First World War 1914-1918 Causes and Consequences
First World War 1914-1918 Causes and Consequences
First World War 1914-1918 Causes and Consequences
Consequences
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First World War (World War I) is considered as one of the largest wars in history. The
world’s great powers assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (British Empire,
France and the Russian Empire) versus the Central Powers (Germany and Austria-
Hungary). WWI lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918.
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(3) Military Alliance
Triple Alliance or Central Powers (1882) – Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary.
Triple Entente or Allies (1907) – Britain, France, Russia.
Note: Although Italy was a member of the Triple Alliance alongside Germany and Austria-
Hungary, it did not join the Central Powers, as Austria-Hungary had taken the offensive,
against the terms of the alliance. These alliances were reorganised and expanded as
more nations entered the war: Italy, Japan and the United States joined the Allies, while
the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers.
(6) Alsace-Loraine
During German unification, Germany got Alsace-Loraine from France. France
wanted to capture Alsace-Loraine back from Germany.
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Group 1 (Allies): Serbia, Russia, Britian, France, USA, Belgium, Portugal,
Romania etc
Group 2 (Central Powers): Austria-Hungary, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria etc.
War on Western Side: Battle of Marne.
War on Eastern Side: Battle of Tennenberg (Russia was defeated).
War on the Sea: Batter of Dogger Bank (Germany was defeated), Battle of Jutland
(Germany retreated).
USA entered in 1917.
Russia withdrew in 1917 after October Revolution.
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Consequences of First World War
1. Rule of King ended in Germany: Germany became a republic on November 1918.
The German Emperor Kaiser William II fled to Holland.
2. Around 1 crore people were killed.
3. Unemployment and famine.
4. Epidemics.
5. The fall of Russian empire after October revolution (1917) which resulted in the
formation of USSR (1922)
6. Emergence of USA as a super power.
7. Beginning of the end of European supremacy.
8. Japan became a powerful country in Asia.
9. Poland, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia became new independent states.
10. Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia and Lithvania – became independent.
11. Rule of Ottamans came to an end in Turkey.
12. New boundary lines were drawn for Austria, Germany and Turkey.
13. Strengthened independence movements in Asia and Africa.
14. League of Nations came into being.
15. Germany had to return Alsace-Loraine to France.
16. German colonies were shared.
17. Germany gave up Saar coal field.
18. Germany gave up Polish corridor, and made city of Danzig independent.
19. Monarchy was abolished in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Turkey and Russia.
20. The harsh clauses of the Treaty of Versailles finally resulted in the second world
war.
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