WHO WON THE FIRST WORLD WAR? - HISTORY - 2024

In World War I, the Allied forces managed to defeat the Central Powers, after the staggered surrender of various powers during the autumn of 1918, the abdication of the German Kaiser on November 9 of the same year and the almost immediate armistice.

The international conflict began in the summer of 1914 and was initially called "The Great War", because it affected many countries around the world. At that time it was the largest warfare in history.

It is estimated that around 9 million soldiers died, as well as 13 million civilians. Furthermore, from both war-induced and war-induced diseases, another 20 million people lost their lives.

It is considered the destructive pinnacle of the industrial advancement of world powers and the trigger for great political changes. Many imperial nations and ancient kingdoms with vast territories and colonies around the world ceased to exist, giving birth to new independent republics.

It was also called "The War to End All Wars," because it included several nations that had been in political conflict for years, which saw the opportunity to support each other as allies and bring to a conclusion their territorial disputes and political differences.

You may be interested The 7 Most Important Consequences of the First World War.

Participants of the First World War

The central side was initially conformed by the Triple Alliance of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy; although the latter broke the coalition in 1915 and decided to fight alongside the allied forces.

Later the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Bulgaria would join them, forming the new designation called "The Central Powers".

The allied side was headed by the countries of the Triple Entente, which were France, the United Kingdom and the Russian Empire; although the latter was forced to withdraw at the end of 1917 by internal revolutions.

Other allied nations were Serbia, Belgium, Romania, Italy, Japan, and Greece. The United States lent its military support in 1917 without formally joining the alliance.

The end of the war

The decisive naval blockade of Great Britain prevented Germany from receiving enough raw materials and food from the seas of northern Europe. This forced the Germans to develop maritime and submarine offensives to blockade Great Britain.

Trade shipping routes across the Atlantic from North America to Europe were affected, which is why the United States declared war on Germany in April 1917. The Allies would gradually begin to receive fresh troops and resources.

Thanks to Russia's exit from the conflict, Germany was able to concentrate its forces only on the western front with France, redirecting most of its troops from east to west.

After the abdication of the Russian Tsar, the Germans had high morale, having won the war on the Eastern Front.

In an effort to end the war before France received further reinforcements, Germany launched a swift and aggressive offensive that broke the long stalemate in the French trenches, gaining territory considerably and threatening Paris in the spring of 18.

However, the British and French regrouped and launched a counterattack that stopped Germany's advance into French territory; followed by a series of attacks together with US troops on enemy territories in what was called "The Hundred Days Offensive".

Allied forces were advancing from the southern Balkans, liberating Serbia from central occupation, pressing and encircling the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Germany. Offensives towards the Ottoman Empire also took place, taking Jerusalem and Baghdad.

Added to the economic decline due to the military cost and maritime blockades, revolts, revolutions and civil strikes expressing rejection of the war and many riots in both Germany and Austria-Hungary, the central powers were collapsing and gradually surrendered.

The first to surrender were Bulgaria in September and the Ottomans in October, signing the Allied armistice. On November 3, Austria-Hungary would sign it. Finally came the surrender of the German Kaiser, Wilhelm II, on November 9 of the same year.

The leaders of both sides met in Compiègne, France, on November 11 to sign the armistice; on a train parked near the French front. The cease-fire was scheduled to take effect at 11 a.m. the same day.

The Treaty of Versailles and the restructuring of the powers

Treaty of Versailles

To guarantee post-war peace in all the affected nations and prevent future military conflicts by the central powers, the signature of the document known as "The Treaty of Versailles" was established in the Palace of Versailles.

This event took place on January 28, 1919, to become effective on January 10 of the following year. The armistice negotiations proposed by US President Woodrow Wilson required fourteen points as a condition for officially accepting redemption.

The Treaty of Versailles included these fourteen points previously accepted by both parties the previous year, but added another series of strong conditions strictly applicable to Germany making it primarily responsible for the war: the guilt clauses.

The allies demanded the German state compensation for the damage caused to the civilian population and their properties, both by land, by sea and from the air. Additionally, the central powers were demilitarized and their territories were redistributed.

Austria and Hungary split into independent nations, Croatia and Slovenia joined with Serbia to form Yugoslavia along with their former Bosnian territory, Romania and Russia regained their territories, Poland revived as an independent country, and the Czech nation was formed.

The Ottoman Empire ceased to be the most powerful and influential Islamic state in Asia and Africa. From its partition were born the Republic of Turkey, the British Mandate of Mesopotamia (now Iraq), Palestine, Yemen and part of the current nations of the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula.

Germany was forced to surrender all its colonial territories in Africa and to cede certain border territories with neighboring countries.

But it was the compensation for damages, especially for France and Belgium, that caused great controversy and rejection by the German government, mainly because it violated the agreement of the initial fourteen points negotiated in the surrender.

Many economists of the time declared that the total sum that Germany had to pay was impossible to collect without affecting international finances. However, the allies had the power to force them never to delay in any payment.

Russia, despite having been an Allied nation, suffered similar consequences. The war deteriorated its economy and social stability, promoting the outbreak that resulted in the outbreak of the Bolshevik Revolution and the formation of the Soviet Union.

References

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