The War to End All Wars

The reasons for the First World War are murky and have been the subject of overwhelming dis-course, but the fact remains that this war killed 17 million people, traumatised a generation, overturned old empires and changed the world’s political order. Not long after the guns fell silent in 1918, the monarchies of Russia, Germany, Austro-Hungary and Turkey collapsed. The British Empire suffered a near fatal blow.

By the end of the War, more than 100 nations had been dragged into the conflict which was essentially caused by a single act of terrorism by Balkan separatists, the assassination of Austro-Hungary Archduke, Franz Ferdinand.

The Great War lasted from 1914 until 1918 and involved nearly all the biggest powers of the world.

The excessive death count is now remembered on November 11 at 11am. We remember and recognise the deaths during World War I on this day because it signifies the time and day Germany agreed to an armistice and the fighting ceased.

The main causes for the Great War are encapsulated under four headings: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism and Nationalism.

Before 1914, militarism was a defining force. It fathered the arms race, pushing European nations to expand and modernise their forces. Nationalism was formed by militarism and it fed a culture of expectation of military strength.

An Alliance is a signed treaty that binds all countries involved to give support to the other countries. WWI had two main alliances: the Triple Alliance (Austria-Hungary, Italy and Germany) and the Triple Entente (Russia, France and Great Britain).

Imperialism is the point of which a nation assumes control of new terrains, and other nations to subject them to their rule. In most cases, the imperialist nation relishes control over the new territory by coercion — for example, via infiltration.

Nationalism is a sentiment based on common cultural characteristics that bind a population and often produce a policy of national independence. Nationalism can also cause intense competition amongst other nations.

The Battle of Fromelles was fought on the 19th of July, 1916, beginning 19 days following the campaign for the Somme. The battle concluded the following day on the 20th of July.

The aim of the battle was to distract the German forces from the weakening power of the Somme battle. With more than 5,000 men killed, wounded, or taken prisoner, it is clear that the Battle of Fromelles was one of the bleakest days in Australian military history. The Australian troops held both honourable values and ones with the desire to win. The Australians did not yearn to kill the Germans, however it was necessary — kill or be killed. Due to this being the first major battle the Australian troops fought during World War One, there was a present desire to win. One Australian soldier who survived the Battle of Fromelles recalled the battle as being a spray of bullets fired from the enemy’s gun.

This battle was fought bravely and demonstrated great heroism by the Australian 5th division as they never gave up.

The Battle of Fromelles was significant to the Australian troops and our nation collectively as it was the first major battle they fought in the war to end all wars.

There were many reasons as to why men enlisted to fight in the First World War. Some of these reasons being fear, propaganda, payment, a sense of national duty and the opportunity to prove themselves.

However, propaganda wasn’t only used in encouraging men to join the war, it was also used during the conscription debate by both sides.

Australia was the only nation during the First World War to have an army made up entirely of volunteers. When Australia first joined the War, there was an extensive number of eligible men who wanted to enlist, however, by 1916, there was a shortage in enlistment numbers as the casualty rates increased.

Under the Defence Act 1903 (Cth), the Australian Government could not sent conscripts overseas to serve in a battle. However Prime Minister Billy Hughes was a determined supporter of conscription and took the issue to a referendum. It was defeated.

The voluntary enlistment number continued on its decline and Australia was lacking enough men that she promised to Great Britain. This resulted in Hughes calling yet another referendum for conscription with his goal being to solve the problem and fulfil Australia’s promise. Yet again, the referendum was defeated. After the second defeat, the issue of conscription was not visited again during the war.

By 1914, over 100,000 Germans were living in Australia. With the rising tension between the German and British Empires, these citizens began being treating with suspicion and by the time Australia joined the war, they were treating them with direct hostility. All Germans lost their jobs and their businesses were destroyed, German schools and churches were closed. Any and all German music was banned, while German food was renamed to have British names. At the same time, any locations with German names were changed to British ones.

This war killed 17 million people, traumatised a generation, overturned old empires and changed the world’s political order.