• Division of Europe into Two Hostile Groups
➢ In the early 20th century there were two kinds of States-single Nation-States like France, Germany
and Imperial States like Austria-Hungarian Empire and the Russian Empire etc. To secure their
interests, nations entered into various alliances (Pre First World War) .
➢ Germany entered into an alliance with Austria-Hungary which was later joined by Italy in 1882. This
came to be known as the Triple Alliance.
➢ France, England and Russia formed Triple Entente in 1907 (later joined by Japan) to counter the
Triple Alliance.
➢ Thus Europe was divided into two hostile camps. Rivalries happened for colonies, colonial trade and
trade routes. These created suspicion and tension leading to the First World War.
• Sarajevo Crisis (Immediate Cause)
➢ Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary was assassinated at Sarajevo,
capital of Bosnia on June 28, 1914 by a secret society called 'Black Hand' or ' Union of Death'
formed by extremist Serbian nationalists whose aim was to unite all Serbians into a single Serbian
State.
➢ Austria served an ultimatum on Serbia on July 23 making eleven demands.
➢ Serbia accepted most of the demands except those that would have led to the loss of her sovereignty.
Austria declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914.

Many other countries soon entered the War. Britain, France, Russia and their allies were called the Allied
Powers (during First World War). While Germany, Austria-Hungary and their allies were called the Central
Powers (during First World War). The war was fought in many different areas called fronts.
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Results of the War
• Treaty of Versailles (June 28, 1919)
The basis of the treaty’s negotiations was the American President Wilson’s Fourteen Points and was
designed to prevent Germany from going to war again. The terms were decided by Woodrow Wilson
(President of the United States of America), Lloyd George (Prime Minister of Britain) and George
Clemenceau (Prime Minister of France). The defeated countries were not represented at the conference. The
victorious powers also excluded Russia from the conference. The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June
28, 1919 ending the war.
(Clauses/Terms/Impact on Germany)
1. Germany was declared guilty of aggression.
2. {Economic impact on Germany}
➢ Germany was required to pay 33 billion dollars to the Allies as reparation for loss and damages. Had
to cede her merchant ships to the Allies as compensation.
➢ Had to supply huge quantities of coal to France, Italy and Belgium for ten years.
➢ The coal mines in the German area called Saar were ceded to France for 15 years.
3. {Impact on Germany’s Military}
➢ The German Army was restricted to a force of 1,00,000 soldiers. Navy was limited to 15,000 men
and 24 ships.
➢ The Air Force and Submarines were banned.
➢ Area of Rhine valley was to be demilitarised and the German territory west of Rhine was to be
occupied by the Allied Troops for 15 years.
4. {Territorial loss & loss of German colonies}
➢ Germany lost Alsace and Lorraine to France.
➢ Germany had to give Eupen-et-Malmedy to Belgium and Schleswig to Denmark.
➢ The German city of Danzig became a Free Port in the Polish territory.
➢ Had to cede parts of her pre-war territory to Denmark, Belgium, Poland, Czechoslovakia and France.
➢ Germany lost all her colonies to Allies- Britain, Belgium, South Africa and Portugal.
➢ German colonies in the Pacific and the areas under her control in China were given to Japan.
5. The Treaty affirmed the complete independence of Belgium, Poland, Czechoslovakia and
Yugoslavia.
6. The covenant of the League of Nations was added to the Treaty of Versailles.
• Territorial Rearrangements (Change in the Political Map of the world particularly Europe)
➢ Three ruling dynasties were destroyed-Romanov in Russia, Hohenzollern in Germany and Hapsburg
in Austria-Hungary.
➢ Ottoman rule came to an end in Turkey.
➢ Austria and Hungary became separate independent States. The War led to development of
democracy in Europe.
➢ Empires having different cultures were dissolved and independent states having distinct cultures
emerged-Finland, Yugoslavia etc.
➢ Alsace and Lorraine was restored to France and Schelswig-Hostein to Denmark.
• Formation of the League of Nations
➢ The horrors of war convinced the world leaders to have a mechanism to prevent wars.
➢ Wilson's Fourteen Points included the creation of an international organisation for the preservation
of peace. League of Nations was created on 10th January 1920.
Aims/Objectives
▪ All the States of the world were prohibited from entering into any secret treaties and alliances.
▪ Not to maintain huge armies, warships and destructive armaments.
▪ Respect each other's Independence.
▪ Refer their mutual disputes to the League of Nations for a peaceful settlement.

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