World War 1

THE FIRST WORLD WAR

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INTRODUCTION:
                The war which began in 1914 and which was to last for four years and three months, was in many ways entirely novel in history. Previous wars such as the French revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, had involved as many states and lasted longer. In every decade since 1815, there had been a war somewhere and thirteen separate wars had been fought in Europe alone.The World War I was the general conflict between the highly organized states of the twentieth century. It was the first war fought on a large scale which dislocated the international economy. The European nations which had grown up during the nineteenth century had collectively controlled most of the world. The First World War was fought with determination and desperation. It was fought on land, and sky, on sea and under the sea.

CAUSES:
              The great war of 1914, was a culmination of the developments that had been going on for more than a generation. Like the other wars in history, the First World War had both inherent and immediate causes.

1. International Anarchy
                One of the causes of the war was, the international anarchy. All major countries depended on the secret diplomacy. No country bothered to follow the code of international law. Though this was in existence, there was no one to enforce it. Each state had some territorial dispute or other with its neighbours. France was not reconciled to the loss of Alsace and Lorainne. As there was no international body to settle their disputes, or to guide and control the countries they were forced to resort to war.

2. Armed Camps
                After Franco-Prussian war, the European countries were divided into two warring camps. It became evident that in future, the wars would be fought not by individual nations but by the groups of states. The struggle was between the members of the Triple Alliance and Triple Entente nations. Triple Alliance countries were... [continues]

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