Perang Dunia I: A Brief Overview of Key Events
1. Causes of World War I
World War I, also known as the Great War, began in 1914. Some of the main causes of this conflict included rising nationalism, complex military alliances, imperialism, and economic rivalries within Europe. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on June 28 1914 triggered a series of events that brought the European continent into war.
2. Alliances and Mobilization
After Ferdinand’s death, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on 28 July 1914. Russia, as Serbia’s protector, began mobilizing. Already formed alliances, such as the Entente (France, Russia, England) and the Central Empires (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottomans), soon became involved, expanding the conflict across Europe.
3. Big Battle
The First Battle of the Marne in September 1914 halted the German advance towards Paris, marking the beginning of the trench warfare that lasted until 1918. During this period, battles such as Verdun (1916) and the Somme (1916) saw heavy losses on both sides, with new tactics and weapons changing the face of the war.
4. Front Timur
On the Eastern Front, Germany and Austria-Hungary fought against Russia. The Battle of Tannenberg in August 1914 delivered a major victory for the Germans, crushing the Russian forces and boosting the morale of the Central troops. This conflict demonstrated significant differences between the Western and Eastern battlefields.
5. US intervention
The US was initially neutral in the conflict, but German submarine attacks on American trading ships and the Zimmermann Telegram incident prompted America to enter the war in April 1917. US intervention provided a major boost to the Entente, with mass shipments of troops and goods.
6. Russian Revolution
In 1917, the revolution in Russia led to major changes. The new Bolshevik government entered into a peace treaty with Germany (the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk) in March 1918. This freed up German troops to focus on the Western Front, but Bolshevik rule also raised concerns among the allied countries.
7. Final Battle Concert
The summer and autumn of 1918 saw a series of attacks by Entente forces, including the successful Battle of Amiens. These attacks pushed German forces into defensive positions and prompted them to request an armistice, which was signed on 11 November 1918.
8. Political and Social Change
World War I ended, leaving a deep impact. The Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary, and Russia collapsed, changing the political map of Europe. The emergence of new socialism and nationalism movements had a long impact on the history of the 20th century.
9. Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, imposing harsh sanctions on Germany and other defeated countries, including high reparations and territorial reductions. These actions, although intended to maintain peace, actually created discontent that contributed to the outbreak of World War II.
10. Legacy of War
World War I significantly changed the methods of warfare, with the adoption of new technologies such as tanks and chemical weapons. The social and political impact was also felt, with women’s role in society increasing and becoming a catalyst for change in civil rights. This war left a deep mark that continues to influence the world today.