1st draft

The first major conflict of the 1900s featured 37 million deaths, the first Aerial craft and tanks used in battle, and the first chemical warfare. The Great War was one of the most destructive wars of the 20th century, and it is one that still affects us today. This period from 1914 to 1918 caused the fall of the Ottoman Empire, led to the rise of Hitler and the Nazis, and sparked the United States into being a world power.

The initial cause of WWI was the assassination of Archduke to the Austria-Hungarian Empire, Franz Ferdinand by Serbian radical Gavrilo Princip. After his death, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, and Russia (having a treaty with Serbia) went into a ‘Period preparatory of war’. Austria-Hungary received assurance from Germany that they would help if Russia mobilized in the form of the ‘blank check’. France then supported Russia after they declared war and Germany declared war on France. Britain supported France when Germany tried to invade via Belgium, and all the major powers of Europe became interlocked in war.

Powered aircraft were first used for combat in 1911, but it was not until the Great War that they became widely used. At the beginning of the war, tethered balloons were used to survey areas and spotting place to fire artillery. In an effort to stop these, they equipped small arms with their pilots to shoot the balloons down. The United States air force was restarted at this time under the Division of Military Aeronautics. Tanks also made their introduction at this time, but weren’t used in mass until WWII. The first battle tank used was a British Mark I male in 1916.

One of the most powerful new tactics used in WWI was shelling the enemy with chemical gas. Over 124,000 tons of gases were made. The most well known and lethal of the gases made was mustard gas, or sulfur mustard. Even today, unexploded shells lay covered and pose a threat to those living in Belgium and France. Roughly 1.3 million casualties were caused by shelling.

At the end of the war all of the blame fell to Germany, because the other war starter (Austria-Hungarian Empire) didn’t exist anymore. As a result of losing, Germany owed massive debts to the Allies (£6,600,000,000), and lost much of its claimed territory (25,000 square miles). Germany could also not hold a Navy or air force, and its standing army was severely cut.

The financial meltdown brought about by the treaty led to a massive depression in Germany. People went to the Communist and Nationalist parties, including a middle-aged Adolf Hitler. He quickly rose through the ranks of the National socialists, and was elected Chancellor of Germany. He sought to bring the fatherland it its former glory, and reignited the development of Germany’s military. In his territorial desire, he sparked WWII.

Another effect of WWI was the fall of the Ottoman Empire, which had stood since 1300. The war weakened the empire, with many people rebelling. The fall of the Ottoman Empire happened in 1922, when the Turkish National movement won the war for independence. After this, the Sultanate was abolished and in 1923, the republic of turkey was declared a nation.

WWI was a massively destructive war that many people saw as pointless. But the things that came from the war, and after it, changed the word in a staggering way. It’s likely that if the war hadn’t happened, or if the conflict was kept between the initial starters, so much would be different. WWII may not of happened, and the Ottoman Empire may still be around. America may not have become the world power it is today, staying crippled by the depression. Whether we like it or not, the world has been changed by it, and we can’t forget that.