World war one meaning (what it is, concept and definition)

What is World War I:

The First World War, called at the time the Great War, was a multinational armed conflict that developed between 1914 and 1918. The following countries were involved, organized in blocks or alliances:

• German Empire and Austria-Hungary, members of the Triple Alliance. Subsequently the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Bulgaria were united.The Triple Entente, made up of the United Kingdom, France and Russia. Later Italy, the United States and the Empire of Japan were united.

The armed conflict began on July 28, 1914 with the declaration of war by the Austro-Hungarian Empire on the nation of Serbia, where the archduke, heir to the throne, Francisco Fernando, and his wife had been assassinated. The murderer was Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand terrorist group.

The alliances that had been made in the previous years in Europe ended up forcing the incorporation of other nations into the conflict. The war ended on November 11, 1918 with the signing of the Versailles Treaty .

characteristics

World War I was the first armed conflict that involved the use of high-tech, truly massive military weapons. Hence, the First World War has among its characteristics the attack on civilian targets and not only military ones.

In this conflict, toxic gases, tanks and warplanes were deployed for the first time in history for attack, defense and reconnaissance.

However, military strategies were used that responded to the warlike models of the 19th century. Among them, the war of movements and the war of trenches.

Another characteristic element of this episode was the use of propaganda, especially intended to boost the morale of the troops.

Causes of the First World War

• Radicalization of nationalism. Exponential development of the industry, especially the arms industry. Expansion of European imperialism over Africa, especially of Great Britain and France. Inequality in the distribution of the African colonies among the countries of Europe. Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire claimed more advantageous territories and conditions. Franco-German conflict: France intended to regain the territory of Alsace-Lorraine, controlled by Germany since the end of the Franco-Prussian War. Anglo-German conflict: Germany vied for control of the market with Britain, which dominated it. Austro-Russian conflict: Russia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire vie for control of the Balkans.Forming international alliances:
  • German union in the hands of Otto von Bismarck or Bismarck alliance system, (1871-1890), which created a Germanic unit and momentarily contained the power of France. Formation of the Triple Alliance in 1882, originally formed by Germany, the Austro-Hungarian empire and Italy. However, during the war Italy will not support the Triple Alliance. Formation of the Triple Entente in 1907 against Germany.
  Trigger: Assassination of Archduke Francisco Fernando de Austria.

See also:

• Russian Revolution Imperialism.

Consequences of the First World War

• Disappearance of the following empires:
  • German Empire; Austro-Hungarian Empire; Ottoman Empire; Russian Empire.
  Balance of some 7 million civilians and 10 million soldiers killed during the attacks. Millions of indirect deaths due to famines and expansion of diseases. Increase in the social gap derived from post-combat physical disability, widowhood and orphanhood caused by the War. Destruction of the industrial park. Blockade and economic sanctions against Germany, which will eventually become the cause of the Second World War. Loss of European hegemony and expansion of North American hegemony, with other characteristics. Creation of the League of Nations in 1920.

See at length the Causes and consequences of the First World War.