THE FIRST WORLD WAR

In August 1914, one of the greatest historical events in the world emerges. Armed conflict that
it erupted in Europe and its magnitude was unprecedented in history. This conflict would write
new pages in world history and would carry with it the message of what had come years earlier
happening, that struggle for the economic and territorial expansion of the great powers.

This war was divided into two alliances. The first called the Triple Alliance or Alliance of the Two.
Central Powers is made up of Austria-Hungary and Germany, which would later be joined by Italy;
the second was the Alliance of the Triple Entente, formed by France, Russia, and Great Britain. These two
alliances were formed on September 5, 1914 in a pact, in which they committed not to
to sign no separate peace during the course of the current war.1

But what was the reason for the great powers had to reach a
confrontation of such magnitude? Paraphrasing Renouvin 1972, everything indicates that it stemmed from a
diplomatic crisis in July 1914.2Well, considering the state of international relations
In the course of the last ten years, Europe had seen the threat of war emerge, as the
Germans had initiatives to hinder French expansion in Morocco; Similarly in 1909,
the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary; in 1911, the new Moroccan crisis caused by
German politics; and in 1912-1913, during the Balkan Wars, which involved a confrontation of
interests between Russia and Austria-Hungary. The aforementioned events were leading to
vigorous manifestations of national sentiment, in the form of protest movements of
the 'national minorities', or the expansionist nationalisms of the large states; on the other hand, the
rivalry of economic and financial interests among these powers, were triggering
gradually a brutal confrontation.

As Renouvin rightly says, political crises, economic interests, and movements

Nationalists were creating mindsets of government leaders, states, and peoples,
each taking a very particular stance on what was to come. They had an idea that what
it was looming, but they never thought it would be of great magnitude and even less for a long time
prolonged, which the states thought they would prepare well for, but they did not imagine that they would need
sufficient reserve to sustain a war for almost 4 years.

But, a few days later, the assassination of the archduke is attributed to all that was mentioned before.
heir of Austria-Hungary, Francis Ferdinand, in Sarajevo, which was the trigger that gave rise to
the international crisis and thus the declarations of war among the powers begin,
would lead to the European war or World War I.

The war began as a confrontation between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Serbia, but
Russia joined the conflict, as it considered itself the protector of all Slavic countries, as it said no.

1
Renouvin, P. (1972). The First World War. Spain: oikos tau, s.a. - editions. Page 5

2
(Renouvin, 1972, p. 3)
would leave Serbia alone. After the Austro-Hungarian attack on Serbia, Russia carries out a mobilization against
Austria-Hungary; this in turn causes the German Empire to declare war on Russia; Germany
asks France to maintain neutrality, as they had been allies of the Russians for 22 years, but they
refused. On August 4, the German army began the invasion of France by violating Belgian territory, which
it entailed the declaration of war by the British Empire against the German Empire, which was the guarantor of
the Belgian sovereignty.3The alliance system subsequently generalized the conflict, that is, that an event
isolation triggered the breakdown of the unstable equilibrium that had been maintained for years from
that system of defensive military alliances. This is how the conflict transformed into a
military confrontation on a European scale. Hostilities finally escalated to the point of becoming
in a world war.

At the beginning of the war when the powers were facing each other they began to
analyze different perspectives such as: military and naval forces, the perspective
diplomatic, economic and moral forces. All with the aim of analyzing the advantages and
disadvantages that could be faced during the course of the armed conflict.4

Subsequently, once the conflict had begun, various attacks started occurring over time.
the months and the years. Germany started with its war plan, where a major offensive was anticipated.
which would be directed immediately against France through the neutral territory of Belgium: this offensive
according to the German plans, it would lead to a complete victory in a matter of weeks; subsequently,
all German forces would focus against the Russians. But the German plan turned out to be a failure and did not
things turned out as they expected. The main confrontation took place in Marne, where the
Germans did not achieve an incomplete victory.5

By 1915, military combat takes new turns that alter the forecasts of the states.
they greatly enhance and modify the strategic tactics.6But none of the opponents succeed
ensures a decisive advantage. New forms of battles begin and positional warfare
becomes fundamental in the strategies to gain advantage. But by 1916 the wars of attrition
they become famous, since both sides tried to surpass the losses they had from their
opponents. The battles of Verdun, Somme, and Luck stand out as major scenarios.

But now let's talk about the crucial moment of the war, around April 1917, the forecasts
established by the general staffs were disrupted by two major events,
completely independent of each other: the fall of the Tsarist regime and the intervention of the States
United. Their entry into the conflict will provide determining factors to the Entente states and their aid.
will be decisive.7

The weakening and end of the Tsarist regime, and the Bolshevik revolution led to Russia
would abandon the alliance agreed with the British and French during the war. This led to the

3
(Renouvin, 1972, p. 4)
4
(Renouvin, 1972, pp. 5-10)
5
(Renouvin, 1972, pp. 11-15)
6
(Renouvin, 1972, pp. 16-22)
7
(Renouvin, 1972, pp. 29-34)
U.S. intervention to take the place of the Russians. Which is considered decisive.
during the war, as the Americans contribute to both moral and economic aspects
military. But it should be remembered that the United States had maintained a neutral stance
during the conflict, and they make the decision to enter because they attack American merchant ships,
which were humanitarian aid for the Entente. For Germany was blocking with submarines the
seas to prevent the arrival of help.

With the various attacks and wear that both sides had, different repercussions began to emerge.
shortages, which were exacerbated by the crisis of 1917. It was both a political and social crisis;
Even the governments, throughout warring Europe, began to look for the opportunity to negotiate peace.
or, at least, they were already thinking about such an idea. Even in those moments of fainting, the main
the problems that arose were: disappointments over the poor strategies employed, difficulties
social and political issues, and peace efforts in the various states that were related in the
conflict.8

Reinforced by troops from the eastern front, the Germans are putting all their strength into
the last offensive of the west, starting in March 1918. But poorly fed, poorly relieved, tired,
the German troops could not withstand the Allied armies coordinated by General Foch and
reinforced by American material and men, the first tanks and submarine superiority
and aerial: after a workers' revolution in Berlin, the government of the new German republic signs the
Armistice of Rethondes on November 11, 1918, and the First World War is considered capitulated.9

In conclusion, it can be said that this confrontation was due to ambition.

of the expansionism of the imperialist powers at the beginning of the 20th century. Everything stemming from the
confrontations and the friction between the policies of the states had already been rigid. One cannot speak
of something other than expansionist interest, which in turn speaks of an economic interest, which
it came to cause all this conflict, of which nobody had any idea of the magnitude it would cause and that would lead to
a guideline in world history. I believe that if there had been a foreign policy and a better
diplomacy on the part of the states, these events could have been avoided or not been so
degree. One important fact to consider is that there were 8,500,000 victims during the
course of the war. Why cause something so great, if at the table with words it can
to be resolved.

8
(Renouvin, 1972, pp. 35-39)
9
(Renouvin, 1972, pp. 46-50)

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

The First World War