|
4.5 The First World War
The First World War was a product of multiple factors.
Europe was in the position of international anarchy. There were
25 sovereign states in Europe on the eve of the World War I, and
each desired to act according to their individual conscience. Neither
was prepared to submit to the will or interference of the other
because of the pride that their international prestige would be
lowered if they accepted the advice of any other state. The feeling
of nationalism was high and this made them believe that only their
nation was right, and they should go for war, whether it was right
or wrong. Occasions of serious rivalry and mutual hostility were
in plenty.
4.5a Territorial Disputes
Some of the nations had territorial disputes with
their neighbors. These territories were forcibly occupied after
certain states succeeded in wars. For instance, at the end of Franco-Prussian
war (1870-1871), Alsace and Lorraine, which were predominantly French,
were taken away by Germany. As France now considered herself to
be more powerful, she resorted to war.
4.5b Secret Alliances
This was a very important reason for the First
World War. It divided Europe into two hostile camps. Germany made
a secret alliance with Austria-Hungary in 1879. In 1882, Italy was
a party to the Triple Alliance. Only after the downfall of Bismarck,
Russia and France came closer to one another and a pact was signed
between them in 1894. England and other rival powers became antagonistic
towards Germany as Kaiser William II adopted a comprehensive policy
of world domination.
Russia wanted to increase her power in Asia. Till
then England had been adopting the policy of "Splendid Isolation,"
but to curb the rise of Russia in the Pacific Ocean, she made a
treaty with Japan in 1902.
These secret alliances and rival blocks divided
Europe into two. England, France, Russia and Japan were on one side
and Germany, Austria, Hungary, Turkey and Italy on the other.
|
Side I
|
Side II
|
|
England
|
Germany
|
|
Russia
|
Austria - Hungary
|
|
France
|
Turkey
|
|
Japan
|
Italy
|
Rivalry between these two groups went on increasing.
|
