World War I: An essential summary from Italy’s entry into the war to the armistice that decreed the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
World War I: Scheme
World War I , also known as the ‘ Great War ‘, was one of the most devastating and pivotal conflicts of the 20th century , fought from 1914 to 1918. This historic event involved the major world powers and radically changed the global political, social and economic landscape. Triggered by economic rivalries, political tensions and complex alliances, the war introduced new and lethal technologies of warfare, caused enormous human losses and marked the end of great empires.
In this summary we will explore the causes , major events , and consequences of the war that forever changed the course of modern history.
In 1914 , on the eve of the outbreak of the First World War , relations between European nations were characterised by growing tensions: political rivalries, desires for territorial expansion, extreme nationalisms and feelings of revenge fuelled an unstable and conflictual climate.
The countries were united in two alliances :
- The Triple Alliance , formed by Germany, Austria and Italy
- The Triple Entente , formed by England, Russia and France.
The casus belli that marked the beginning of the First World War was the assassination of the Austrian heir in Sarajevo:
- Austria declared war on Serbia and Russia mobilized its army
- Germany began hostilities with France and Russia , who were joined by England and Japan .
The Ottoman Empire entered the war alongside the Germans , and the war took on global dimensions .
The conflict
During the war, the warring nations exploited the most advanced technologies and the efficiency of their industries to build increasingly lethal weapons. This process led to the destruction of cities and towns , while the cost of living skyrocketed , making daily life increasingly difficult for the civilian population. The Germans planned a rapid war of movement , but over time the situation transformed into a prolonged war of position , characterized by trenches and attritional battles.
In this context, Italy initially remained neutral, separating itself from the Alliance. The country was however divided between two sides with opposing views on the war:
- Neutralists : included socialists, Catholics and liberals, all opposed to the war.
- Interventionists : included nationalists, revolutionary socialists, irredentists and owners of war businesses, in favour of military intervention.
This internal conflict reflected the complex political situation in Italy, which would play a crucial role in the evolution of the conflict.
The conclusion
In 1915 , Italy secretly allied itself with the Entente Powers and declared war on Austria-Hungary on May 24. If it won, it would have gained Trentino , South Tyrol and Dalmatia .
In 1917 , Germany intensified submarine warfare, prompting the United States to enter the conflict. In the same year, Russia withdrew from the war due to the socialist revolution , while Italy suffered a heavy defeat at Caporetto .
In 1918 , the Entente offensive led to victory on the Western Front and, in Italy, to the decisive Battle of Vittorio Veneto , which stopped the Austrian advance.
The signing of the armistice marked the end of the conflict and the fall of the Austro-Hungarian , German and Ottoman empires , which were replaced by new republics.
Who won and who lost World War I?
The First World War officially ended on 11 November 1918 with the signing of the Armistice of Compiègne , which sanctioned the surrender of Germany and the victory of the Entente Powers :
- France
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Italy , flanked by other minor allies.
In Italy, the end of the conflict came a few days earlier, with the armistice of Villa Giusti , signed on 3 November 1918 , which decreed the defeat of Austria-Hungary .
The defeated countries were the Central Powers :
- Germany
- Austria-Hungary
- Ottoman Empire
- Bulgaria .
With the end of the war, the territories of the defeated nations were divided among the victors.
Italy gained Trentino-Alto Adige , Istria and some Dalmatian islands, while France regained Alsace -Lorraine .
The Ottoman Empire lost much of its Middle Eastern territories, which were awarded to France and the United Kingdom leading to the creation of new states such as Iraq , Syria and Palestine .
Europe was redrawn, with the birth of new countries such as Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Poland and Hungary , marking the end of the Austro-Hungarian, German and Ottoman empires.
