preview

World War 1 Total War Essay

Decent Essays
Open Document

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

Get Access