WORLD WAR I – CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND INDIA’S RESPONSE

WORLD WAR I – CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND INDIA’S RESPONSE

World War I, also called the First World War or Great War, was an international conflict that in 1914-18 embroiled most of the nations of Europe along with Russia, the United States, the Middle East, and other regions.

Causes of World War I

1. Direct Causes
   • Assassination of the Archduke: Following the assassination, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, which was rejected and led Austria-Hungary to declare war against Serbia, with German support.
   • Complex Alliances: The alliances promised that each country would support the other if war ever broke out between an ally and another Great Power, this complicated the foreign policy of various nations.
   • German Factor: Germany offered Austria-Hungary unconditional support in the wake of the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. This “blank check,” via unconditional support, sought military and political triumph in securing the Balkans.
   • Serbian Nationalism: Nationalism was one of many political forces at play in the time leading up to World War I, with Serbian nationalism, in particular, playing a key role.
2. Implicit Causes
   • German Millenarianism: Millenarianism is a belief held by a religious, political, or social group or movement that a coming major transformation will occur, after which all things will be changed. For Germany, leading into World War I, historians report that the Spirit of 1914 was high, with support from the German population for participation in the war.
   • European Expansion: The expansion of European nations as empires (also known as imperialism) can be seen as a key cause of World War I because as countries like Britain and France expanded their empires, it resulted in increased tensions among European countries.
   • Balance of Power: For more than a century, the British held dominant power over the world, and thus Germany was seen as a rising power and in challenge to the British hegemony.
   • Colonial Competition: Germany saw itself in a position to defeat the British and the French and inevitably take over all the colonial possessions.
   • Imperial Opportunism: Imperial opportunism, in the form of the Italian attack on Ottoman Libyan provinces, also encouraged the Balkan wars of 1912-13, which changed the balance of power in the Balkans to the detriment of Austria-Hungary.
3. Marxist View
   • Imperialism: The war was fought with a view to capturing more markets and colonies to expand capitalism.

Consequences of World War I

1. Immediate Consequences:

• Breakup of the Ottoman Empire: The Ottoman Empire was defeated, leading to the replacement of the Sultan with a democracy. The empire’s former provinces were divided between British and French mandates.
• Formation of New States: After the war, new countries were formed from the remains of old empires. For example, Austria-Hungary was divided into several independent states.
• Treaty of Versailles: This treaty-imposed reparations on Germany and central powers and required them to disarm. It also laid the groundwork for the redrawing of European borders.
• League of Nations: The League of Nations was established as an international organization aimed at maintaining peace and preventing further global wars.

2. Other Consequences:

• Rise of Communism: A revolutionary wave of communism emerged in several European countries between 1917 and 1920, notably in Germany and Hungary.
• Rise of Fascism: The harsh treatment of Germany and other nations by the Allied powers caused disillusionment, which contributed to the rise of fascism and leaders like Hitler and Mussolini in Germany and Italy, respectively.
• Foundation of World War II: The humiliation of Germany from the Treaty of Versailles became a key motivation for Hitler, eventually leading to World War II two decades later.
• Rise of the U.S.: World War I marked the end of the United States’ isolationist foreign policy. The U.S. suffered relatively fewer losses and emerged as a significant global power after the war.

India in World War I

1. Contributions:

• Military Support: The Indian Army fought under British command, with over one million Indian troops serving overseas. Around 62,000 Indian soldiers died, and 67,000 were wounded.
• Funding: India contributed 100 million British Pounds (equivalent to Rs. 838 crore today) to help fund Britain’s war efforts. Indian leaders hoped that this support would lead to dominion status and eventual home rule.
• Material Supply: India supplied 37 lakh tons of goods, including jute for sandbags and other essential materials like tanks, armored cars, and weapons for the war effort.
• Political Support: The Indian National Congress supported Britain during the war, with the hope that post-war, India would be granted self-governing dominion status under the British crown.

2. Outcomes:

• Revolutionaries: Many Indian revolutionaries, including the Ghadar Party, saw World War I as an opportunity to intensify the fight against British colonial rule in India.
• Impetus to the National Movement: The unfair treatment of India by Britain after the war (e.g., through the Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre) gave a strong impetus to the Indian nationalist movement. These events fueled Gandhian mass movements that would follow in the struggle for independence.
• Attitudinal Shift: World War I shattered the myth of the indestructible power of the British Empire in India. As the British faced multiple humiliating defeats during the war, it boosted the self-confidence of Indians and helped fuel the national movement.
• Rise of Socialism: The formation of the USSR post-war led to the rise of socialism and communism in India. The formation of the Communist Party of India (CPI), influenced by these developments, played a role in shaping India’s freedom struggle with a socialist influence.

German Responsibility for the War

1. For German Responsibility:

• Regional Interferences: Germany’s foreign policy, especially under Weltpolitik, caused tensions with other European powers before 1914. Its imperial ambitions (e.g., in Morocco) and military expansions (such as the Schlieffen Plan and Naval Race with Britain) significantly contributed to the atmosphere of conflict.
• Belgian Invasion: Germany is blamed for invading Belgium in August 1914, violating Belgian neutrality. This invasion prompted Britain to declare war on Germany, as Britain had promised to protect Belgium.
• German Protection of Austria: Germany’s alliance with Austria-Hungary is seen as a cause of the war. Germany backed Austria’s aggressive stance against Serbia, which led to conflict with Serbia’s ally, Russia.
• German Colonial Ambitions: Germany’s desire to expand its colonial influence, particularly in Europe, created instability. Germany’s small empire complex in comparison to other European powers made it eager to reconfigure the balance of power through war.

2. Against German Responsibility:

• Serbian Nationalism: Serbia’s nationalism and expansionism were highly disruptive, contributing significantly to the outbreak of war. Serbian backing of Black Hand terrorists, who assassinated Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, further escalated tensions.
• Aggressive Foreign Policies: France and Russia are seen as equally culpable. French encouragement of Russian aggression toward Austria-Hungary, combined with Britain’s failure to mediate tensions, contributed to the breakdown of diplomacy in Europe. Additionally, Britain feared Germany’s global ambitions and did little to mediate the crisis.
• Austrian Ambitions: Austria-Hungary used the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand as a pretext to take aggressive actions against Serbia. Austria sought to expand into Balkan territories, and the assassination served as a catalyst for Austria to act on these ambitions, thus contributing significantly to the escalation of the conflict.

Conclusion

The responsibility for World War I remains a debated topic. While Germany played a crucial role with its military policies and expansionist ambitions, other factors, such as Serbian nationalism and Austrian aggression, also contributed to the war’s outbreak. Additionally, France, Russia, and Britain played their parts in failing to prevent the war. Overall, it was a combination of miscalculations and aggressive policies by multiple powers that ultimately led to the global conflict.