THE First World War it began on July 28, 1914 and lasted until November 11, 1918, with the German surrender.
The trigger was the assassination of the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire that dragged the nations to war on account of treaties of friendship and defense.
Background
Since the end of the 19th century, Europe has lived in a climate of insecurity. For this reason, a system of alliances and agreements was created that divided the continent into two blocs, in order to guarantee mutual protection and military support in the event of war:
- triple alliance - German Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire and Italy
- Triple Entente - France, United Kingdom and Russian Empire
Determining Factors of the First World War
- Death of the heir to the Austrian throne Francisco Fernando and his wife, on June 28, 1914;
- Capitalism progress and consequent social problems of the urban proletariat and poor workers in general;
- O imperialism and colonialism generated by the extraordinary industrial growth that aggravated the shocks of economic and political interest between the industrialized powers;
- German expansionism and the transformation of Germany into the greatest industrial power in Europe brought about a rivalry against him in France, England and Russia;
- French anti-Germanism, as a result of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), in which France was defeated and forced to hand over to the Germans the regions of Alsace and Lorraine, the latter rich in iron ore;
- Russian-German rivalry, caused by the German intention to build a railway linking Berlin to Baghdad. Russia reacted, as the road would link Germany with the oil-rich, attractive consumer market, in addition to passing through regions where the Russians intended to increase their influence;
- English anti-Germanism, a result of German industrial competition. On the eve of the war, German and English products competed in markets that until then had been dominated exclusively by England. When German products began to penetrate England itself, the English industrial and financial bourgeoisie began to entertain the idea that Germany should be contained.
Historical context
In the decade before First World War, the Balkan Peninsula lived in eternal conflict.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire, made up of peoples of different nationalities, felt threatened by the nationalist manifestations of their ethnic minorities, mainly Czechs and Slavs of the south.
The Serbs intended to form Greater Serbia, which would encompass Bosnia and Herzegovina, and all the Slavic peoples who lived in regions dominated by Austria. For the Austro-Hungarians, Serbia was a threat and should be eliminated.
Another major threat to the Austro-Hungarian Empire was the Russian Empire. This Slav nation, which defended the idea that they had a mission to free the Slavs from the rule of the Turks and the Austrians.
In turn, the Russia it had treaties of friendship and defense with Serbia, which guaranteed the intervention of the Empire if it was attacked. With this agreement, Russia also intended to impose trade monopolies in the region.
In 1908, Austria annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, frustrating Serbia's claims. The region enters successive internal wars and from then on, the steps towards the world war that will be known from 1914 onwards were accelerated.
With the murder of the heir to the Austrian throne and his wife, the Austro-Hungarian Empire gives a ultimatum to Serbia. The Empire demands to participate in the court that would judge the culprit, student Gavrilo Princip.
Serbia does not accept this condition and the Austro-Hungarian Empire declares war on the country turning the complex machinery of agreements and treaties of the European nations. Within a year, the European colonies would also be involved in the conflict.
Thus, we see that the death of Archduke Francisco Ferdinando and his wife Sofia was a pretext for the explosion of a conflict that could be limited to the two nations.
However, it involved the great imperialist powers and their allies between 1914 and 1918.
Entrance Exam Questions
1. (Unesp) The First World War (1914-1918) resulted from a change in the institutional order in force during a long period of the 19th century. Among the reasons for this change, the following stand out:
a) the division of the world into two ideologically antagonistic blocks and the constitution of industrialized countries in America.
b) the destabilization of European society with the emergence of socialism and the constitution of fascist governments in European countries.
c) the economic domination of the markets of the European continent by England and the siege of Russia by capitalism.
d) France's opposition to the division of its territory after the Napoleonic wars and the rapprochement between England and Germany.
e) the unification of Germany and the conflicts between the powers caused by the annexation of colonial areas in Asia and Africa.
Letter e
e) the unification of Germany and the conflicts between the powers caused by the annexation of colonial areas in Asia and Africa.
2. (Mackenzie) Among the causes of the First World War, the Balkan issue stands out, which can be associated with:
a) the formation of new nationalities, such as Yugoslav under the tutelage of Germany.
b) the colonial disputes in Asia and Africa between France and England.
c) the Russian interest in opening the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, Slavic nationalism and the Austrian fear of the formation of Greater Serbia.
d) the disagreements between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and England linked to the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
e) the assassination of Crown Prince Francisco Ferdinando, and the outstanding issues related to the Treaty of Brest-Litowsky and the dismemberment of Austria-Hungary.
Letter C
c) the Russian interest in opening the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, Slavic nationalism and the Austrian fear of the formation of Greater Serbia.
Read too:
- Phases of the First World War
- Major Battles of World War I
- Aftermath of the First World War
- Brazil in World War I
- trench warfare
- Questions about the First World War
- Movies about the First World War
