Overview

The First World War marked a catastrophic break from 19th-century norms, unleashing industrialized warfare, political upheaval, and revolutionary movements. The war's aftermath shattered empires, redrew borders, and ignited the Russian Revolution, which introduced communism as a global force.

Key Themes and Developments

• Causes of the War:
  • Militarism, alliances, imperial rivalries, and nationalism fueled tensions.
  • Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo (1914) triggered the conflict.
• The War Itself:
  • Trench warfare and new technologies (machine guns, poison gas, tanks) led to massive casualties.
  • Total war: governments mobilized economies and societies, including propaganda and rationing.
  • U.S. entry in 1917 and Russian withdrawal shifted the balance.
• Peace Settlements:
  • Treaty of Versailles (1919) imposed harsh terms on Germany—war guilt, reparations, territorial loss.
  • New nations formed from Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman collapse (e.g., Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia).
  • League of Nations established, but lacked enforcement power.
• Russian Revolution:
  • February Revolution (1917): Tsar Nicholas II abdicated; Provisional Government formed.
  • October Revolution: Bolsheviks under Lenin seized power and withdrew Russia from WWI (Treaty of Brest-Litovsk).
  • Civil War (Reds vs. Whites) ended in Bolshevik victory and creation of USSR in 1922.
• Impact:
  • Mass disillusionment and rise of authoritarian movements in Europe.
  • Spread of socialist and communist ideologies, sparking fear and repression abroad.

Quick Tip

World War I reshaped the political map of Europe and sparked revolution in Russia. Know the causes, key battles, peace terms, and revolutionary outcomes—and how they set the stage for even greater upheavals ahead.