What Are the Differences Between World War 1 and the Civil War?
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When you hear the words “World War 1” or “World War 2”, your first impression might be that these are big events with lots of people dying and scars left behind. But upon further investigation, you may discover that these conflicts aren’t so much wars as they are political and social upheaval. In other words, World War 1 and the Civil War aren’t really different in nature than any other war you could mention — they’re just different enough that you need to know what to expect when it comes to global intrigue, dirigibles, trench warfare, and battle tanks. It is important to note, however, that World War 1 was a much different conflict than World War 2. The first one was over nation-states intentionally targeting civilians during military operations; the second was a bloodier affair where whole nations fought against each other. So if you are planning on visiting America or another country during this summer’s holidays, remember: the Civil War is over but the world wars continue!
Why is World War 1 Important to History?
The causes of World War 1 remain largely a mystery. Historians believe it was caused by the Germanic idea of “Leaving Home” and the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian War that Germany was the hegemonic power on the continent. This idea solidified in the minds of many Germans when they saw the power and size of the British Army after their victory at the Battle of the Marne in October 1914. Many Germans, who’d never fought in a war before, expected chaos and acted quickly to modernize their army to meet this new challenge. To meet the British challenge, Germany had to follow suit. To industrialize and adopt an efficient military, the Nazis had to first take over Germany. The British Empire, of course, was the other side of the world and the Empire’s military was far from efficient so once again, the Nazis had to copy and paste their military to stay one step ahead of the British. The causes of World War 2 were more obvious, but the aftermath of World War 1 saw a number of states go to war with each other due to a variety of issues. The Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria), the Allied Powers (Great Britain, France, Russia, and the United States), and the Central Powers’ Allies (Turkey, Bulgaria, and Serbia) all went to war with each other, leaving a trail of death and destruction in their wake.
The Rise of the British Empire
The British Empire at its peak stretched across almost all of Asia, Africa, and the Americas. It also included significant land holdings in Australia and New Zealand. The empire also extended into the Pacific Ocean, where the British claimed possession of most of Polynesia. The British Empire was not simply a collection of colonies; it was a vital source of economic power for the entire world. The British Empire didn’t just have a military; it also supplied soldiers and tons of goods to fight in Europe during World War 1. The British Empire collapsed in the middle of the 20th century when the British Isles fell victim to the same forces that would eventually make way for a united Europe. The British Empire, despite its massive size and power, never had a chance in this newly-formed world.
Germany and World War 1
Germany was eager to make peace with France in 1913 after a war that had claimed 10–15 million lives. They also hoped to unify all of Germany’s colonies under German rule. However, their peace plan included the non-aggression pact that Germany and Austria-Hungary had signed with the Central Powers a year earlier. Because the Central Powers had lost the war, they were determined to make peace with their former enemies the Allies. However, the treaty they signed was a double-edged sword. It not only recognized the new countries’ sovereignty but it also gave Germany most of the territories that Austria-Hungary had lost. Germany thus became the largest colonial power in the world. However, several of the former colonial territories of Europe had their own armies, navies, and air forces. These could potentially challenge German dominance in the event of war.
What will happen after World War 1?
The end of World War 1 saw a number of states go to war with each other for a variety of reasons. The Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria) went to war with the Allies (Great Britain, France, Russia, and the United States), while the Allies went to war with the Central Powers’ Allies (Turkey, Bulgaria, and Serbia). These were not just any wars however, as these involved technologically advanced nations fighting among themselves. While the beginning of the war between Germany and France was very different in nature to the war between Russia and the West, the war between Russia and the West would soon change in nature and adopt the guerrilla warfare it would become known for. When Germany went to war with Great Britain in 1914, it was committed to total victory. However, by the time Germany invaded Belgium and Luxembourg in May of that year, it was too late to stop its momentum. For Germany to have won the war, it would have needed to have invaded and taken control of all of France. However, this was a war goal that was difficult to achieve and the French army, in particular the high command, was well aware of this.
Conclusion
Although World War 1 was more of a revolution than a war, it was still a major historical conflict that shaped the world we know today. The first world war was a war of nationalistic pride and the second world war was a global war that saw the end of the British Empire.