THE 4 MAIN PHASES OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR - HISTORY - 2025

The phases of the First World War range from the first movements led by Germany in 1914, to the economic and social crisis generated at the end of the conflict.

Also known as The Great War, this was a historical conflict of great impact. It is known as the deadliest war for the large number of fallen soldiers.

The scale of the war was gigantic, it took place between 1914 and 1918 and had revolutionary military strategies that would generate large costs in raw materials and human capital. Its consequences were devastating.

This war was a conflict that impacted the world and had the active participation of 32 nations.

Of the participating nations, 28 were part of the allied and associated powers of the British Empire, France, Italy, Russia, Serbia and the United States. These were opposed to Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany and the Ottoman Empire.

World War I made possible the fall of four great imperial dynasties in Turkey, Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary, and allowed the beginning of the Great Socialist Revolution in Russia.

The war spread very rapidly once Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914. Four days later, Germany declared war on Russia.

Then, on August 3, Germany and France went to war; the next day France was invaded.

Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia on August 6, and six days later Britain and France declared war on Austria-Hungary.

The 4 main phases of the First World War

The countries involved in the great war believed that the conflict would not last long, but the problem lasted 4 years and was divided into 4 central phases: the war of movements, the trench warfare, the crisis of 1917 and the end of the First World War..

1- War of movements

It was a strategic plan called Schlieffen, which was launched by the German army in 1914.

Through this plan Germany sent troops to Belgium to finally reach France and take Paris in their power.

The Germans encountered opposition and resistance from the Belgian army together with the British and French forces, but this did not prevent them from reaching their destination, as they were able to cross the border near the city of Maubeuge.

After fighting in the first confrontation (the Battle of the Marne) and later in the military operations called "Race to the Sea", the combatants on the Western Front covered themselves in trenches.

This turned the war of movements into a battle of strategic positions on the battlefield.

The Germans managed to occupy the territory they conquered and encountered opposition in the locality, but they repressed it without mercy with all the resources they had.

In 1918 a great offensive of the allied troops managed to break with the German defense. These troops were under the exclusive command of French Marshal Ferdinand Foch. This led to the vacating of the conquered territories.

2- Trench warfare

Trench warfare was a tactic used in World War I by the Eastern Front and the Western Front, in which rivals dug deep trenches in the fighting ground to protect themselves and limit the advance of enemy troops.

After a season of rapid movements and strategies, and a lot of investment in resources employed, the countries in dispute realized that it was difficult for the war to end quickly.

Due to the tactics used, the Hindenburg line was created, which was a line of trenches of more than 700 km that separated France from the German army.

Some 2,490 kilometers of trench lines are believed to have been made while the First World War raged. These were one or two meters wide and three meters deep.

The day-to-day life of the soldiers who lived in the trenches was very complex, as the weather conditions were often adverse: the trenches were flooded and swampy due to the rains.

So the environment in which they moved was filthy. There were pests like rats that ate food stocks, frogs and lice that caused disease.

These conditions of humidity and mud made it impossible for the troops to move into the trenches.

Such conditions could cause a disease known as trench foot, in which the foot had to be amputated in many cases.

At the same time, the cold was relentless. On many occasions the soldiers lost fingers or toes due to frostbite; the cold also claimed some lives.

3- Crisis of 1917

In 1917 a comprehensive submarine warfare policy was adopted at the hands of the German military high command.

This policy was not beneficial or organized, but rather produced the entry of the United States into the war in a few months, which caused this strategy to fail after a year of being implemented.

At the same time, the British army was preparing to attack with a strategic offensive in Passchendaele, and it ended up being a failure that cost them many resources.

In this same year, Russia abandoned the war because of the two revolutions that were established in its territory.

The fact that the First World War lasted longer than estimated resulted in different internal problems between countries and in multiple protests.

Some of the most relevant events that occurred in 1917 in each country are the following:

Britain

It suffered many strikes by soldiers and workers, who were exhausted because of the long duration of the conflict.

Russia

Due to the different internal events that the country presented, such as the Russian Revolution and the Bolshevik Revolution, the nation was forced to abandon the war.

France

There were multiple strikes and rebellions in French industry because of the few supplies and difficult conditions in the trenches, the wickedness and harshness of the war.

Germany

There were divisions and disputes between groups that were in favor of ending the war and ending the suffering, and of others that defended the continuity of it.

This caused a political division in the nation.

Austro-Hungarian Empire

It experienced separatist struggles and many revolts, and had to be able to keep fire going on two different fronts.

U.S

He entered the war because of German threats.

4- End of the First World War

After the cruel and harsh years of the war, the two sides were shattered and had to face a severe economic and social crisis caused by all the investment and deterioration.

The German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire ended up annihilated, unlike the group of allies that received the support of the United States.

The internal problems of the two empires generated the separation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which was reduced to the Republic of Austria in 1918.

On the other hand, Germany being without help and defeated by the intervention of the United States, it finally signed a peace agreement and ended up surrendering at the end of the same year.

References

1. John Bourne. Total War I: The Great War. (1997). Source: english.illinois.edu
2. World War 1 Trenches. (2012). Recovered from: kidskonnect.com
3. Michael Duffy. First World War. (2009). Source: firstworldwar.com
4. John Graham. World War I. (2017). Source: britannica.com
5. Phases of the First World War. Source: primeragranguerra.com