What happened in 1914. Events of the First World War. Causes and beginning of the war

Air battle

According to general consensus, the First World War is one of the largest armed conflicts in human history. Its result was the collapse of four empires: Russian, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman and German.

In 1914, events occurred as follows.

In 1914, two main theaters of military operations were formed: French and Russian, as well as the Balkans (Serbia), the Caucasus and, from November 1914, the Middle East, colonies of European states - Africa, China, Oceania. At the beginning of the war, no one thought that it would become protracted; its participants intended to end the war in a few months.

Start

On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. On August 1, Germany declared war on Russia, the Germans, without any declaration of war, invaded Luxembourg on the same day, and the very next day they occupied Luxembourg and issued an ultimatum to Belgium to allow German troops to pass to the border with France. Belgium did not accept the ultimatum, and Germany declared war on it, invading Belgium on August 4.

King Albert of Belgium turned for help to the guarantor countries of Belgian neutrality. In London they demanded to stop the invasion of Belgium, otherwise England threatened to declare war on Germany. The ultimatum expired and Great Britain declared war on Germany.

Belgian armored Sava car on the Franco-Belgian border

The military wheel of the First World War began to roll and gain momentum.

Western Front

At the beginning of the war, Germany had ambitious plans: the instant defeat of France, passing through the territory of Belgium, the capture of Paris... Wilhelm II said: “We will have lunch in Paris and dinner in St. Petersburg.” He did not take Russia into account at all, considering it a sluggish power: it was unlikely to be able to quickly mobilize and bring its army to its borders . This was the so-called Schlieffen plan, developed by the Chief of the German General Staff Alfred von Schlieffen (modified by Helmuth von Moltke after Schlieffen's resignation).

Count von Schlieffen

He was wrong, this Schlieffen: France launched an unforeseen counterattack in the outskirts of Paris (Battle of the Marne), and Russia quickly launched an offensive, so the German plan failed and the German army began trench warfare.

Nicholas II declares war on Germany from the balcony of the Winter Palace

The French believed that Germany would deliver the initial and main blow to Alsace. They had their own military doctrine: Plan-17. As part of this doctrine, the French command intended to station troops along its eastern border and launch an offensive through the territories of Lorraine and Alsace, which the Germans occupied. The same actions were provided for by the Schlieffen Plan.

Then a surprise occurred on the part of Belgium: its army, 10 times inferior in size to the German army, unexpectedly put up active resistance. But still, on August 20, the Germans captured Brussels. The Germans behaved confidently and boldly: they did not stop in front of the defending cities and fortresses, but simply bypassed them. The Belgian government fled to Le Havre. King Albert I continued to defend Antwerp. “After a short siege, heroic defense and fierce bombardment, the last stronghold of the Belgians, the fortress of Antwerp, fell on September 26. Under a hail of shells from the muzzles of monstrous guns brought by the Germans and installed on platforms they had built in advance, fort after fort fell silent. On September 23, the Belgian government left Antwerp, and on September 24 the bombing of the city began. Entire streets were in flames. Huge oil tanks were burning in the port. Zeppelins and airplanes bombarded the unfortunate city from above.

Air battle

The civilian population fled in panic from the doomed city, tens of thousands, escaping in all directions: on ships to England and France, on foot to Holland” (Spark Sunday magazine, October 19, 1914).

Border battle

On August 7, the Border Battle began between Anglo-French and German troops. After the German invasion of Belgium, the French command urgently revised its plans and began actively moving units towards the border. But the Anglo-French armies suffered heavy defeats at the Battle of Mons, the Battle of Charleroi and the Ardennes Operation, losing about 250 thousand people. The Germans invaded France, bypassing Paris, capturing the French army in a giant pincer. On September 2, the French government moved to Bordeaux. The defense of the city was led by General Gallieni. The French were preparing to defend Paris along the Marne River.

Joseph Simon Gallieni

Battle of the Marne ("Miracle of the Marne")

But by this time the German army had already begun to become exhausted. She did not have the opportunity to deeply cover the French army bypassing Paris. The Germans decided to turn east north of Paris and strike in the rear of the main forces of the French army.

But, turning east north of Paris, they exposed their right flank and rear to the attack of the French group concentrated for the defense of Paris. There was nothing to cover the right flank and rear. But the German command agreed to this maneuver: it turned its troops to the east, not reaching Paris. The French command took advantage of the opportunity and struck the exposed flank and rear of the German army. Even taxis were used to transport troops.

“Marne taxi”: such vehicles were used to transport troops

First Battle of the Marneturned the tide of hostilities in favor of the French and pushed German troops on the front from Verdun to Amiens 50-100 kilometers back.

The main battle on the Marne began on September 5, and already on September 9 the defeat of the German army became obvious. The order to withdraw was met with complete misunderstanding in the German army: for the first time during the hostilities, a mood of disappointment and depression began in the German army. And for the French, this battle became the first victory over the Germans, the morale of the French grew stronger. The British realized their military insufficiency and set a course to increase their armed forces. The Battle of the Marne was the turning point of the war in the French theater of operations: the front stabilized and the enemy forces were approximately equal.

Battles in Flanders

The Battle of the Marne led to the "Run to the Sea": both armies moved to try to flank each other. This led to the front line closing in and resting on the shores of the North Sea. By November 15, the entire space between Paris and the North Sea was filled with troops from both sides. The front was in a stable state: the offensive potential of the Germans had been exhausted, and both sides began a positional struggle. The Entente managed to retain ports convenient for sea communication with England - especially the port of Calais.

Eastern front

On August 17, the Russian army crossed the border and began an attack on East Prussia. At first, the actions of the Russian army were successful, but the command was unable to take advantage of the results of the victory. The movement of other Russian armies slowed down and was not coordinated; the Germans took advantage of this, striking from the west on the open flank of the 2nd Army. This army at the beginning of the First World War was commanded by General A.V. Samsonov, participant in the Russian-Turkish (1877-1878), Russian-Japanese War, ataman of the Don Army, Semirechensk Cossack Army, Turkestan Governor-General. During the East Prussian operation of 1914, his army suffered a heavy defeat in the Battle of Tannenberg, part of it was surrounded. When leaving the encirclement near the city of Willenberg (now Wielbark, Poland), Alexander Vasilyevich Samsonov died. According to another, more common version, it is believed that he shot himself.

General A.V. Samsonov

In this battle, the Russians defeated several German divisions, but lost in the general battle. Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich wrote in his book “My Memoirs” that the 150,000-strong Russian army of General Samsonov was a victim deliberately thrown into the trap set by Ludendorff.”

Battle of Galicia (August-September 1914)

This is one of the largest battles of the First World War. As a result of this battle, Russian troops occupied almost all of eastern Galicia, almost all of Bukovina and besieged Przemysl. The operation involved the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th armies as part of the Russian Southwestern Front (front commander - General N.I. Ivanov) and four Austro-Hungarian armies (Archduke Friedrich, Field Marshal Götzendorf) and the German group of General R. Woyrsch. The seizure of Galicia was perceived in Russia not as an occupation, but as the return of a seized part of historical Rus', because it was dominated by the Orthodox Slavic population.

N.S. Samokish “In Galicia. Cavalryman"

Results of 1914 on the Eastern Front

The 1914 campaign turned out in favor of Russia, although on the German part of the front Russia lost part of the territory of the Kingdom of Poland. Russia's defeat in East Prussia was also accompanied by heavy losses. But Germany was also unable to achieve the planned results; all its successes from a military point of view were very modest.

Advantages of Russia: managed to inflict a major defeat on Austria-Hungary and capture significant territories. Austria-Hungary turned from a full ally for Germany into a weak partner requiring continuous support.

Difficulties for Russia: the war by 1915 turned into a positional one. The Russian army began to feel the first signs of an ammunition supply crisis. Advantages of the Entente: Germany was forced to fight on two fronts simultaneously and transfer troops from front to front.

Japan enters the war

The Entente (mainly England) convinced Japan to oppose Germany. On August 15, Japan presented an ultimatum to Germany, demanding the withdrawal of troops from China, and on August 23, it declared war and began the siege of Qingdao, a German naval base in China, which ended with the surrender of the German garrison.

Then Japan began to seize Germany's island colonies and bases (German Micronesia and German New Guinea, the Caroline Islands, the Marshall Islands). At the end of August, New Zealand troops captured German Samoa.

Japan's participation in the war on the side of the Entente turned out to be beneficial for Russia: its Asian part was safe, and Russia did not have to spend resources on maintaining the army and navy in this region.

Asian Theater of Operations

Türkiye initially hesitated for a long time whether to enter the war and on whose side. Finally, she declared “jihad” (holy war) on the Entente countries. On November 11-12, the Turkish fleet under the command of the German admiral Suchon shelled Sevastopol, Odessa, Feodosia and Novorossiysk. On November 15, Russia declared war on Turkey, followed by England and France.

The Caucasian Front was formed between Russia and Turkey.

Russian airplane in the back of a truck on the Caucasian front

In December 1914 - January 1915. took placeSarykamysh operation: The Russian Caucasian Army stopped the advance of Turkish troops on Kars, defeated them and launched a counter-offensive.

But Russia at the same time lost the most convenient route of communication with its allies - through the Black Sea and the straits. Russia had only two ports for transporting large quantities of goods: Arkhangelsk and Vladivostok.

Results of the military campaign of 1914

By the end of 1914, Belgium was almost completely conquered by Germany. The Entente retained a small western part of Flanders with the city of Ypres. Lille was taken by the Germans. The 1914 campaign was dynamic. The armies of both sides maneuvered actively and quickly; the troops did not erect long-term defensive lines. By November 1914, a stable front line began to take shape. Both sides exhausted their offensive potential and began building trenches and barbed wire. The war turned into a positional one.

Russian expeditionary force in France: the head of the 1st brigade, General Lokhvitsky, with several Russian and French officers bypasses the positions (summer 1916, Champagne)

The length of the Western Front (from the North Sea to Switzerland) was more than 700 km, the density of troops on it was high, significantly higher than on the Eastern Front. Intense military operations were carried out only on the northern half of the front; the front from Verdun and to the south was considered as secondary.

"Cannon fodder"

On November 11, the battle of Langemarck took place, which the world community called senseless and disregarded human lives: the Germans threw units of unfired young people (workers and students) at the English machine guns. After some time, this happened again, and this fact became an established opinion about the soldiers in this war as “cannon fodder.”

By the beginning of 1915, everyone began to understand that the war had become protracted. This was not included in the plans of either party. Although the Germans captured almost all of Belgium and most of France, their main goal - a swift victory over the French - was completely inaccessible to them.

Ammunition supplies ran out by the end of 1914, and it was urgently necessary to establish their mass production. The power of heavy artillery turned out to be underestimated. The fortresses were practically unprepared for defense. As a result, Italy, as the third member of the Triple Alliance, did not enter the war on the side of Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Front lines of the First World War by the end of 1914

The first war year ended with these results.

The war between two coalitions of powers - the Entente and the countries of the Central Bloc - for the redivision of the world, colonies, spheres of influence and investment of capital.

This is the first military. conflict of the world headquarters, in which 38 of the existing ones at that time were involved 59 non-foreign states (2/3 of the earth's territory).

Cause of war. In the 19th-20th centuries. The USA, Germany and Japan have become ahead in eco-no-mich. development, closeness in the world market of Ve-li-ko-bri-ta-nia and France and pretend to be on their co-lo-nie. The most ag-res-siv-but on the world's arena-you-don't-stu-pa-la Germany. In 1898, she began the construction of a strong Navy, in order to strengthen the dominance of the Ve-li-co-bri-ta-nii on sea. Germany sought to ov-la-de-kol-lo-niya-mi Ve-li-ko-bri-ta-nia, Belgium and the Netherlands, the most more bo-ga-you-mi raw-e-you-mi re-sur-sa-mi, for-to-attach for yourself those captured from France El-zas and Lo-ta -ring-giu, to trade Poland, Uk-rai-well and Pri-bal-ti-ku from Russia. empire, under its influence the Ottoman empire and Bulgaria and together with Av-st-ro-Veng- ri-ey establish your control on Bal-ka-nah.

Notes:

* To compare events that took place in Russia and Western Europe, in all chronological tables, starting from 1582 (the year of the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in eight European countries) and ending with 1918 (the year of the transition of Soviet Russia from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar), in the column DATES indicated date only according to the Gregorian calendar, and the Julian date is indicated in parentheses along with a description of the event. In chronological tables describing the periods before the introduction of the new style by Pope Gregory XIII (in the DATES column) Dates are based on the Julian calendar only.. At the same time, no translation is made to the Gregorian calendar, because it did not exist.

Read about the events of the year:

Spiridovich A.I. "The Great War and the February Revolution of 1914-1917" All-Slavic Publishing House, New York. 1-3 books. 1960, 1962

Kokovtsov V.N. From my past. Memoirs 1903-1919 Volumes I and II. Paris, 1933. Chapter I. Events immediately preceding my resignation. - Project on measures against drunkenness - Violent attacks of Gr. Witte was against me when discussing this project in the State Council. - Brochure Gr. Witte about the loan I concluded in France in April 1906. - My request for an audience at the same time for me and for the Chairman of the State Council. - Akimov’s report and mine on the situation created by the Gr campaign. Witte. - New performance by Gr. Witte in the State Council. - My last report to the Emperor.

Vel. book Gabriel Konstantinovich. In the marble palace. From the chronicle of our family. NY. 1955.

Chapter twenty-four. January 1914. Breakfast at Aunt Minnie's - "King of the Jews" at the Hermitage Theater - The last big Grand Exit and Epiphany Parade in the history of Russia.

Chapter thirty two. Autumn 1914 - winter 1915. At the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Headquarters in Baranovichi - In Petrograd - Trip to Ostashevo and Moscow - Prince Vladimir Paley.

On August 1, 1914, the First World War (1914-1918) began, in which many countries and peoples found themselves drawn in - 38 states with a population of one and a half billion people, constituting 67 percent of the world's population.

The beginning of the twentieth century is characterized by aggravation of relations between European countries, as well as an intensification of the struggle between them for spheres of influence. By that time, two blocs of powers had emerged competing for power in Europe: the Triple Alliance, which included Italy, Austria-Hungary and Germany, as well as the Russian-French Alliance. In 1904, an agreement between England and France was concluded, and Russian-English rapprochement began. The Entente is taking shape.

Military-political alliances in Europe before the start of the First World War

The main reasons that led to the outbreak of the war were the rivalry between England and Germany for leadership, the struggle between France and Germany for the territory of Alsace-Lorraine and the rivalry between Austria-Hungary, Germany and Russia in the Balkans.

The reason for the outbreak of war was the murder in Sarajevo of the heir to the Austrian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which was committed by a member of the Young Bosnia group, a Serb by nationality, Gavrila Princip. In this regard, Austria-Hungary makes a number of claims against Serbia, and on July 28 - war and bombed Belgrade. On August 1, Germany moved against Russia, which supported Serbia. Two days later, Germany declared war on France, and a day later, England, an ally of Russia and France in the Entente military-political bloc, entered the war. So on August 1, 1914, the First World War was unleashed, in which 10 million people were killed and up to 20 million people were maimed.

In Russia, the Tsar declared a general mobilization. The German government demanded that Nicholas II stop it. The State Duma overwhelmingly supported Russia's participation in the war. The mobilization took place without any problems. Many officers even went to the front as ordinary ordinary soldiers, since there were simply not enough officer positions. To help the sick and wounded in the war, the All-Russian Zemstvo Union was created. From the very beginning of the war, two fronts were formed: the Western, which included France and England, opposing Germany, and the Eastern, represented by Russia, opposing Austria-Hungary and Germany. Germany's actions were directed against France with the goal of its defeat, and then it was planned to deliver a strong blow to Russia and its defeat. The French command counted on interaction with Russia and its active support. The Russian command reduced its participation in the First World War to the defeat of Austria-Hungary.

During the war, Russia deployed 5 fronts and 16 armies, in which 9-12 percent of the country's population fought. In the First World War, just like centuries ago, the Russian army acted with exceptional courage and tenacity. During the military operations of 1914 on the fields of Poland, Galicia and East Prussia, the Russian personnel army died. Its losses had to be made up by a reserve and insufficiently trained contingent. Another serious problem was the lack of weapons and ammunition. The arms crisis was exacerbated by poor supplies, which fatally affected the 1915 campaign. The war, which was expected to end by the end of 1914, dragged on for several years...

One of the most striking moments of the world war is the offensive operation of the troops of the Southwestern Front under the leadership of cavalry general A.A. Brusilov, called the Brusilov breakthrough. By concentrating the front armies in narrow breakthrough areas, he created superiority over the enemy by 2.5 times in infantry and 1.5 times in artillery. During the Brusilov breakthrough, Russian troops broke through the Austro-Hungarian defenses along its entire length from the Pripyat marshes to the Romanian border and advanced 60-150 kilometers, inflicting enormous damage on the enemy, whose losses amounted to 1.5 million people killed, wounded and captured captured Russian losses were three times less. The Brusilov breakthrough caused an unprecedented triumph and upsurge in Russia after a streak of failures in 1915. The brilliant victory of Russian weapons, which went down in the history of military art, once again eased the position of the “strategic partners” and allies in the 1916 campaign and saved the Italian army from defeat. Thousands of Russian soldiers who distinguished themselves in the offensive of the Southwestern Front were awarded for courage and heroism. The events of 1917 worsened Russia's position in this war. On March 3, 1918, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (Brest-Litovsk (Brest) Peace Treaty) was concluded between Soviet Russia and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, the Bulgarian Empire). It marked the defeat and exit of Russia from the First World War. As a result of the war, four empires ceased to exist: Russian, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman and German. The participating countries lost more than 10 million people in soldiers killed, about 12 million civilians killed, and about 55 million were wounded.

Military results

When entering the war, the general staffs of the warring states and, first of all, Germany, proceeded from the experience of previous wars, victory in which was decided by the destruction of the army and military power of the enemy. The same war showed that from now on world wars will be of a total nature, involving the entire population and straining all the moral, military and economic capabilities of states. And such a war can only end with the unconditional surrender of the vanquished.

The First World War accelerated the development of new weapons and means of warfare. For the first time, tanks, chemical weapons, a gas mask, anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns, and a flamethrower were used. Airplanes, machine guns, mortars, submarines, and torpedo boats became widespread. The firepower of the troops increased sharply. New types of artillery appeared: anti-aircraft, anti-tank, infantry escort. Aviation became an independent branch of the military, which began to be divided into reconnaissance, fighter and bomber. Tank troops, chemical troops, air defense troops, and naval aviation emerged. The role of engineering troops increased and the role of cavalry decreased. “Trench tactics” of warfare also appeared with the aim of exhausting the enemy and depleting his economy, working on military orders.

Economic results

The enormous scale and protracted nature of the First World War led to an unprecedented militarization of the economy for industrial states. This had an impact on the course of economic development of all major industrial states in the period between the two world wars: strengthening state regulation and economic planning, the formation of military-industrial complexes, accelerating the development of national economic infrastructures (energy systems, a network of paved roads, etc.) , an increase in the share of production of defense products and dual-use products.

Until the beginning of the 20th century, humanity experienced a series of wars in which many states took part and large territories were covered. But only this war was called the First World War. It was dictated by the fact that this military conflict became a war on a global scale. Thirty-eight of the fifty-nine independent states that existed at that time were involved in it to one degree or another.

Causes and beginning of the war

At the beginning of the 20th century, contradictions intensified between two European coalitions of European states - the Entente (Russia, England, France) and the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy). They were caused by the intensification of the struggle for the redistribution of already divided colonies, spheres of influence and markets. Having begun in Europe, the war gradually acquired a global character, covering the Far and Middle East, Africa, and the waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic and Indian oceans.

The reason for the outbreak of war was the terrorist attack committed in June 1914 in the city of Sarajevo. Then a member of the Mlada Bosna organization (a Serbian-Bosnian revolutionary organization that fought for the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Greater Serbia), Gavrilo Princip, killed the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with unacceptable terms of the ultimatum, which were rejected. As a result, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Russia stood up for Serbia, true to its obligations. France promised to support Russia.

Germany demanded that Russia stop mobilization actions, which were continued, and as a result, on August 1, it declared war on Russia. On August 3, Germany declares war on France, and on August 4 on Belgium. Great Britain declares war on Germany and sends troops to help France. August 6 - Austria-Hungary vs. Russia.

In August 1914, Japan declared war on Germany, in November Turkey entered the war on the side of the Germany-Austria-Hungary bloc, and in October 1915, Bulgaria.

Italy, which initially occupied a position of neutrality, declared war on Austria-Hungary in May 1915, under diplomatic pressure from Great Britain, and on August 28, 1916, on Germany.

Main events

1914

1915

1916

1917

1918

1919

Results of the war

The main result of the First World War was the enormous loss of life. In total, more than 10 million people died, with a significant proportion of the casualties being civilians. As a result, hundreds of cities were destroyed and the economies of the participating countries were undermined.

The result of the war was the collapse of four empires - Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, German and Russian. Only the British Empire survived.

Literally everything in the world has changed - not only relations between states, but also their internal life. Human life, clothing style, fashion, women's hairstyles, musical tastes, norms of behavior, morality, social psychology, and the relationship between the state and society have changed. The First World War led to an unprecedented devaluation of human life and the emergence of a whole class of people ready to solve their own and social problems at the cost of violence. Thus the period of new history ended, and humanity entered another historical era.