World War I & Its Impact Revolutionary Europe or Revolutionized Europe?

World War I A war which was preventable – yet waiting to happen A war which was preventable – yet waiting to happen Full of contrasts Full of contrasts Begins on horsebackBegins on horseback Ends with tanks and airplanes…Ends with tanks and airplanes… Transformative Transformative Ushered in multiple changesUshered in multiple changes A world still recognizable, yet differentA world still recognizable, yet different

Causes of war Continuing debate, multiple explanations, some better than others: Arms race & especially those who benefitted: munitions-makers Arms race & especially those who benefitted: munitions-makers Nationalism Nationalism Capitalism itself (Orthodox Marxists) Capitalism itself (Orthodox Marxists) Entangling alliances and secret covenants (Woodrow Wilson) Entangling alliances and secret covenants (Woodrow Wilson)

A broader view Long: industrialization, population growth, social and political change Long: industrialization, population growth, social and political change Medium: Medium: changes in the balance of powerchanges in the balance of power rise of Germany a threat to France and Britainrise of Germany a threat to France and Britain decline of Ottoman empiredecline of Ottoman empire Short: events of August 1914 Short: events of August 1914

Systemic factors System of alliances System of alliances Balance of power Balance of power Aim was preventing Germany from becoming dominant power)Aim was preventing Germany from becoming dominant power) However system fails?However system fails? Did Britain make its position clearDid Britain make its position clear German aggression (Weltpolitik)? German aggression (Weltpolitik)? Crumbling empires Crumbling empires

Other factors Popular pressure, Popular pressure, magnified by newspapers,magnified by newspapers, nationalismnationalism Inflexible military plans, railway timetables Inflexible military plans, railway timetables Leaders take risks, not fully understood, slide into war Leaders take risks, not fully understood, slide into war

Causes of the war: a second look No single cause – instead multiple factors: Arms race Arms race Balance of power politics: Balance of power politics: Threat & counter-threat fine as long as nobody calls the bluffThreat & counter-threat fine as long as nobody calls the bluff Limited understanding Limited understanding Failure to understand industrial capacity or consequences that extended war might haveFailure to understand industrial capacity or consequences that extended war might have

The course of the war Plans fail or fall short Initial German offensive stalls whenInitial German offensive stalls when France rebounds, France rebounds, Russia mobilizes faster than expected Russia mobilizes faster than expected Belligerents have sufficient men & material to block each other, continue fighting Belligerents have sufficient men & material to block each other, continue fighting Repeated efforts to break out by Repeated efforts to break out by Digging in & “nibbling away” on western frontDigging in & “nibbling away” on western front Opening new frontsOpening new fronts

Battles Initial offensives Initial offensives Race to the seaRace to the sea Digging in – trench warfareDigging in – trench warfare Attempts to open new fronts, relieve allies Attempts to open new fronts, relieve allies Gallipoli, Turkish offensiveGallipoli, Turkish offensive Extended battles on the western front Extended battles on the western front Verdun Verdun Somme Somme Passchendaele Passchendaele

Wider war War on multiple fronts War on multiple fronts More countries engaged: e.g Italy, Romania More countries engaged: e.g Italy, Romania More men wasted More men wasted Weakened regimes Weakened regimes Eventual military and technological innovation Eventual military and technological innovation

Technological changes Innovations in warfare Innovations in warfare Mustard gasMustard gas SubmarinesSubmarines TanksTanks Aerial warfareAerial warfare X-ray X-ray

The Home Front Widespread mobilization: Widespread mobilization: Large % of men recruited or conscriptedLarge % of men recruited or conscripted In some cases, crippling (Russia, France)In some cases, crippling (Russia, France) Women brought into factoriesWomen brought into factories Emergence of big state Emergence of big state Intervention & planning requiredIntervention & planning required Incorporation of key interests, especially unions & businessIncorporation of key interests, especially unions & business Disrupted or blockaded supply > rationing in Germany, other parts of continent Disrupted or blockaded supply > rationing in Germany, other parts of continent Increasing hungerIncreasing hunger In UK, improved health & dietIn UK, improved health & diet

Political transformations Demise of multinational empires Demise of multinational empires Demise of monarchy as a mode of governance Demise of monarchy as a mode of governance Transformation of regimes: Germany briefly a constitutional monarchy Transformation of regimes: Germany briefly a constitutional monarchy Wave of revolutions Wave of revolutions some aborted, others notsome aborted, others not Emergence of mass-based politics Emergence of mass-based politics But not necessarily democraticBut not necessarily democratic New (not necessarily successful) international order, based on Wilson’s 14 Points New (not necessarily successful) international order, based on Wilson’s 14 Points

Shaping the outcome War & naval blockage disrupt supply of food & raw materials War & naval blockage disrupt supply of food & raw materials Weakens GermanyWeakens Germany Weaken RussiaWeaken Russia Technological innovation Technological innovation Impact of tanksImpact of tanks SubmarinesSubmarines But attacks on neutral ships > American entry But attacks on neutral ships > American entry Both tip balanceBoth tip balance Regimes weaken, collapse when offensives fail Regimes weaken, collapse when offensives fail

Revolutionary Europe Russia Russia Germany Germany Hungary Hungary Austria Austria