Pre and Post Reactions to World War I

World War I: "The Great War"

The historical record shows that World War I, the "War to End All Wars," did not end war, but rather set the stage for an even greater global conflagration a generation later. This paper reviews the relevant literature to assess the relative importance of diplomacy, imperialism, and nationalism in causing the Great War (1914-1918), as well as to identify the major players leading Europe to war. An analysis of why this "unwanted war" was greeted with such joy is followed by an assessment of whether this enthusiastic reaction to the outbreak of war was the consequence of domestic tension or simple patriotism and whether the victors' positions after the war reflect their wartime experiences. Finally, a summary of the research and important findings concerning the Great War are presented in the conclusion.

Relative Importance of Diplomacy, Imperialism and Nationalism in Causing the Great War

Major Players in the Great War

Although termed the "First World War," the Great War did not in fact involve all of the world's nations but it did involve a significant number of them, including the major belligerents of the Central Powers comprised of Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire versus the Allied Powers comprised of Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Japan and the United States (The Great War 2). In addition, other less major players that were also drawn into the war included Romania, Serbia, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, and Montenegro (WWI Casualties and Death Tables 3).

Pre- and Post-War Reactions

Pre-War Reactions. By the fin de siecle, the nations of Europe were mired in a network of mutual defense treaties to the extent that the assassination of a minor archduke from Austria-Hungary could trigger a major war. Longstanding animosities between the major players in the war served to fuel support from the European countries, and other belligerents recognized an opportunity to gain territory and greater political influence in the 20th century (Olmsted 12). Some authorities, though, including a former Congressman from Minnesota named Charles A. Lindbergh, Sr., argued at the time that the "unwanted war" was actually orchestrated by a cabal of international bankers and public officials who stood to benefit from the war (Olmsted 13). In his book, Why Your Country Is at War and What Happens to You After the War, Lindbergh wrote, "I believe that I have proved that a certain 'inner circle,' without official authority and for selfish purposes, adroitly maneuvered things to ... make it practically certain that some of the belligerents would violate our international rights and bring us to war with them" (cited in Olmsted 13).

Post-War Reactions. The overwhelming support of the Great War rapidly diminished following the enormous bloodbaths on the battlefields of Europe that claimed the lives of 8.5 million soldiers and more than 20 million wounded (WWI Casualties and Death Tables 2). The terms of the Treaty of Versailles that ended the Great War, however, were so onerous to Germany that they helped set the stage for the next world war 20 years later (Olmsted 13).