2. Other than the fact that WW1 involved so many different nations, what else qualifies it as a “total war?” Do you think this was the world’s first “total war?” why or why not? Total war is defined as “conflict in which the contenders are willing to make any sacrifice in lives and other resources to obtain a complete victory (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018).” In August 01, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia after the heir to the throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife Sophie of Austria were assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, of Serbian decent. This atrocious and inhuman act of violence was the one to fuel “both imperialism and nationalism coming together and fueling nations into war (Pavlac 322).” Shortly after war began, nations around the world began to align themselves with one-another as means to protect themselves. In one end you had the Triple alliance created by Chancellor Bismarck that aimed “to preserve the newly united Germany from French revenge”. On the other Triple Entente: France, Great Britain, and Russia united. …show more content…
He believed that he could influence and change the world by remaining “neutral”. The idea of neutrality was then obscured by actions committed by the German military when one of their torpedoes sank and killed passengers aboard the Lusitania. The British liner en-route to Liverpool, England carried more than 1900 passengers and crew members on board, killing 120 Americans (1915, 2018). Although the US could supply nations with food and artillery because it remained neutral this event brought the war closer to home. The oceans could no longer be used to transport goods and people without safety. And nearly two years after war broke, President Wilson formally entered WWI. It is argued that the sinking of Lusitania played a significant role in
Britain and France had created, “an alliance which claimed it was defensive in nature” to counter the threat of Germany’s massive army (Document 7). Germany saw itself encircled and formed the Triple Alliance. The alliances formed increased tensions because when one country formed an alliance with another, surrounding nations felt threatened and therefore, formed their own alliances. Europe was divided into two major alliances: the Triple Alliance made up of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy and the Triple Entente established between Britain, France, Russia on the eve of World War I (Document 2). Russia also had close ties with Serbia because of their common Slavic heritage.
World War I consisted of two different alliances, the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance. The Triple Entente included Great Britain, France and Russia who was allied with Serbia. Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy were part of the Triple Alliance (Document 2). Germany also signed a treaty with the Ottoman Empire and Great Britain grew close with Japan creating other alliances (455). Alliance systems meant that war between two countries meant war between all.
The most anticipated war in history, World War One, started off with the assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Franz Ferdinand. As a result, Austria-Hungary gave the killer’s country, Serbia, an opportunity to take ownership and apologize to A/H’s government. Without a response from Serbia, A/H declares war, launching the July Crisis- one of many of Europe’s fighting frenzies. Countries were declaring war on each other, gathering secret alliances, and building their armies. The Crisis continuously built its longevity until declared as a Great War, a nickname for World War One. Knowing which event pushed the world to arm themselves, historians had asked what the underlying causes for the war were. Causes for the war were alliances, imperialism, nationalism, and most destructive, militarism.
To begin with, the pre-war alliance in Europe intensified the long-lasting tensions between countries. In 1879, Germany and Austria-Hungary made an alliance against Russia. In 1881, Austria Hungary allied with Serbia against Russia. The Triple Alliance reveals the alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. On the other hand, Russia, France, and Britain agreed to become the Triple Entente. (Doc 1) The alliance clearly divided the countries in Europe into two groups, each of which hated the others very much. (Doc 4) The
The Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Social Insurance and Allied Services, known commonly as the Beveridge Report was an influential document in the founding of the Welfare State in the United Kingdom. It changed the state function by expanding National Insurance and with the creation of the National Health Service.
One of the reasons led to World War One was the assassination of Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian (Fromkin 121). Although multiple reasons have been affiliated to his assassination, most of those reasons revolve around upholding Serbia’s power. On the one hand, Austria-Hungary had planned to attack Serbia since it was at its weakest point due to the adverse effects of the Balkan War they had just undergone (Fromkin 122). On the other hand, Serbia was making an effort to regain control over Bosnia-Herzegovina, which was under the control of Austria-Hungary (Fromkin 122). Before the assassination of Franz, the Bosnia-Herzegovina crisis had heightened to a point where Austria intended to invade Serbia (Fromkin 74). It was evident that Serbia, through the assassination of Franz, was seeking to retain its independence and protect its regions from Austria-Hungary’s influence by intimidating
President Wilson had cautioned citizens from taking side in the war in fear of jeopardizing wider US policy, during the time of neutrality. Untied States maintained this neutrality despite increasing pressure on President Wilson after the sinking of the Lusitania. This neutrality would crumble when Germany started to introduce its unrestricted submarine
A total war is a conflict which involves bringing together resources; this includes both industrial and military resources aiming at having an output that the enemy will not overcome at all (Castellano, 2016). The biggest difference that exists between a total war and a normal war is that there is really zero difference between those fighting in the same war and the civilians in this period; all these people are considered an enemy.
In today’s digital age, development of new technology and weapons are at an alarming rate, hence arises the need to stay ahead of advancements in order to properly defend the nation, as well as coalition forces and allies. In this period of warfare, the number one threat comes in the form of air breathing and ballistic missiles. During World War II, this threat was present, but was not thought to be prevalent.
World War I was the result of leaders' aggression towards other countries which was supported by the rising nationalism of the European nations. Economic and imperial competition and fear of war prompted military alliances and an arms race, which further escalated the tension contributing to the outbreak of war. One cause of the World War was militarism, which is a policy in which military preparedness is of primary significance to a situation. Another cause of the World War was nationalism. Nationalism is the pride and devotion form one towards his/her country. It played a great part in the causes of World War 1 because citizens wanted to stand up for their country, and fight for them. The third
The First World War of 1914-1918, also known as the Great War, was the first total war in history. What began as a European struggle over the balance of power between the triple alliance of France, Britain and Russia on one side and the central powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary on the other, soon became a global conflict that involved the imperial powers of Europe, their colonies and lands such as the Ottoman Empire, Japan and the United States. Although the sheer number of countries involved in the conflict is enough to describe the First World War as a mass war, what makes it total is the fact that it was waged not only against the enemy’s armies, but also against the civilian
Tangling alliances also developed whose purpose, ironically, lay in preventing the outbreak of war for conquest. German official Otto von Bismarck took advantage of Italian resentment towards France and created the Triple Alliance between Germany, Italy and Austria- Hungary in 1882. In exchange for Italy's agreement to stay neutral if war broke out between Austria-Hungary and Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary would protect Italy from France. However, after Bismarck was fired by Kaiser William II in 1890, the traditional dislike of Slavs kept Bismarck's successors from renewing the understanding with Russia. France took advantage of this opportunity to get an ally, and the Franco- Russian Entente was formed in 1891, which became a formal alliance in 1894. The Kruger telegram William II sent to congratulate the leader of the Boers for defeating the British in 1896, his instructions to the German soldiers to behave like Huns in China during the Boxer Rebellion, and particularly the large-scale navy he was building all contributed to British distrust of Germany. As a result, Britain and France overlooked all major imperialistic conflict between them and formed the Entente Cordiale in 1904.
A young generation was emerging within Serbia and Bosnia whose experience of national and social struggles had taught them the effectiveness of violence as a means to achieve goals (as seen in the Balkan Wars 1912-13). It was a generation that demanded action and sacrifice instead of words and political wisdom (Cirkovic 246). Russia repeatedly assured their Slav brethren that they only had to wait (MacKenzie 58). Serbian agitation against Austria-Hungary was increased and the more the Austro-Hungarians attempted to subvert it, the more violent and fanatical it became. The fearlessness that was born from the support of Russia led those seeking Slavic unity to assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, thereby triggering the cascade that began WWI.
The Triple Entente seized the opportunity to get back at the Triple Alliance during the war between the Austrians and Serbians, creating a bigger conflict. This hatred that these groups were feeling for each other spread across the land, in the end having thirty-two countries involved in World War I. During this time, there were some countries like the United States who remained neutral, but it wasn’t long before it was dragged into the war after the discovery that Germany planned to attack the US and take its land. The US joined the Triple Entente on April 20, 1917, giving it a boost of power and hope to fight. The Triple Entente had a boost, a chance to win
This total war way of thinking led to many conflicts which included World War I and World War II, as well as many other high intensity conflicts, prior to and in between the world wars. After