The World War of 1914-18 - The Great War, as contemporaries called it, was the first man-made catastrophe of the 20th century. It was a war without parallel and all previous wars were eclipsed by its scale of destruction. Even in retrospect the war which began as a struggle between Europe's great powers, which were grouped into two hostile alliances, is one of the bloodiest wars ever seen with an estimated 10 million men who gave their lives on the battle field and over 20 million more wounded . It was the first intervention of American forces in European affairs for which they lost more than 100,000 troops who were killed helping to guarantee an allied victory . The Great War involved at least 32 nations directly who declared war against one another over the course of four years of world turmoil.
Industrial expansion and wealth had a profound impact on economic life that lead to conflicts, jealousies and differences that were not easily reconcilable. Monarchies and democracies alike sought to cope with the changes and to protect their authority and major European nations sought to expand their wealth and territories looking for partners they could turn to in case of war. True to these military alliances, Europe's powers quickly drew up sides after the assassination of Austria's Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The allies -- chiefly Russia, France and Britain -- were pitted against the Central Powers -- primarily Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey. [...]
Table of Contents
1. Military Authorities and Government Politics
2. The Common Man
3. Those Who Knew Better
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the widespread expectation at the outbreak of the First World War that the conflict would conclude rapidly, specifically by Christmas 1914. It investigates the geopolitical, military, and psychological factors—including rigid alliance systems, flawed offensive military strategies, and nationalistic fervor—that contributed to this miscalculation, contrasting these popular beliefs with the technical predictions of industrial warfare that signaled a prolonged struggle.
- The impact of military alliance systems on the escalation of conflict.
- The failure of offensive doctrines like the Schlieffen Plan and Plan XVII.
- The role of nationalism and Social Darwinism in shaping public and military optimism.
- The divergence between contemporary expectations and the analytical predictions of industrial attrition (Ivan Bloch).
Excerpt from the Book
Military Authorities and Government Politics
As far as military generals and leaders were concerned, both sides believed that the Great War would be over quickly. In Germany, this belief was based on a long established war strategy called the Schlieffen Plan. It was a strategic plan for victory both on the Western Front against France and against Russia in the east, taking advantage of expected differences in the three countries' speed in preparing for war. The plan required precise timing, with no interruptions in the timetable with its first objective being to capture Paris in precisely 42 days, a rigidity of the plan that many blame for its failure and inflexibility.
This would force the French to surrender after which the German armies would then shift their focus to the eastern front and defeat the Russians before they were fully prepared to fight. Although the Schlieffen plan got off to a quick start, the German strategy quickly came undone, when a French counterattack on the outskirts of Paris, the Battle of the Marne, combined with surprisingly speedy Russian offensives, ended the German offensive. This would be the beginning of what would turn out to be years of trench warfare and a war that would continue for years.
Summary of Chapters
Military Authorities and Government Politics: This chapter analyzes how European military leaders relied on rigid strategic plans, such as the Schlieffen Plan, underestimating the time and resources required for victory.
The Common Man: This section explores how governments utilized propaganda and nationalistic sentiment to maintain high morale and public support for the war effort among the general population.
Those Who Knew Better: This chapter highlights the work of theorists like Ivan Bloch, whose predictions of industrial attrition and the obsolescence of traditional maneuvers accurately forecasted the reality of trench warfare.
Keywords
Great War, Schlieffen Plan, Trench Warfare, Attrition, Nationalism, Social Darwinism, Ivan Bloch, Military Strategy, Mobilization, Christmas Truce, Industrial Warfare, Geopolitics, Alliances, Plan XVII, Conflict Escalation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores why the major powers and their citizens erroneously believed the First World War would end swiftly by Christmas 1914.
What are the central themes discussed?
Key themes include the failure of rigid military planning, the influence of nationalism, the role of alliance treaties, and the disconnect between military reality and public perception.
What is the main research question?
The research seeks to uncover why and how, despite the signs of industrial-scale warfare, so many people in various positions of power and the general public failed to predict a long, devastating conflict.
Which scientific approach is utilized?
The paper employs a historical analytical approach, synthesizing military theory, political documents, and contemporary social observations to evaluate wartime expectations.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body details the strategic errors of the Schlieffen Plan and Plan XVII, the sociological impact of propaganda and Social Darwinism, and the analytical predictions of military experts like Ivan Bloch.
Which keywords define this study?
Essential keywords include Great War, Schlieffen Plan, Trench Warfare, Attrition, Nationalism, and Industrial Warfare.
How did the alliance system contribute to the duration of the war?
The alliance system created a chain reaction of treaty obligations that drew nations into a large-scale conflict even when they lacked direct political reasons for involvement.
What significance did the Christmas Truce have?
The Christmas Truce represented a spontaneous, grassroots desire for peace among soldiers, though it was ultimately suppressed by the interference of military and political leadership.
Why were the predictions of Ivan Bloch largely ignored?
While his mathematical analysis of industrial attrition was technically sound, his conclusions were dismissed because they threatened war morale and contradicted the prevailing nationalistic ideologies of the time.
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- Christine Boado (Autor:in), 2008, “I’ll be home by christmas” – An analysis of the first year of the Great War, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/91194
