History of the First and Second World Wars

The First World War (WWI), which lasted from 1914 to 1918, was rooted in political tensions, nationalism, and military alliances in Europe. The main trigger for WWI was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on June 28, 1914. This event caused Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, which then drew other major powers into the conflict. The Central Powers, consisting of Austria-Hungary, Germany, and the Ottoman Empire, were opposed to the Allies, such as Britain, France, and Russia. Combat in WWI was characterized by brutal trench warfare strategies, especially on the Western Front. Battles such as the Somme and Verdun demonstrated terrible forces and mass losses. This war caused the deaths of more than 16 million people and resulted in changes to the political map; Centuries-old empires disintegrated, including the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires. In 1918, the Treaty of Versailles ended the war, often considered too one-sided against Germany, fueling discontent and contributing to the rise of Nazism in Germany. The Second World War (WWII), which occurred from 1939 to 1945, was broader and more deadly. This conflict began on September 1, 1939, when Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, attacked Poland. The Axis Alliance, which included Germany, Italy, and Japan, confronted the Allies, including Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States. WWII featured innovative war tactics, such as Blitzkrieg, known for its speed and efficiency. During WWII, the Holocaust occurred, in which approximately six million Jews were murdered by the Nazi regime. The resulting social and political consequences, including the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, demonstrate the long-term impact of this war. Conflicts in the Pacific were also prominent, with battles such as Midway and the attack on Pearl Harbor drawing the United States into full involvement. The war ended after the surrender of Germany in May 1945 and Japan in September 1945, following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. WWII changed the world order, sparking the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union and creating new international institutions such as the UN to prevent similar conflicts in the future. From an economic perspective, WWI and WWII created turmoil that affected the development of various countries. The rise of the independence movement in colonial Europe as well as changes in social structures were long-term effects that could not be ignored. Both provide important lessons about the impact of war on humanism and global geopolitics.