Social Sciences En Politieke En Sociale Wetenschappen
European History
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Summary of European History L10: WW1
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European History
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Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
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Abbreviations:
DRTR: divine right to rule
E-G: Estates-General
CC: Catholic Church
AR: Ancien regime
DL: Germany (Deutschland)
WS: Welfare state
SD: Social democracy
SDs: social democrats
CDs: Christian democrats
O1H: on the one hand
OOH: on the oth...
Social Sciences en Politieke en Sociale Wetenschappen
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10: First World War
Content:
1. Introduction to WW1 (1914-1918)
1.1. WW1: a local conflict gone ‘global’
1.2. The July Crisis (1914)
1.3. Pre-war alliances
1.4. Allied Powers
1.5. Central Powers
1.6. Timeline
1.7. WW1: a truly global conflict
2. The blame question: causes and responsibilities for WW1
3. The “short war illusion”: trench warfare and attrition
1. Introduction to WW1 (1914-1918)
● Paradox:
- At the beginning of 20C, most Europeans thought they were heading for a historical plateau, full of
benign progress and abundant civilisation.
“Le belle epoque”
- At the same time, European states had never maintained such huge armies during peacetime than at
the start of C20.
- Huge standing armies and trained reserves among the civilian population.
La belle epoque: growth of the MC, improved access to parliament, explosion of artistic creativity.
Long lasting peace on the ECont (except for minor battles). - but relative peace; any rivalries take the form of
colonial battles.
But for the first time in European history, there was military expertise among the civilian population. - Before,
in times of war, adult men were called to duty but often lacked training.
==> So at the same time growing distrust, states investing in military equipment.
==> This paradox emphasises that no single country can be blamed for the outbreak of WW1.
It should be attributed to a general breakdown of IR. - no concert of Europe anymore.
With the rise of Germany as the main power in Europe, the system of balancing the different antagonisms is
completely breaking down.
1.1. WW1: a local conflict gone ‘global’
28 June 1914
Franz Ferdinand - Archduke of Austria-Hungary, heir to the A-H throne.
Shot in Sarajevo by someone from a nationalist movement protesting against the foreign rule of A-H.
Assassination is a trivial event in the spectrum of history.
^ is to be situated at the beginning of the outbreak of WW1.
Austria-Hungary (1867): a multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic empire.
Following a compromise between Austria and Germany, A-H is founded.
~52 million ==> immense empire (3rd most populated empire after DL and Russia)
Split up between 3 big groups:
- Austrian ~ 55% of the population
- Hungarian ~ 40%
- Condominium of Bosnia-Herzegovina (joint control (A and H)): 3.8% pop
Linguistic complexity:
- German-speaking Austrian: 23%
- Hungarian minority: 19%
, ==> Even though it’s split up as Austria-Hungary, there’s still a lot of linguistic and ethnic diversity. (Slovaks,
Czechs, Romanian, … )
==> Makes it very difficult to govern;
End of C19, lots of nationalist sentiments on the rise, creating internal instability to the empire.
A-H (Dual Monarchy): formed in 1867, as a result of a Austrio-Hungarian compromise.
● Result of Austrian Empire’s defeat in the Austro-Prussian War; Austria on the verge of collapse.
● Compromise with the Hungarians - blending their rule saved the Habsburg Monarch and transformed
Austria into a dual monarchy.
○ Hungary received full autonomy within the empire, but accepted that in foreign affairs (IR,
war), the empire would act as one state.
○ No common PM, cabinet or parliament, no common citizenship.
○ A common customs union, coinage and postal service.
○ A Gemeinsamer Ministerrat: Crown Council in which ministers of war and foreign affairs &
the PMs met under the presidency of the monarch.
Lots of conflict broke out over the customs union - its design, which groups it would be affecting.
==> Very federal and confederal logic.
- Very few things are done together; two empires that are merging, but common layer remains very thin.
==> also makes it very difficult to control the territory.
- Some regulations don’t apply in both parts.
- + question of joint control over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
==> Very complex structure.
● Imbalance: German- and Hungarian-speaking groups are minorities: both only ~42% of the
population.
○ ==> foreign minorities’ rule felt fabricated.
● Heightened nationalist sentiment: compromise inspired movements for the restoration of states’
rights in Bohemia, Galicia.
○ Serbia had gained independence before and was laying claim to a part of B-H (so was Croatia).
● 1908: annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina by A-H.
○ Before that, it was under joint control; now formally annexed.
○ Rejected Serbian and Croatian claims to B-H; promoted Bosnian identity.
■ Tried to make B-H stand out as a separate entity, yet as part of A-H empire. - fuelling
a Bosnian identity to delude the claims of Croatia and Serbia.
A-H - in an attempt to deal with natinoalist sentiment - in the beginning gave lots of rights and even promoted
cultural organisations. (teaching folklore traditions, teach minority languages)
○ Promoted citizen participation in these “cultural movements” because it believed this would
distract them from political affairs. ==> Elites in A-H favored this movement as a way to shift
attention away from political issues.
○ Often failed to grasp that these movements often were fertile ground for political
organisations. -> were often very intertwined.
By 1906 - lots of resistance against annexation of B-H.
Especially from Serbia - it challenged any “Greater Serbian” aspirations. - lots of contestations.
“Greater Serbia” aspirations:
Leads to the creation of
- Various cultural associations - but also increasingly militant, even terrorist ones.
- Ex. Black Hand Secret Society - attack by Gavrilo Princip, Bosnian Serb.
● Assassination = direct threat to Austrian stability.
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