The First World War began in 1914 after the murder of Ersgertzog Franz Ferdinand and lasted until 1918. In conflict, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire (central powers) fought with Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Japan and the United States (allied powers).

Thanks to the new military technologies and horrors of trench leading, the First World War turned out to be unprecedented in terms of bloodshed and destruction. By the time of the end of the war and the victory of the Allied powers of more than 16 million people, both soldiers and civilians, were dead.

First World War

Over Europe, the tension was hung, especially in the problem of the Balkan region and Southeast Europe, long before the actual beginning of the first world. Some unions, which included European powers, the Ottoman Empire, Russia and other forces, existed over the years, but political instability in the Balkans (in particular, Bosnia, Serbia and Herzegovina) threatened to destroy these agreements.

The spark that he was sorted by the first world war in Sarajevo (Bosnia), where Ertzgercog Franz Ferdinand - the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire - was shot dead together with his wife Sophia Serbian nationalist Gaburo Gaburo on June 28, 1914. The principle and other nationalists were on the throat of the Austro-Hungarian Board in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The murder of Franz Ferdinanda gave rise to a rapidly spreading chain of events: Austro-Hungary, like many other countries around the world, accused the Serbian government in attacking and hoped to use the incident, so that under the pretext of the restoration of justice, to solve the issue with Serbian nationalism once and for all.

But due to the fact that Russia supported Serbia, Austria-Hungary has concealed with the declaration of war, while their leaders did not receive confirmation from the German ruler of Kaiser Wilhelm's second, that Germany will support their business. Austria-Hungary was afraid that the Russian intervention would attract the Allies of Russia - France, and possibly the UK.

On July 5, Kaiser Wilhelm secretly promised his support, giving Austria-Hungary the so-called card blanche for active actions and confirmation that Germany will be on their side in the event of war. The dualistic monarchy of Austria-Hungary put forward Serbia an ultimatum with such harsh conditions that they could not be taken.

I am convinced that Austria-Hungary is preparing for war, the Serbian government gives an order to mobilize the army and requests help from Russia. On July 28, Austria-Hungary announces Serbia War and the fragile world between the greatest European powers collapses. For the week, Russia, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom and Serbia are opposed to Austria-Hungary and Germany. So the First World War began.

West Front

According to the aggressive military strategy known as the plan of Schliffene (named by the chief of the German General Staff of General Alfred von Schliffene), Germany began to fight in the First World War in two fronts, invading France through neutral Belgium in the West and entered into confrontation with powerful Russia in the East .

August 4, 1914 german troops Moved the border of Belgium. In the first battle of World War II, the Germans were besieged well fortified city. They used the most powerful weapons In its arsenale, heavy artillery guns and captured the city by August 15. Leaving death and destruction on its path, including the senses of the civilian population and the execution of the Belgian priest, who was suspected of organizing civilian resistance, the Germans moved through Belgium in the direction of France.

In the first battle on Marne, which took place on September 6-9, the French and British troops entered the battle with the German army, which penetrated deep into the territory of France from the North-East and was already 50 kilometers from Paris. Allied troops stopped the German offensive and conducted a successful counterattack, displacing the Germans back to the north of the Ein River.

The defeat meant the end of the German rapid victory plans over France. Both sides struck in the trenches, and the West Front turned into a hellish war for extermination, which lasted for more than three years.

Especially long and large campaign battles were held at Verden (February-December 1916) and in the Somme (July-November 1916). The cumulative losses of the German and French army are about a million victims in the battle only at Verdae.

Bloodpolitia on the fields of battles of the Western Front and the difficulties faced by soldiers, who were already inspired by the creation of such works as: "On the Western Front without Change" Erich Mary Remark and "On Fields of Flanders" Canadian Dr. Lieutenant Colonel John Makeup.

Eastern front

On the eastern front of the First World War, Russian troops invaded Germany regions of Eastern and Poland under Germany, but were stopped by German and Austrian forces in the battle of Tannenberg late August 1914.

Despite this victory, the Russian attack made Germany transfer 2 buildings from the Western Front to the East, which ultimately had an impact on the German defeat in the battle on Marne.
Furious allied resistance in France together with the possibility of rapid mobilization of a huge military car of Russia led to a longer and exhausting military confrontation than a quick victory plan, which was calculated by Germany according to Schliffene plan.

Revolution in Russia

From 1914 to 1916, the Russian army undertook several attacks on the Eastern Front, but Russian army It was not able to break through the German defensive lines.

Defeats on battlefields, coupled with economic instability and food deficiency and essentials, led to increasing discontent among the main mass of Russia's population, especially among poor workers and peasants. The increased hostility was directed against the monarchical regime of Emperor Nicholas the second and its extremely unpopular wife, neborn German.

Russian instability exceeded the boiling point, which resulted in the Russian revolution of 1917, headed by and. The revolution graduated from the monarchical board and led to the cessation of Russia's participation in the First World War. Russia reached an agreement on the termination of hostilities with central powers in early December 1917, giving freedom to German troops to conduct hostilities with the remaining allies on the Western Front.

The United States enters the First World War

At the beginning of hostilities in 1914, the United States preferred to stay aside, adhering to the Neutrality Policy of President Woodrow Wilson. At the same time, they supported commercial relations and trade with European countries on both sides of the conflict.

Neutrality, however, it became difficult to observe, since the German submarines showed aggression against neutral ships, even those that were transported only to passengers. In 1915, Germany declared water around the British islands of the combat area and German submarines Skilled several commercial and passenger ships, including US ships.

The wide public protest caused the mining of the German submarine of the British transatlantic liner of the Lusitania, which followed the route New York - Liverpool. On board were hundreds of Americans, which in May 1915 was the reason for the change of American public opinion against Germany. In February 1917, the US Congress adopted a bill on weapons' appropriations worth $ 250 million so that the United States can prepare for war.

Germany Skilled 4 more shopping ships in the United States in the same month, and on April 2, President Woodrow Wilson spoke before Congress, calling to declare German war.

Dardanell operation and battle at Isa

When the First World War put Europe into a hopeless position, the Allies attempted to win over the Ottoman Empire, which entered the war on the side of the central powers in late 1914.

After the failure attack on Dardanelles (the shed connecting the marble and Aegean seas), the allied troops, led by Britain, landed a numerous landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula in April 1915.

The invasion turned into a crushing defeat and in January 1916 the Allied forces were delivered before the need for a complete retreat from the coast of the Peninsula, the losses of 250,000 people.
Young, the first Lord Admiralty Great Britain resigned from the commander's post after the Gallipoli lost campaign in 1916, taking appointment to the post of commander of the infantry battalion in France.

Slave Britain of Power also fought in Egypt and Mesopotamia. At the same time, in the north of Italy, Austrian and Italian troops met in a series of 12 fighting on the shores of the Isaonez River, located on the border of two states.

The first battle of Isonzo took place late in the spring of 1915, shortly after Italy's accession to the war on the allies. In the twelfth battle of Isons, also known as the battle at Caporpetto (October 1917), the German reinforcement helped Austria-Hungary to win a convincing victory.

After the quorretto allies of Italy got into confrontation to provide Italy support. British and French, and then the American troops landed in the region, and allied troops began to disintegrate lost positions in the Italian front.

World War II

In the years preceding the First World War, the superiority of the British Royal Fleet was indisputable, but the German imperial fleet has achieved significant success in reducing the abyss between the forces of two fleets. The strength of the German fleet in open waters was maintained by deadly submarines.

After the battle at Dogger Banks in January 1915, in which the United Kingdom inflicted an unexpected blow to German ships in the North Sea, German sea fleet Chose not to enter into battles with a powerful British royal fleet in large battles throughout the year, preferring to adhere to the strategy of hidden blows by submarines.

The largest marine battle of the First World War is an Etland battle in the North Sea (May 1916). The battle was confirmed by the sea superiority of Great Britain, and Germany no longer made attempts to remove the Allied sea blockade until the end of the war.

Towards a truce

Germany got the opportunity to strengthen their positions on the Western front after a truce with Russia, which made allied troops struggle to restrain the German offensive before the arrival of reinforcements promised by the United States.

On July 15, 1918, the German troops have made an attack on French troops in the war, which joined 85,000 American soldiers and the British Expeditionary Corps, in the second battle on Marne. Allies successfully reflected the German offensive and conducted their own counterattack after only 3 days.

There are significant losses, the German forces were forced to abandon the plan on the offensive in the north in Flanders - the region extending between France and Belgium. The region seemed particularly important to Germany's prospects for victory.

The second battle on Marne changed the arrangement of the forces on the side of the Allies, who were able to take control of a significant part of France and Belgium in the following months. By the fall of 1918, the central powers suffered defeat on all fronts. Despite the victory of the Turks on Gallipoli, the subsequent defeats and the Arab uprising destroyed the economy of the Ottoman Empire and devastated their land. Turks were forced to sign the settlement agreement with the allies at the end of October 1918.

Austria-Hungary, corrosive from within the increased nationalist movement, concluded a truce on November 4. The German army was cut off from supplies from the rear and faced with a decrease in resources for conducting hostilities due to the surroundings of allied troops. It forced Germany to seek the truce she concluded on November 11, 1918, putting the end of the First World War.

Versailles peace treaty

At the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, the leaders of the Allies expressed the desire to build a post-war world capable of protecting themselves from future destructive conflicts.

Some complete hopes of the conference participants even called the First World War "War, which will put an end to all other wars." But the Versailles peace treaty, signed on June 28, 1919, did not reach the goals.

After years, the hatred of the Germans to the Versailles Agreement and its authors will be considered one of the main reasons provoking the World War II.

The results of the First World War

The First World War claimed the lives of more than 9 million soldiers and more than 21 million were injured. Losses among civilians amounted to about 10 million. The most significant losses suffered Germany and France, which sent about 80 percent of their male population aged from 15 to 49 to the war.

The disintegration of political unions accompanying the first world war led to the displacement of 4 monarchical dynasties: German, Austria-Hungarian, Russian and Turkish.

The First World War led to a massive displacement of social platforms, since millions of women were forced to go to work specialties to support men fighting at the front and replace those who did not return from the battlefields.

The first, so large-scale war, also served as the dissemination of one of the world's largest Spanish flu epidemic or "Spanish", which resulted from 20 to 50 million people.

The first world war is also called the "First Modern War", since in it for the first time the newest military developments were applied at that time, such as machine guns, tanks, aviation and radio broadcasts.

The most serious consequences caused by application chemical weaponsThis, such as mustard gas and phosgene against soldiers and civilians, has intensified public opinion towards prohibiting their future use as weapons.

Signed in 1925, banned the use of chemical and biological weapons in armed conflicts to this day.

§ 76. Military actions in 1914-1918.

The beginning of the First World War.

June 28, 1914 in the city of Sarajevo, which was part of annexed Austro-Hungary of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbian nationalist Gavril The principle killed the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne of the Ertzgerce Franz Ferdinand, a supporter of a tough line towards Serbia. Shooting in the attempt by the Serbian government, Austria-Hungary presented him with ultimatum. The German Emperor Wilhelm II supported the actions of his ally.
The Serbian government fulfilled all the requirements presented by Austria Hungary, except for the point on the conduct of the investigation of the killing by Austrian officials, but agreed to negotiate on this item. However, on July 28, Austro-Hungary declared Serbia War and the next day the bombardment of Belgrade began.
On August 1, 1914, Germany declared the war of Russia, then France. Violating the Neutrality of Belgium, the German troops took the offensive through its territory. In the war joined the United Kingdom. On the side of the Antena, Montenegro, Japan and Egypt were made on the side, and on the side of Germany and Austria-Hungary - Bulgaria and Turkey (Germany and its allies are often referred to by the coalition of the central powers).
The causes of war were contradiction between the powers of the Entente and Germany with Austria-Hungary. The desire to capture other people's and maintain their colonies in Africa and Asia became one of the main aspirations of warring parties. A significant role was played by territorial disputes in Europe itself. There were huge trade and economic contradictions between the powers, they fought for the spheres of their products and for sources of raw materials. The initiator of the war was the German bloc that considered himself deprived in all respects.

Military actions in 1914

The main fronts on which heavy battles were developed in August 1914, the French West and Russian oriental became. At the first stage of the war, in early September, the main grouping of the German armies came out to the Marn River between Paris and Verden, and then forced her. On September 6, the counteroffensiveness of the Anglo-French troops on the whole front from Paris to Verpe. Only by September 12, the German troops fixed the Ena River and on the Eastern Reims line. On September 15, the Allies stopped offensive.
The unsuccessful German attack on Paris and the defeat of the German troops on Marne led to the failure of the German Strategic Plan of War, designed to quickly defeat the enemy on the Western Front. From the border of Switzerland to the North Sea installed a position front.
In the Eastern European Theater martialctions Started 4-7 (17 - 20) August. In the course of East Prussian operations L-I The Russian army defeated the German corps. Continuing to attack, she broke one of the German armies. At the same time, the 2nd Russian army began moving to the flank and rear of the Germans. The successful offensive of Russian troops in Eastern Prussia forced the German command to transfer additional troops from Western to the Eastern Front. German troops, taking advantage of the mistakes of the Russian command, who did not establish the interaction between the L-th and the 2nd armies, managed to cause severe defeat first 2nd, and then L-th Russian armies. Russian troops moved away from East Prussia.
At the same time, the battle took place in Galicia, in which the troops of the Russian south-western front caused a major defeat of the Austro-Hungarian troops. Russians occupied Lviv. The Austro-Hungarian garrison of the Fortress Movzlyl was blocked, the advanced Russian parts came to the foothills of the Carpathians.
The German Supreme Command hastily transferred large forces here. However, timely rearrangement of the forces produced by the Russian bid allowed during the Warsaw-Ivangorodskaya operation to stop the opponent's opponent on Ivangorod, and then reflect the blow to Warsaw. Soon the parties, having exhausted all the possibilities, switched to defense.
On August 10, Germany sent to the Black Sea to support the Turkish fleet Linear Cruiser "Gheben" and a light cruiser "Breslau". Turkish and German ships suddenly fired at Sevastopol, Odessa, Novorossiysk and Feodosius. Russia, the United Kingdom and France announced the war of Turkey. Russia has nominated the Caucasian Army on the border with Turkey. In December, the 8th Turkish army passed into the offensive, but was crushed.
Military actions 1915
The next campaign, the German command solved entirely to devote to the defeat of Russian troops. Almost 30 infantry and 9 cavalry divisions were deployed from France. In February 1915, the Russian troops in winter were transferred by the Carpathians, and in March, after a long siege, they took a press. About 120 thousand soldiers and officers of the enemy surrendered.
However, the passivity of the Western allies of Russia in 1915 allowed the German command to go on April 19 (May 2) in the offensive. Under the Nachis of the enemy, who had huge superiority, the defense of the 3rd Russian army was broken in the Gorlice area. The troops of the South-Western Front were forced to leave Galicia. At the same time, German troops fell in the Baltic States. They took Lebava, went to Coveno. To avoid the environment, the Russian troops were forced to leave Poland. During the 1915 campaign, Russia lost about 2 million people killed, injured and prisoners.
In August 1915, Nicholas II accepted the Supreme Command with the current troops, hoping to reverse the course of events to his authority. In October 1915, the front was established on the Riga line - Baranovichi - Dubno.
In the Western European Theater throughout 1915, both sides were fighting local importance, without planning major operations. In 1915, Entena, promising to satisfy territorial claims of Italy more than offered Germany, attracted this country to his side. The Italian army began an offensive, but it did not have success. In October 1915, Bulgaria joined the war on the side of the central powers.
In the fall of 1915, the onset of Austro-German and Bulgarian troops in Serbia began. The Serbian army resisted 2 months, and then was forced to retreat in Albania. Part of the Serbian troops was transported by the Anttanta fleet to the Greek Island of Corfu.
The 1915 campaign did not justify the hopes of both warring coalitions, but its move was more favorable for the Entente. The German command, without fails to eliminate the Eastern Front, turned out to be in a difficult situation.
Military actions in 1916
On February 21, the German command began on the Western Front of the Verden Operation. In the course of fierce fighting both sides suffered large losses. The Germans could not break through the front.
At the Eastern European Theater on May 22 (June 4), the South-West Front (the commander of General A.A. Brusilov) switched to a decisive offensive. The defense of the Austro-German troops was about Rvani to a depth of 80 to 120 km. The command of the central powers urgently transferred here 11 German divisions from France and 6 Austro-Hungarian divisions from Italy.
The offensive of the South-Western Front facilitated the position of the French under the vertex, and also saved the Italian army from the defeat and accelerated the speech of Romania on the side of the Entente countries. However, Romania's actions were unsuccessful. To assist Romania, the Russian Romanian Front formed.
In July, the Anglo-French troops took a major offensive on the Somme River. It lasted until the middle of November, but, despite the huge losses, the allies were moved only to 5-15 km, so I could not break through the German front.
The Caucasian Front's troops successfully conducted a number of operations, as a result of which were occupied by the city of Erzurum, Trapezund.
At the end of 1916, the excellence of the Entente over the countries of the German bloc became apparent. Germany was forced to defend on all fronts.
Military actions in 1917-1918.
The 1917 campaign was preparing and proceeded in the growing conditions of revolutionary movement in all countries that had a great influence on the course of the war as a whole.
In February 1917, the revolution broke out in Russia. In June 1917, the onset of the South-Western Front, which ended with failure was carried out. The last military operations of Russia were the defense of Riga and the defense of the Moison Islands.
After the October Revolution in Russia, the New Government 2 (15) December 1917 concluded a truce with the German coalition. The revolution in Russia ripped the Entente's strategic plan, designed for the defeat of Austria-Hungary. However, the troops of the central powers were still forced to go to the defense.
In March 1918, a major German attack in France began. The German troops broke through the defense of the allies to a depth of 60 km, but then the Allied Command, introducing reserves into battle, eliminated a breakthrough. At the end of May, the German armies hit the north of the Rhine, and went to the Marna River, being less than 70 km from Paris. Here they were stopped. On July 15, the German command took the last desperate attempt to defeat allied armies. But the second Marn battle ended in failure.
In August 1918, the English-French armies switched to the offensive, laid a major defeat. In September, the overall offensive of the allies on the entire front began. On November 9, the monarchy was overthrown in Germany. On November 11, 1918, Anntan concluded with Germany a compi air truce. Germany recognized himself defeated.

§ 77. War and society

The development of military equipment during the war years.

World War II gave a powerful impetus for development military equipment. Since 1915, the main problem of military operations is becoming a breakthrough of the position Front. The appearance in 1916 tanks and new types of accompaniment artillery increased the fire and shock power of the upcoming troops. On September 15, 1916, the British for the first time applied tanks. With the support of 18 infantry tanks was able to move by 2 km. The first case of the massive application of tanks is the battle of Cambré on November 20 - 21, 1917, where 378 tanks operated. Suddenness and great superiority in the forces and means allowed the English troops to break through German defense. However, tanks who ripped from infantry and cavalry suffered large losses.
War gave a sharp impetus to the development of aviation. Initially, airplanes along with aerostats served as a means of intelligence and adjust artillery fire. Then the machine guns began to put machine guns and hang bombs.
The most famous aircraft were German "Fokker", English "Svonvich" and French "Farman", "Voisen" and "Newport". Military aircraft in Russia were built mainly in French samples, but their own developments were also. So, in 1913, a heavy 4-engine airplane was built by Ilya Muromets, raising up to 800 kg bombs and armed with 3 -7 machine guns.
A qualitatively new weapons were a chemical weapon. In April 1915, 180 tons of chlorine were released from cylinders under Iprom Germans. As a result of the attack, about 15 thousand people were defeated, of which 5 thousand died. Such large losses from a relatively low-toxic chlorine were caused by the lack of protection equipment, the first samples of which appeared only a year later. On April 12, 1917, a mustard gas (IPRT) was used in the area of \u200b\u200bMartyr Germans. In total, about 1 million people were affected by the poisonous substances during the war years.
State regulation of the economy.
In all warring countries, state military-economic administrations were created to regulate the economy, which were underway industry and agriculture. State bodies distributed orders and raw materials, disposed of enterprises. These bodies not only managed the production process, but also regulated working conditions, salary, etc. In general, state intervention in the economy during the war years gave a visible effect. This gave rise to an idea of \u200b\u200bthe beneficiamentation of such a policy.
In Russia, the relatively weak development of the heavy industry could not affect the supply of the army. Despite the translation of workers to the position of servicemen, the growth of military products at first was insignificant. The supply of weapons and ammunition from the allies was carried out in extremely limited quantities. To establish military production, the government has passed to sequestration (transfer to the state) of major military factories and banks. For owners, it was a colossal source of income.
When large abuse of officials in the supply of fronts, everything necessary, the government went to the creation of committees and meetings that should have been engaged in military orders. But in practice, this led only to the distribution of military orders and issuing money subsidies.
Due to the mass mobilization of peasants to the army in Russia, the collection of bread sharply decreased, and the cost of its processing has increased. A significant part of horses and cattle has also been requested as a potential force and for powering the army. Food position dragged the axis sharply, the speculation flourished and prices increased the prices of essential goods. He began hunger.
Public opinion during the war years.
The beginning of the war caused an explosion of patriotic senses in all warring countries. Passed mass rallies in support of government actions. However, by the end of 1915, the mood of the population of warring countries began to gradually change. The strike movement increased everywhere, the opposition intensified, including parliamentary. In Russia, where the military defeats 1915 sharply aggravated the domestic political situation, this process proceeded especially violently. The defeats caused the desire to re-establish a confrigeration regime in the Duma opposition, "not able to lead the war." Several Duma groups led by the Party of Cadets united in " Progressive block", Whose goal was to create a Cabinet of public confidence, i.e. Governments based on the Duma majority.
The activities of the Group in the Social Democratic Party intensified, from the very beginning speaking with different degrees of categoricality against the war. On September 5-8, 1915, the Cimmervald Conference of Such Groups was held. 38 delegates from Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Bulgaria, Poland, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands participated in her work. They made a statement against the war, called the peoples to the world. About a third of delegates led by the leader of the Russian Bolshevikov V.I. Lenin considered this call too soft. They spoke in favor of transformation of the "imperialist war in civil war", taking advantage of the fact that in the hands of millions of "proletarians" there is a weapon.
At the fronts, there were increasingly crafting of soldiers of opposing armies. During the strikes, anti-war slogans were put forward. On May 1, 1916, in Berlin, on a mass demonstration, the leader of the left Social Democrats, K. Libknecht spoke with the call of "Down War!".
National performances intensified in multinational countries. In July 1916, the Central Asian uprising began in Russia, finally depressed only in 1917. On April 24 - 30, 1916, an Irish uprising broke out, severely repressed by the British. There was also performances in Austria-Hungary.

Results of war.

The First World War has ended with the defeat of Germany and its allies. At the Paris Peace Conference Contracts were prepared. June 28, 1919 was signed Versailles peace treaty With Germany, September 10 - a Saintger Mirny treaty with Austria, November 27 - Nein Mirny Treaty with Bulgaria, June 4 - a trianon peace treaty with Hungary and August 10, 1920 - Sevrian peace treaty with Turkey. Parisian peace conference decided to establish League Nations. Germany and its allies lost considerable territories, and were also forced to significantly limit their armed forces and pay great reparations.
The post-war peaceful settlement completed the Washington Conference, held in 1921-1922. Its initiator, the United States, unsatisfied with the results of the Paris Conference, have made a serious application for leadership in the Western world. Thus, the United States managed to recognize the principle of "freedom of the seas", weaken the Great Britain as a great sea power, to press Japan in China, as well as to make approval of the principle of "equal opportunities". Nevertheless, Japan's position in the Far East and in the Pacific turned out to be quite strong.

The starting point in the history of the war, later called the First World War, is 1914 (July 28), and the conclusion - 1918 (November 11). Many countries of the world divided into two camps took part in it:

Anntan (Block, initially consisting of France, England, Russia, to which Italy, Romania, and many other countries also joined after a certain period of time)

Four Union (Austro-Hungarian Empire, Germany, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire).

If you describe the segment of history, known to us as the First World War, briefly, it can be divided into three stages: the initial when the main participating countries came to the actions, the medium, when the situation turned in favor of the Entente, and the final, when Germany and her Allies finally lost their position and capitulated.

First stage

The war began with the murder of Franz Ferdinand (the heir to the Habsburg Empire) and his wife Serbian terrorist-nationalist Gavrili principle. The murder led to the conflict between Serbia and Austria, and, in fact, served as a reason to start the war that has long been brewing in Europe. Austria in this war supported Germany. This country joined the war with Russia on August 1, 1914, and two more days later - with France; Further, the German army burst into the territory of Luxembourg and Belgium. The army of opponents moved to the sea, where the Western Front line as a result was closed. For some time, the situation here remained stable, and France did not lose control over their coast, which was unsuccessfully tried to capture the German troops. In 1914, in the middle of August, the Eastern Front opened: here the Russian army attacked and quickly seized the territory in the east of Prussia. The Galic Battle-winning Battle for Russia took place on August 18, temporarily putting an end to fierce clashes between the Austrians and the Russians.

Serbia was assured by the previously captured by Austrians Belgrade, after which there was no particularly active battles. Japan also opposed Germany, capturing her island colonies in 1914. This secured the eastern borders of Russia from the invasion, but the Ottoman Empire was attacked from the south, speaking on the side of Germany. At the end of 1914, she opened the Caucasian Front that he cut off Russia from a convenient message to the Alleni countries.

Second phase

West Front activated: here in 1915, fierce battles resumed between France and Germany. Forces were equal, and the front line has almost changed at the end of the year, although one and the other side suffered significant damage. On the Eastern Front, the situation has changed to the worst for Russians: the Germans committed a Gorlitsky breakthrough, releasing Galicia and Poland from Russia. By the fall, the front line stabilized: now it took place almost on the pre-war border between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Russia.

In 1915 (May 23), Italy joined the war. At first she announced the war of Austria-Hungary, but soon Bulgaria also joined the combat actions, opposed by the Entente, which in the end led to the fall of Serbia.

In 1916, the Verden Battle occurred, one of the largest battles in this war. The operation lasted from the end of February to mid-December; During this confrontation between the German troops, which lost 450,000 soldiers, and the English-French forces, which had losses in 750,000 people, was first used flamethrower. In the Western Russian front, the Russian troops were committed by Brusilovsky breakthrough, after which Germany passed the most of his troops there, which played in the hand of England and France. On the water at that time, fierce battles were also conducted. So, in the spring of 1916, there was a large Etland battle, which strengthened the positions of the Annta. At the end of the year, the Quartary Union, which has lost the dominant position in the war, proposed a truce that Annta rejected.

Third stage

In 1917, the United States joined the Allied forces. Annta was close to victory, but Germany kept strategic defense on land, and also tried to attack the power of England with the help of an underwater fleet. Russia in October 1917, after the revolution, was almost completely out of the war, absorbed in internal problems. Germany eliminated the Eastern Front, signing a truce with Russia, Ukraine and Romania. In March 1918, a Brest peace treaty was concluded between Russia and Germany, the conditions of which were extremely hard for Russia, but soon this agreement was annulled. Under Germany still remained Baltic States, part of Belarus and Poland; The basic military forces, the country transferred to the West, but, together with Austria (the Habsburg Empire), Bulgaria and Turkey (the Ottoman Empire) suffered a defeat from the forces of the Entente. Finally exhausted Germany was forced to sign an act of surrender - it happened in 1918, November 11th. This date is considered to be completing the war.

Anntha troops won the final victory in 1918.

After the war, the economy of all participating countries suffered greatly. Especially the deplorable state of affairs was in Germany; In addition, this country has lost the eighth part of the territories who belonged to the war, who departed to the countries of the Entente, and the Bank of the Rhine River for 15 years remained occupied by the winning allied forces. Germany was obliged to pay the ones to the allies for 30 years, put strict restrictions on all types of weapons and the number of army - it should not quantify exceed 100 thousand military.

However, the losses suffered the winning countries participating in the Entente block. Their economy was extremely exhausted, all sectors of the national economy suffered a strong decline, the standard of living deteriorated sharply, and only military monopolies were in a winning position. The situation in Russia is also extremely destabilized, which is explained not only by internal political processes (first of all, the October Revolution and events following her), but also the participation of the country in the First World War. The USA's least suffered by the United States - mainly because military actions were not carried out directly in the territory of this country, and it was not long to participate in the war. The US economy was experiencing a real boom in the 20s, only in the 30s replaced by the so-called great depression, but the war had already passed and did not have a strongly accomplished country of relations.

And, finally, the losses that the First World War brought, briefly: human losses are estimated at 10 million soldiers and about 20 million civilians. The exact number of victims of this war has not been established. The lives of many people took place not only armed conflicts, but also hunger, disease epidemics, as well as extremely severe life conditions.

Almost 100 years ago, an event turned over in world history that turned over all the world order, who captured in the whirlpool of hostilities almost half of the world, which led to the collapse of powerful empires and, as a result, to the wave of revolutions - the Great War. In 1914, Russia was forced to join the First World War, in a cruel confrontation on several fighting theaters. In the war marked by the use of chemical weapons, the first large-scale use of tanks and aviation, war with a huge number of human victims. The outcome of this war was tragic for Russia - a revolution, a fratricide civil war, the split of the country, the loss of faith and the millennium culture, the split of the whole society into two irreconcilable camps. Tragic wreck of the state system Russian Empire turned over the age-old way of life of everyone without exceptions of the sectors of society. A series of wars and revolutions, like the explosion of colossal power, broke the world of Russian material culture for millions of fragments. The history of this catastrophic war for Russia, in the please of the ideology of reigning in the country after the October Revolution, was considered as a historical fact and how the war is imperialist, and not the war "for faith, king and fatherland."

And now our task is to revive and preserve the memory of the Great War, about her heroes, about the patriotism of the whole Russian people, about his moral and spiritual values, and its history.

It is possible that the global public will be quite widely celebrated the 100th anniversary since the beginning of the First World War. And most likely the role and participation of the Russian army in the Great War of the beginning of the twentieth century, as well as the history of the First World War today will be forgotten. In order to counteract the facts of distortion of the domestic history, ROO "The Academy of Russian Symbols" Mars "opens the memorial national project dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

Within the framework of the project, we will try with the help of newspaper publications, photographs of the Times of the Great War, objectively illuminate the events of 100 years ago.

Two years ago, the People's Project "Shards of the Great Russia" was launched, the main task of which is to preserve the memory of the historical past, about the history of our country in the subjects of its material culture: photographs, postcards, clothes, signs, medals, household and everyday life, all sorts of everyday details and other artifacts that constituted the inalienable environment of citizens of the Russian Empire. Formation of a reliable picture of the daily life of the Russian Empire.

Origin and the beginning of the Great War

When entering into the second decade of the XX century, the European Society was in anxious state. The extensive layers were experiencing an extreme burden of military service and military taxes. It was found out that by 1914, the costs of large, keeping the military needs of rustle up to 121, billion, and they absorbed about 1/12 of all income received from the wealth and work of the population of cultural countries. Europe has been commissioned explicitly at a loss, burdened by all other types of earnings and profits. But at a time, when it seemed, the majority of the population protests against the increasing demands of the Armed World, the well-known groups wanted to continue or even strengthen militarism. Such were all suppliers for the army, fleet and fortresses, iron, steel mills and machinery plants, published tools and shells engaged in them numerous techniques and workers, as well as bankers and secured papers lending the government when equipped. Moreover, the leaders of this type of industry in such an extent entered the taste of huge latles that began to seek this war, waiting for more large orders from her.

In the spring of 1913, the deputy of Reichstag Karl Liebknecht, the son of the founder of the Social Democratic Paria, exposed the origin of supporters of war. It turned out that Kruppa systematically bribes employees in the military and maritime departments in order to learn the secrets of the new inventions and attract the government orders. It turned out that the French newspapers brought by the director of the German rifle factory Gonutrend, spread false rumors about French weapons to cause the German government a desire to take for new and new weapons in turn. It turned out that there are international companies that benefit from the supply of weapons to various states, even the warring together.

Under the pressure of the same concerned in the war circles of the government continued their weapons. In early 1913, in almost all states there was an increase in the personnel of the army. In Germany, they decided to bring the figure to 872.000 soldiers, and Reichstag gave a one-time contribution of 1 billion and an annual new tax of 200 million for the maintenance of the surplus parts. On this occasion in England, supporters of militant politics spoke about the need to introduce a universal military service in order for England to be compared with land powers. Especially difficult, the position of France was almost painfully in this matter due to the extremely weak population growth. Meanwhile, as in France from 1800 to 1911, the population increased only from 27.5 Mill. Up to 39.5 Mill, in Germany for the same time it rose from 23 Mill. Up to 65. With such a relatively weak increase, France could not sobally for Germany in the sizes of the army, although he took 80% of the recruiting age, while Germany was limited only to 45%. Radicels dominant in France, in harmony with nationalist conservativeists, saw only one outcome - to replace the two-year-old service introduced in 1905, three years; At the same time, it was possible to bring the number of soldiers under the gun to 760.000. In order to spend this reform, the government tried to heat the warlike patriotism; By the way, Military Minister Millirand, the former Socialist, arranged brilliant parades. Protested against the three-year service socialists, large groups of workers, whole cities, eg, Lyon. Conscious, however, the need to take measures in view of the threatening war, leaving common concerns, the socialists were proposed to introduce a national militia, of course the magnitude of the army while maintaining the civilian nature of the army.

It is not difficult to indicate the immediate perpetrators and organizers of the war, but it is very difficult to describe its long-term foundations. They are rooted primarily in the industrial rivalry of the peoples; The industry itself has grown from military seizures; She remained a merciless conquest; Where she needed to create a new space, she forced the weapon for himself. When military hoddles have developed in its interests, they themselves became dangerous tools, as if causing power. It is impossible to keep huge military reserves with impunity; The car becomes too expensive, and then only one thing remains - put it into action. In Germany, the presence of the peculiarities of its history is only more accumulated military elements. It was necessary to find official places for 20 too royal and princely surnames, for the Prussian landowner nobility, it was necessary to give an outdoor plants, it was necessary to open the field for the application of German capital on the abandoned Muslim east. The tempting task was also to be the economic conquest of Russia, which the Germans wanted to ease her to a political weakening, moving her deep into the seas for Dvin and Dnipro.

To carry out these military-political plans took Wilhelm II and Ertzgerce France Ferdinant, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. The desire of the latter to strengthen on the Balkan Peninsula. A considerable obstacle was represented by independent separation. In economic terms, Serbia was completely dependent on Austria; Now the queue was delivered by its political independence. Franz Ferdinand assumed to join Serbia to the Serbian-Croatian provinces of Austria-Hungary, i.e. To Bosnia and the lifting, as satisfying the national idea, he came up with the creation of the Great Serbia in equal rights with two former parts, Austria and Hungary; Power from dualism should go to trialism. In turn, Wilhelm II, using the fact that the children of Ertzgerce were deprived of the right to the throne, directed his idea to the creation of independent ownership of the Black Sea and Transnistria from the seizure of Russia. From the Polish-Lithuanian province, as well as the Baltic region, it was assumed to create another state in vassal dependence on Germany. In the upcoming war with Russia and France, Wilhelm II hoped for the neutrality of England in view of the extreme inconsistency of the British for the land acts and weakness of the British army.

The course and features of the Great War

The explosion of war accelerated thanks to the murder of Franz Ferdinand, which occurred when visiting them Sarajevo, the main city of Bosnia. Austria-Hungary took advantage of the chance to present the terror's preaching to the entire Serbian people and demand the assumptions of Austrian officials to the territory of Serbia. When in response to this and for the protection of Serbs, Russia began mobilization, Germany immediately announced the war of Russia and began military operations against France. Everything was done by the German government with extraordinary hasty. Only with England, Germany tried to agree on the occupation of Belgium. When the English ambassador to Berlin referred to the Neutrality Treaty of Belgium, the Chancellor Betman-Holveg exclaimed: "But this is a piece of paper!"

The occupation of Belgium Germany aroused the announcement of the war from England. The plan of the Germans consisted, apparently, to defeat France and then collapse with all their forces to Russia. IN short term All Belgium was captured, and the German army took North France, moving to Paris. In a large battle on Marne, the French stopped the onset of the Germans; But the subsequent attempt by the French and the British break through the German front and knock out the Germans from France failed, and since that time the war in the West took a protracted character. The Germans built the entire length of the front from the North Sea to the Swiss border with a colossal line of fortifications, which abolished the previous system of isolated fortresses. Opponents turned to the same method of artillery war.

At first, the war was held between Germany and Austria, on the one hand, Russia, France, England, Belgium and Serbia - on the other. The powers of the teaching consent established an agreement between themselves, not to conclude a separate world with Germany. Over time, new allies appeared on the other side, and the war theater was extremely expanded. Japan, Italy, separated from the tripod, Portugal and Romania, joined the tripard agreement, and to the Union of Central Member States - Turkey and Bulgaria.

Military actions in the East began on the large front from the Baltic Sea to the islands of the Carpathians. The actions of the Russian army against the Germans and especially the Austrians were first successful and led to the lesson of the most part of Galicia and Bukovina. But in the summer of 1915, due to the lack of in the projectiles, the Russians had to retreat. Not only the cleansing of Galicia, but also the occupation of the German troops of the Kingdom of Polish, Lithuanian and part of the Belarusian province. It also established the line of impregnable fortifications, a formidable continuous shaft, for which none of the opponents was resolved; Only in the summer of 1916, the army of General Brusylov advanced to the angle of Eastern Galicia and changed this line somewhat, after which the fixed front was determined again; With joining the consent of Romania, he lengthened to the Black Sea. During 1915, as Turkey and Bulgaria joined the war, hostilities opened in front Asia and the Balkan Peninsula. Russian troops, occupied Armenia; The British, moving away from the Persian Gulf, was fighting in Mesopotamia. The English fleet was unsuccessful tried to break through the fortifications of Dardanell. After that, the Anglo-French troops landed in Thessaloniki, where the Serbian army was transported by the sea, forced to provide his country to seizure the Austrians. Thus, in the east, the colossal front stretches from the Baltic Sea to the Persian Gulf. At the same time, the army that operates from salonnikov, and the Italian forces, which took the entrances to Austria at the Adriatic Sea, amounted to the Southern Front, whose value is that he cuts off the Union of Central Powers from the Mediterranean Sea.

At the same time there were big battles on the sea. A stronger British fleet destroyed the Hermann squadron appeared in the open sea and locked the rest of the German fleet in the harbors. This was achieved by the blockade of Germany and cut off the import of supplies and shells. At the same time, Germany lost all its frozeanic colonies. Germany answered attacks of submarines, exterminating both military transport and trade steamboats of opponents.

Until the end of 1916, Germany and its allies retained the overall advantage on land, while the maintenance of the consent retained the domination of the sea. Germany took the entire lane of land, which she has noted itself in terms of "Central Europe" - from the North and Baltic seas through the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula, Maly Asia to Mesopotamia. She had a focused position and the opportunity, using an excellent network of messages, quickly move their strength to the scene threatened by an opponent. On the other hand, her inequity was to limit funds due to circumcision from the rest of the world, while opponents used freedom of marine movements.

The war, which began in 1914, far exceeds all wars, which ever conducted humanity. In previous wars, only the existing armies were performed only in 1870, to defeat France, the Germans applied spare sides. In the Great War of our time, the existing armies in all peoples were only a small part, one weighty or even one tenth of the entire composition of the mobilized forces. England, who had an army in 200-250 thousand volunteers, introduced a universal military service during the war herself and promised to bring the number of soldiers to 5 million. In Germany, not only almost all men of draft age were taken, but also the young men of 17-20 years and older people in 40 and even in 45 years. The number of people designed to go throughout Europe, maybe up to 40 million.

Respectively, the losses in battles; Never so little did not spare people as in this war. But the most striking its feature is the predominance of technology. In the first place in it cars, aircraft, armored cars, colossal guns, machine guns, suffocating gases. The Great War is the advantage of engineering and artillery competition: people are buried to the ground, there are labyrinths of streets and towns there, and during the storming of the fortified lines throw opponents with an incredible number of shells. So, during the attack of the Anglo-French for German fortifications from the r. Somma in the fall of 1916, on both sides in a few days up to 80 Mill was released. shells. Cavalry is not completely applied; And the infantry is very little case. In such battles, he decides that one of the opponents who has better equipment and a large number of material. Germany wins before opponents with their military training, which occurred within 3-4 decades. It was an extraordinitively important thing that since 1870 in her possession was the richest country of iron Lorraine. In the fall of 1914, the Germans prudently seen two regions of iron production, Belgium and the rest of Lorraine, who were still in the hands of France (all lotoring gives half the total amount of iron produced by Europe). Germany also owns enormous coal deposits necessary for iron treatment. In these circumstances, one of the main conditions for the stability of Germany in the struggle was concluded.

Another feature of the Great War is its merciless character, which plots cultural Europe in the depth of barbarism. In the wars of the XIX century. did not touch the civilian population. Back in 1870, Germany announced that he was fighting only with the French army, but not with the people. In the modern war, Germany not only ruthlessly picks up all reserves from the population of the captured territories of Belgium and Poland, but it itself is reduced to the position of convicts, which are driven by the most heavy work on the construction of fortifications for its winners. Germany introduced into the battle of the Turks and Bulgarians into battle, and these half-trivial nations brought their cruel morals: they do not take prisoners, destroyed wounded. No matter how the war run out, European peoples will deal with the launch of the huge spaces of the Earth and the decline of cultural habits. The position of the working masses will be harder than it was before the war. Then the European Society will show whether arts, knowledge and courage have been preserved in it for the revival of deeply upset lifestyle.

World War II 1914 - 1918. I became one of the most bloody and large-scale conflicts in human history. It began on July 28, 1914 and ended on November 11, 1918. 38 states participated in this conflict. If we talk about the reasons for the First World War, you can confidently argue that this conflict has been provoked by the serious economic contradictions of the world powers in the beginning of the century of alliants. Also, it is worth noting that it probably existed the possibility of a peaceful settlement of these contradictions. However, feeling the increased power, Germany and Austria-Hungary moved to more decisive actions.

Participants of the First World War were:

• on the one hand, the Four Union, which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey (Ottoman Empire);
• with another Anttanta block, which was Russia, France, England and the Allied Countries (Italy, Romania and many others).

The beginning of the First World War was provoked by the murder of the heir to the Austrian throne of Ertzgertzog Franz Ferdinand and his wife by a member of the Serbian nationalist terrorist organization. The murder committed by Gavrila Principle provoked a conflict of Austria with Serbia. Germany supported Austria and entered the war.

The course of the First World War, historians divide on five separate military campaigns.

The beginning of the 1914 military campaign dates back July 28. On August 1, Germany entered into war declares the war of Russia, and on August 3 and France. German troops invade Luxembourg and, later, Belgium. In 1914 essential events The First World War turned out in the territory of France and today are known as "Run to the Sea". In an effort to surround the enemy's troops, both army moved to the coast where the front line was closed. France has retained control over port cities. Gradually, the front line has stabilized. The calculation of the German command for the rapid seizure of France was not justified. Since the strengths of both parties were exhausted, the war took a positional character. These are events on the Western Front.

Military actions on the Eastern Front began on August 17th. The Russian army began an offensive on the eastern part of Prussia and initially it turned out to be quite successful. The victory in the Galic Battle (August 18) was adopted by most of the society with joy. After that, the battle of Austria's troops no longer entered serious battles with Russia in 1914

Events and the Balkans did not grow too successfully. Previously, Austria Belgrade was captured by Serbs. There were no active fights in Serbia this year. In the same, in 1914, Japan came against Germany, which allowed Russia to protect the Asian borders. Japan has begun actions to seize German's island colonies. However, the Ottoman Empire entered the war on the side of Germany, discovering the Caucasian front and having deprived Russia of a convenient message with the Union countries. As a result, at the end of 1914, none of the countries of the conflict participants could have been able to achieve their goals.

The second campaign in the chronologists of the First World War dates back to 1915. In the Western Front, the most severe combat clashes took place. And France and Germany made desperate attempts to turn the situation in their favor. However, huge losses incurred by both parties have not led to serious results. In fact, the front line by the end of 1915 did not change. Neither the spring offensive of the French in the arts, neither the operation, argued in Champagne and Arto, did not change the situation.

The situation in the Russian front changed to the worst. Winter offensive of a poorly prepared Russian army soon turned into the August counteroffensive Germans. And as a result of the Gorlitsky breakthrough of the German troops, Russia lost its Galicia and, later, Poland. Historians note that in many ways the great retreat of the Russian army was provoked by the crisis of supply. The front stabilized only by autumn. The German troops were busy Wying Volyn province and partially repeated pre-war borders with Austria-Hungary. The position of the troops as well as in France contributed to the beginning of the positional war.

1915 was marked by the entry into the war of Italy (May 23). Despite the fact that the country was a member of the Fourth Union, she announced the beginning of the war against Austria-Hungary. But on October 14, the Unitanta Union declared War Bulgaria, which led to the complication of the situation in Serbia and its imminent drop.

During the 1916 military campaign, one of the most famous battles of the First World War occurred - Venden. In an effort to suppress the resistance of France, the German command concentrated in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Venden protrusion huge forces, hoping to overcome the Anglo-French defense. During this operation, from February 21 to December 18, up to 750 thousand soldiers of England and France and up to 450 thousand soldiers of Germany died. Verdinsky battle is also known to the fact that first was applied new Type Weapons - flamethrower. However, the greatest effect of this weapon was psychological. To assist allies, an offensive operation was undertaken in the Western Russian Front, called Brusilovsky breakthrough. This forced Germany to transfer serious forces into Russian front and slightly facilitated the position of the allies.

It should be noted that military operations developed not only on land. Between the blocs of the strongest world powers came ill confrontation and on the water. It was in the spring of 1916 that one of the main battles of the First World War in the Sea-Yutland occurred. In general, at the end of the year the Antante block was dominant. The proposal of the Four Union about the world was rejected.

During the 1917 military campaign, the transfer of the forces towards the Antanka increased even more and the United States joined the obvious winners. But the weakening of the economies of all countries - participants in the conflict, as well as the growth of revolutionary tension led to a decrease in military activity. The German command decides on strategic defense on the land fronts, at the same time, focusing on attempts to withdraw from the war England using a submarine fleet. In the winter of 1916 - 17, there were no active fighting and in the Caucasus. The situation in Russia aggravated as much as possible. In fact, after the October events, the country came out of the war.

1918 brought Antante the most important victories, which led to the end of World War II.

After the actual exit from the Russian war, Germany managed to eliminate the Eastern Front. She was signed by peace with Romania, Ukraine, Russia. The conditions of the Brest civil contract concluded between Russia and Germany in March 1918 were the hardest for the country, but soon this agreement was canceled.

In the future, Germany occupied the Baltic States, Poland and partially Belarus, after which he threw his strength to the West Front. But, thanks to the technical superiority of the Entente, the German troops were defeated. After Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria concluded the world with the countries of the Entente, Germany was on the verge of disaster. By virtue of revolutionary events, Emperor Wilhelm leaves his country. November 11, 1918, Germany signs an act of surrender.

According to modern data, losses in the First World War made up to 10 million soldiers. Accurate data on loss among civilians does not exist. Presumably, due to severe living conditions, epidemics and hunger died twice large quantity of people.

According to the results of the First World War, Germany was supposed to pay reparations to allies for 30 years. She lost 1/8 of their territory, and the colonies sent the countries to winners. The Bank of the Rhine for 15 years is occupied by the allied troops. Also, Germany was forbidden to have an army of more than 100 thousand people. All types of weapons were superimposed.

But, the consequences of the First World War affected and in the situation in the winning countries. Their economy, with the exception, perhaps, the United States was in a complex state. The standard of living of the population declined sharply, national economy It fell into decay. At the same time, military monopolies have enriched. For Russia, the First World War has become a serious destabilizing factor, in many respects that influenced the development of the revolutionary situation in the country and caused a subsequent civil war.