World War I who participated. French theater of war - Western Front. Global consequences of the conflict

CHAPTER SEVEN

FIRST WAR WITH GERMANY

July 1914 - February 1917

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1914― the beginning of the First World War, during which and, largely thanks to it, there was a change in the political system and the collapse of the Empire. The war did not stop with the fall of the monarchy; on the contrary, it spread from the outskirts into the interior of the country and lasted until 1920. Thus, the war, in total, went on six years.

As a result of this war, they ceased to exist on the political map of Europe. THREE EMPIRES at once: Austro-Hungarian, German and Russian (see map). At the same time, a new state was created on the ruins of the Russian Empire - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

By the time the World War began, Europe had not seen large-scale military conflicts for almost a hundred years, since the end of the Napoleonic Wars. All European wars of the period 1815 - 1914. were predominantly local in nature. At the turn of the 19th – 20th centuries. the illusory thought was in the air that war would be irrevocably banished from the life of civilized countries. One of the manifestations of this was the Hague Peace Conference of 1897. It is noteworthy that the opening took place in May 1914 in The Hague, in the presence of delegates from numerous countries. Palace of Peace.

On the other hand, at the same time, contradictions between European powers grew and deepened. Since the 1870s, military blocs have been forming in Europe, which in 1914 will oppose each other on the battlefields.

In 1879, Germany entered into a military alliance with Austria-Hungary directed against Russia and France. In 1882, Italy joined this union, and a military-political Central Bloc was formed, also called Triple Alliance.

In contrast to him in 1891 - 1893. a Russian-French alliance was concluded. Great Britain entered into an agreement with France in 1904, and in 1907 with Russia. The bloc of Great Britain, France and Russia was named Heartfelt agreement, or Entente.

The immediate cause of the outbreak of war was the murder by Serbian nationalists June 15 (28), 1914 in Sarajevo, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Austria-Hungary, supported by Germany, presented Serbia with an ultimatum. Serbia accepted most of the terms of the ultimatum.

Austria-Hungary was dissatisfied with this and began military action against Serbia.

Russia supported Serbia and announced first partial and then general mobilization. Germany presented Russia with an ultimatum demanding that the mobilization be cancelled. Russia refused.

On July 19 (August 1), 1914, Germany declared war on her.

This day is considered the date of the beginning of the First World War.

The main participants in the war from the Entente were: Russia, France, Great Britain, Serbia, Montenegro, Italy, Romania, USA, Greece.

They were opposed by the countries of the Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Türkiye, Bulgaria.

Military operations took place in Western and Eastern Europe, in the Balkans and Thessaloniki, in Italy, in the Caucasus, in the Middle and Far East, in Africa.

The First World War was characterized by an unprecedented scale. At its final stage it involved 33 states (out of 59 existing then independent states) with population amounting to 87% population of the entire planet. The armies of both coalitions in January 1917 numbered 37 million people. In total, during the war, 27.5 million people were mobilized in the Entente countries, and 23 million people were mobilized in the countries of the German coalition.

Unlike previous wars, the First World War was total in nature. It was involved in one form or another most population of the states participating in it. It forced enterprises in the main industries to be transferred to military production and the entire economy of the warring countries to be serviced by it. The war, as always, gave a powerful impetus to the development of science and technology. Previously non-existent types of weapons appeared and began to be widely used: aircraft, tanks, chemical weapons etc.

The war lasted 51 months and 2 weeks. Total losses amounted to 9.5 million people killed and died from wounds and 20 million people wounded.

The First World War was of particular importance in history Russian state. She became ordeal for a country that lost several million people on the fronts. Its tragic consequences were revolution, devastation, civil war and the death of old Russia.”

PROGRESS OF COMBAT OPERATIONS

Emperor Nicholas appointed his uncle, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich Jr., as commander-in-chief on the Western Front. (1856 − 1929). From the very beginning of the war, Russia suffered two major defeats in Poland.

East Prussian operation lasted from August 3 to September 2, 1914. It ended with the encirclement of the Russian army near Tannenberg and the death of the general A.V. from infantry. Samsonova. At the same time, a defeat occurred on the Masurian Lakes.

The first successful operation was the offensive in Galicia September 5-9, 1914, as a result of which Lviv and Przemysl were taken, and the Austro-Hungarian troops were pushed back across the San River. However, already on April 19, 1915, on this section of the front the retreat began Russian army, after which Lithuania, Galicia and Poland came under the control of the German-Austrian bloc. By mid-August 1915, Lvov, Warsaw, Brest-Litovsk and Vilna were abandoned, and thus the front moved into Russian territory.

August 23, 1915 year, Emperor Nicholas II removed the leader. book Nikolai Nikolaevich from the post of commander-in-chief and assumed authority. Many military leaders considered this event fatal for the course of the war.

October 20, 1914 Nicholas II declared war on Turkey, and fighting began in the Caucasus. Infantry General N.N. was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Caucasian Front. Yudenich (1862 − 1933, Cannes). Here in December 1915 the Sarakamysh operation began. On February 18, 1916, the Turkish fortress of Erzurum was taken, and on April 5, Trebizond was taken.

May 22, 1916 On the Southwestern Front, the offensive of Russian troops began under the command of cavalry general A.A. Brusilova. This was the famous "Brusilov breakthrough", but the neighboring commanders of neighboring fronts, Generals Evert and Kuropatkin, did not support Brusilov, and on July 31, 1916, he was forced to stop the offensive, fearing that his army would be encircled from the flanks.

This chapter uses documents and photographs from state archives and publications (Diary of Nicholas II, Memoirs of A. Brusilov, Verbatim reports of State Duma meetings, poems by V. Mayakovsky). Using materials from the home archive (letters, postcards, photographs) you can get an idea of ​​how this war affected life ordinary people. Some fought at the front, those living in the rear took part in providing assistance to the wounded and refugees in the institutions of such public organizations as Russian society Red Cross, All-Russian Zemstvo Union, All-Russian Union of Cities.

It's a shame, but just for this most interesting period our Family archive does not contain anyone else's diaries, although perhaps no one led them at that time. It’s good that grandma saved it letters those years that her parents wrote from Chisinau and sister Ksenia from Moscow, as well as several postcards from Yu.A. Korobyina from the Caucasian front, which he wrote to his daughter Tanya. Unfortunately, the letters written by her have not survived - from the front in Galicia, from Moscow during the Revolution, from Tambov provinces during the Civil War.

In order to somehow make up for the lack of daily records from my relatives, I decided to look for the published diaries of other participants in the events. It turned out that the Diaries were regularly kept by Emperor Nicholas II, and they were “posted” on the Internet. Reading his diaries is boring, because day after day the same small everyday details are repeated in the entries (like got up "took a walk" received reports, had breakfast, walked again, swam, played with the children, had lunch and drank tea, and in the evening "was dealing with documents" In the evening played dominoes or dice). The Emperor describes in detail the reviews of troops, ceremonial marches and ceremonial dinners given in his honor, but speaks very sparingly about the situation at the fronts.

I would like to remind you that the authors of diaries and letters, unlike memoirists, don't know the future, and for those who read them now, their “future” has become our “past”, and we know what awaits them. This knowledge leaves a special imprint on our perception, especially because their “future” turned out to be so tragic. We see that participants and witnesses of social disasters do not think about the consequences and therefore have no idea what awaits them. Their children and grandchildren forget about the experience of their ancestors, which is easy to see by reading the diaries and letters of contemporaries of the following wars and “perestroikas.” In the world of politics, everything is also repeated with amazing monotony: after 100 years, the newspapers again write about Serbia and Albania, someone again bombs Belgrade and fights in Mesopotamia, again The Caucasian wars are going on, and in the new Duma, as in the old, members are engaged in verbiage... It’s like watching remakes of old movies.

PREPARATION FOR WAR

The diary of Nicholas II serves as the background for the publication of letters from the Family Archives. The letters are printed in places where they coincide chronologically with entries from his Diary. The text of the entries is given with abbreviations. Italic highlighted daily verbs and phrases used. Subheadings and notes are provided by the compiler.

Since April 1914 Royal family lived in Livadia. Ambassadors, ministers and Rasputin, whom Nicholas II names in his diary, came there to visit the Tsar. Gregory. It is noticeable that Nicholas II attached special importance to meetings with him. Unlike world events, he certainly noted them in his diary. Here are some typical entries in May 1914.

NICHOLAY'S DIARYII

May 15th.I took a walk in the morning. We had breakfast Georgy Mikhailovich and several lancers, on the occasion of the regimental holiday . During the day played tennis. Read[documents] before lunch. We spent the evening with Gregory, who arrived in Yalta yesterday.

May 16th. I went for a walk quite late; it was hot. Before breakfast accepted Bulgarian military agent Sirmanov. Had a good afternoon of tennis. We drank tea in the garden. Finished all the papers. After lunch there were the usual games.

May 18th. In the morning I walked with Voeikov and examined the area of ​​the future large road. After mass there was Sunday breakfast. We played during the day. At 6 1/2 took a walk with Alexey along a horizontal path. Afternoon took a ride in the motor in Yalta. Seen Gregory.

THE TSAR'S VISIT TO ROMANIA

May 31, 1914 Nicholas II left Livadia, moved to his yacht “Standard” and, accompanied by a convoy of 6 warships, went on a visit to Ferdinand von Hohenzollern(b. 1866), who became in 1914 Romanian king. Nicholas and Koroleva were relatives along the line Saxe-Coburg-Gotha House, the same one to which both the ruling dynasty in the British Empire and Russian Empress(Nikolai's wife) on his mother's side.

Therefore he writes: "In the Queen's Pavilion had breakfast as a family». In the morning June 2 Nikolai arrived in Odessa, and in the evening got on the train and went to Chisinau.

VISITING CHISINAU

June 3rd. We arrived in Chisinau at 9 1/2 on a hot morning. We rode around the city in carriages. The order was exemplary. From the cathedral procession went out to the square where the solemn consecration of the monument to Emperor Alexander I took place in memory of the centenary of the annexation of Bessarabia to Russia. The sun was hot. Accepted immediately all the volost elders of the province. Then let's go to the reception to the nobility; From the balcony they watched the boys and girls gymnastics. On the way to the station we visited the Zemsky Museum. At an hour 20 minutes. left Chisinau. We had breakfast in great stuffiness. Stopped at 3 o'clock in Tiraspol, Where had a viewing [hereinafter the listing of parts is omitted]. Received two delegations And got on the train when a refreshing rain began. Until evening read papers .

Note by N.M. Nina Evgenievna's father, E.A. Belyavsky, a nobleman and active state councilor, served in the Excise Department of the Bessarabian province. Together with other officials, he probably participated in the “celebrations of the consecration of the monument and in the reception of the nobility,” but my grandmother never told me about this. But at that time she lived with Tanya in Chisinau.

June 15 (28), 1914 in Serbia, and the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne was killed by a terrorist in the city of Sarajevo Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Note N.M.. C 7 (20) to 10 (23) July The visit of the President of the French Republic Poincaré to the Russian Empire took place. The President had to persuade the Emperor to enter into a war with Germany and its allies, and for this he promised help from the allies (England and France), to whom the Emperor had been in unpaid debt since 1905, when US and European bankers gave him a loan of 6 billion rubles under 6% per annum. In his Diary, Nicholas II, naturally, does not write about such unpleasant things.

Strangely, Nicholas II did not note in his Diary the assassination of the Archduke in Serbia, so when reading his diary it is not clear why Austria presented an ultimatum to this country. But he describes Poincaré's visit in detail and with obvious pleasure. Writes , how “a French squadron entered the small raid of Kronstadt”, with what honor the president was greeted, how a ceremonial dinner with speeches took place, after which he names his guest "kind president." The next day they go with Poincaré "to review the troops."

July 10 (23), Thursday, Nikolai accompanies Poincaré to Kronstadt, and in the evening of the same day.

BEGINNING OF THE WAR

1914. NICHOLAS' DIARYII.

July 12th. Thursday evening Austria issues an ultimatum to Serbia with demands, 8 of which are unacceptable for an independent state. Obviously, this is all we talk about everywhere. From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. I had a meeting with 6 ministers on the same issue and on the precautions we should take. After conversations, I went with my three older daughters to [Mariinsky] theater.

July 15 (28), 1914. Austria declared war on Serbia

July 15th.Accepted representatives of the congress of military naval clergy with his father Shavelsky at the head. Played tennis. At 5 o'clock. let's go with our daughters to Strelnitsa to Aunt Olga and drank tea with her and Mitya. At 8 1/2 accepted Sazonov, who reported that Today at noon Austria declared war on Serbia.

July 16th. In the morning accepted Goremykina [Chairman of the Council of Ministers]. During the day played tennis. But the day was unusually restless. I was constantly called to the phone by either Sazonov, or Sukhomlinov, or Yanushkevich. In addition, he was in urgent telegraph correspondence with Wilhelm. In the evening read[documents] and more accepted Tatishchev, whom I am sending to Berlin tomorrow.

July 18th. The day was grey, and so was the inner mood. At 11 o'clock A meeting of the Council of Ministers took place at the Farm. After breakfast I took German Ambassador. I took a walk with daughters. Before lunch and in the evening was studying.

July 19 (Aug. 1), 1914. Germany declared war on Russia.

July 19th. After breakfast I called Nikolasha and announced to him his appointment as supreme commander in chief until my arrival in the army. Went with Alix to the Diveyevo monastery. I walked with the children. Upon returning from there found out What Germany declared war on us. We had lunch... I arrived in the evening English Ambassador Buchanan with a telegram from Georgie. I composed for a long time with him answer.

Note by N.M. Nikolasha - uncle of the king, led. book Nikolai Nikolaevich. Georgie ― cousin of the Empress, King George of England. Start of war with cousin "Willy" caused Nicholas II to “elevate his spirit”, and, judging by the entries in his diary, he maintained this mood until the end, despite constant failures at the front. Did he remember what the war he started and lost with Japan led to? After all, after that war the first Revolution happened.

July 20th. Sunday. Nice day, especially in the sense uplifting spirit. At 11 o'clock went to mass. We had breakfast alone. Signed the manifesto declaring war. From Malakhitovaya we walked out into the Nikolaevskaya Hall, in the middle of which the manifesto was read and then a prayer service was served. The whole hall sang “Save, Lord” and “Many Years.” Said a few words. Upon returning, the ladies rushed to kiss hands and a little beat up Alix and me. Then we went out onto the balcony on Alexander Square and bowed to the huge mass of people. We returned to Peterhof at 7 1/4. The evening was spent calmly.

July 22nd. Yesterday Mom A came to Copenhagen from England via Berlin. From 9 1/2 to one o'clock continuously took. The first to arrive was Alek [Grand Duke], who returned from Hamburg with great difficulties and barely reached the border. Germany declared war on France and directs the main attack on her.

July 23rd. I found out in the morning kind[??? – comp.] news: England declared to the German warrior because the latter attacked France and most unceremoniously violated the neutrality of Luxembourg and Belgium. In the best possible way from the outside, the campaign could not begin for us. Took it all morning and after breakfast until 4 o'clock. The last one I had French Ambassador Paleologue, who came to officially announce the break between France and Germany. I walked with the children. The evening was free[from affairs – comp.].

July 24 (Aug. 6), 1914. Austria declared war on Russia.

July 24th. Today Austria, finally, declared war on us. Now the situation is completely clear. From 11 1/2 it happened to me meeting of the Council of Ministers. Alix went into town this morning and returned with Victoria and Ella. I took a walk.

Historical meeting of the State Duma July 26, 1914 With. 227 − 261

TRANSCRIPT REPORT

Welcome speech Emperor NicholasII

State Council and State Duma,

Word from the interim Chairman of the State Council Golubev:

“Your Imperial Majesty! The State Council brings before you, Great Sovereign, loyal feelings imbued with boundless love and all-submissive gratitude... The unity of the beloved Sovereign and the population of His Empire strengthens its power... (etc.)"

Word from the Chairman of the State Duma M.V. Rodzianko: “Your Imperial Majesty! With a deep sense of delight and pride, all of Russia listens to the words of the Russian Tsar, calling His people to complete unity... Without difference of opinions, views and beliefs, the State Duma on behalf of the Russian land calmly and firmly says to its Tsar: dare, sir, The Russian people are with you... (etc.)"

At 3:37 a.m. The State Duma meeting began.

M.V. Rodzianko exclaims: “Long live the Emperor!” (Long incessant clicks: hurray) and invites the gentlemen Members of the State Duma to listen, standing, to the Highest Manifesto of 20 July 1914(Everyone gets up).

The Supreme Manifesto

By God's Grace,

WE ARE NICHOLAS THE SECOND,

Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia,

Tsar of Poland, Grand Duke of Finland and so on, and so on, and so on.

“We announce to all Our faithful subjects:

<…>Austria hastily launched an armed attack, opening the bombing of defenseless Belgrade... Forced, due to the circumstances, to take the necessary precautions, We ordered to bring army and navy under martial law. <…>Germany, an ally of Austria, contrary to Our hopes for an age-old good neighborliness and not heeding Our assurance that the measures taken did not have hostile goals at all, began to seek their immediate cancellation and, having met with refusal, suddenly declared war on Russia.<…>In the terrible hour of trial, let internal strife be forgotten. May it strengthen even more closely unity of the King with His people…

Chairman M.V. Rodzianko: Hurray for the Emperor! (Long incessant clicks: hooray).

Explanations from the ministers about the measures taken in connection with the war follow. Speakers: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Goremykin, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sazonov, Minister of Finance Barque. Their speeches were often interrupted stormy and prolonged applause, voices and clicks: “Bravo!”

After the break M.V. Rodzianko invites the State Duma to stand and listen second manifesto of July 26, 1914

The Supreme Manifesto

“We announce to all Our faithful subjects:<…>Now Austria-Hungary has declared war on Russia, which has saved it more than once. In the upcoming war of peoples, We [that is, Nicholas II] are not alone: ​​together with Us [with Nicholas II] stood our valiant allies [Nicholas the Second], also forced to resort to force of arms in order to finally eliminate the eternal threat of the German powers to common peace and peace.

<…>May the Lord Almighty bless Our [Nicholas II] and the weapons allied to Us, and may all Russia rise to feat of arms with iron in his hands, with a cross in his heart…»

Chairman M.V. Rodzianko:Long live the Emperor!

(Long incessant clicks: hooray; voice: Hymn! Members of the State Duma sing folk anthem).

[AFTER 100 YEARS, MEMBERS OF THE DUMA OF THE RF ALSO PRAISE “THE GOVERNOR” AND SING THE ANTHEM!!! ]

A discussion of government explanations begins. Social Democrats speak first: from the Labor Group A.F. Kerensky(1881, Simbirsk -1970, New York) and on behalf of the RSDLP Khaustov. After them, various “Russians” (Germans, Poles, Little Russians) spoke with assurances of their loyal feelings and intentions to “sacrifice their lives and property for the unity and greatness of Russia”: Baron Felkersam and Goldman from Courland province, Yaronsky from Kletskaya, Ichas and Feldman from Kovenskaya, Lutz from Kherson. Speeches were also given by: Miliukov from St. Petersburg, Count Musin-Pushkin from the Moscow province, Markov 2nd from the Kursk province, Protopopov from the Simbirsk province. and others.

Against the backdrop of the loyal verbiage that the gentlemen Members of the State Duma were engaged in that day, the speeches of the socialists look like the exploits of the Gracchi brothers.

A.F. Kerensky (Saratov province): The labor group instructed me to issue the following statement: “<…>The responsibility of the governments of all European states, in the name of the interests of the ruling classes, who pushed their people into a fratricidal war, is irredeemable.<…>Russian citizens! Remember that you have no enemies among the working classes of the warring countries.<…>While defending to the end everything dear to us from attempts to be seized by the hostile governments of Germany and Austria, remember that this terrible war would not have happened if the great ideals of democracy - freedom, equality and fraternity - had guided the activities of governments all countries».

―――――――

Poems:“You are all so chilling, // Far from ours.

Sausage cannot compare // With Russian black porridge.

Notes from a Petrograd citizen during the Russian-German war. P.V. With. 364 − 384

August 1914.“The Germans are waging this war like Huns, vandals and desperate super-scoundrels. They take out their failures on the defenseless population of the regions they occupy. The Germans mercilessly plunder the population, impose monstrous indemnities, shoot men and women, rape women and children, destroy monuments of art and architecture, and burn precious book depositories. In support, we provide a number of excerpts from correspondence and telegrams for this month.

<…>News from the Western Front is confirmed that German troops set fire to the town of Badenvilliers, shooting women and children there. One of the sons of Emperor William, having arrived in Badenvilliers, made a speech to the soldiers in which he said that the French were savages. “Exterminate them as much as you can!” - said the prince.

Belgian envoy provides irrefutable evidence that the Germans maim and burn villagers alive, kidnap young girls, and rape children. Near villages of Lensino There was a battle between the Germans and the Belgian infantry. Not a single civilian took part in this battle. However, the German units that invaded the village destroyed two farms and six houses, rounded up the entire male population, put them in a ditch and shot them.

London newspapers full of details of terrible atrocities German troops in Louvain. The pogrom of the civilian population continued continuously. Moving from house to house, German soldiers indulged in robbery, violence and murder, sparing neither women, nor children, nor the elderly. The surviving members of the city council were driven into the cathedral and bayoneted there. The famous local library, containing 70,000 volumes, was burned."

It's finished. Rock with a harsh hand

Lifted the veil of time.

Before us are the faces of a new life

They worry like a wild dream.

Covering capitals and villages,

The banners rose, raging.

Through the pastures of ancient Europe

The last war is underway.

And everything about which with fruitless fervor

Centuries argued timidly.

Ready to resolve with a blow

Her iron hand.

But listen! In the hearts of the oppressed

Summoning the Enslaved Tribes

Bursts into a war cry.

Under the tramp of armies, the thunder of guns,

Under the Newports the buzzing flight,

Everything we talk about is like a miracle,

We dreamed, maybe it’s getting up.

So! we've been stuck for too long

And Belshazzar's feast continued!

Let, let from the fiery font

The world will emerge transformed!

Let him fall into a bloody hole

The building is shaky for centuries, -

In the false glimmer of glory

There will be a world to come new!

Let the old vaults crumble,

Let the pillars fall with a roar;

The beginning of peace and freedom

Let there be a terrible year of struggle!

V. MAYAKOVSKY. 1917.TO THE ANSWER!

The drum of war thunders and thunders.

Calls to stick iron into the living.

From every country for a slave a slave

throwing a bayonet onto the steel.

For what? The earth is shaking, hungry, naked.

Vaporized humanity in a bloodbath

just to someone somewhere

got hold of Albania.

The anger of human packs has grappled,

falls upon the world blow by blow

only so that the Bosphorus is free

someone's ships were passing by.

Soon the world will have no unbroken rib left.

And they will take out your soul. And they will trample A m her

just to so that someone

took Mesopotamia into his hands.

In the name of what does the creaking and rough boot trample the earth?

Who is above the sky of battles - freedom? God? Ruble!

When you stand up to your full height,

you who give your life yu them?

When do you throw the question in their face:

What are we fighting for?

The war between two coalitions of powers - the Entente and the countries of the Central Bloc - for the redistribution 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, close-thread on the world market of Ve-li-ko-bri-ta-nia and France and claim 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 state dominion 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-strengthen-taken-from-France El-zas and Lo-ta -rin-giyu, to trade Poland, Uk-rai-nu 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 at Bal-ka-nakh.

The First World War is one of the greatest tragedy in the history of the world. Millions of victims died as a result of the geopolitical games of the powers that be. This war has no clear winners. The political map has completely changed, four empires have collapsed, and the center of influence has shifted to the American continent.

Political situation before the conflict

There were five empires on the world map: the Russian Empire, the British Empire, the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empire, as well as such superpowers as France, Italy, Japan, trying to take their place in world geopolitics.

To strengthen their positions, states tried to unite in unions.

The most powerful were the Triple Alliance, which included the central powers - the German, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Italy, as well as the Entente: Russia, Great Britain, France.

Background and goals of the First World War

Main prerequisites and goals:

1. Alliances. According to the treaties, if one of the countries of the union declared war, then the others must take their side. This leads to a chain of involving states in the war. This is exactly what happened when the First World War began.
2. Colonies. Powers that did not have colonies or did not have enough of them sought to fill this gap, and the colonies sought to free themselves.
3. Nationalism. Each power considered itself unique and the most powerful. Many empires claimed world domination.
4. Arms race. Their power needed to be supported by military power, so the economies of major powers worked for the defense industry.
5. Imperialism. Every empire, if not expanding, then collapses. There were five of them then. Each sought to expand the boundaries by more weak states, satellites and colonies. The young German Empire, formed after the Franco-Prussian War, especially strived for this.
6. Terrorist attack. This event became the reason for the world conflict. The Austro-Hungarian Empire annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina. The heir to the throne, Prince Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophia arrived in the acquired territory - Sarajevo. An assassination attempt was made there fatal Bosnian Serb Gavrilo Princip. Due to the assassination of the prince, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, which led to a chain of conflicts.

If we talk about the First World War briefly, US President Thomas Woodrow Wilson believed that it began not for any reason, but for all of them at once.

Important! Gavrilo Princip was arrested, but the death penalty could not be applied to him because he was under 20 years old. The terrorist was sentenced to twenty years in prison, but four years later he died of tuberculosis.

When did the first world war begin

Austria-Hungary gave Serbia an ultimatum to carry out a purge of all government bodies and the army, eliminate persons with anti-Austrian beliefs, arrest members of terrorist organizations, and, in addition, allow the Austrian police to enter Serbian territory to conduct an investigation.

They were given two days to fulfill the ultimatum. Serbia agreed to everything except the admission of the Austrian police.

July 28, under the pretext of non-fulfillment of the ultimatum, Austro-Hungarian Empire declares war on Serbia. From this date the time when the First World War began is officially counted.

The Russian Empire has always supported Serbia, so it began mobilization. On July 31, Germany issued an ultimatum to stop mobilization and gave it 12 hours to complete. The response announced that the mobilization was taking place exclusively against Austria-Hungary. Despite the fact that the German Empire was ruled by Wilhelm, a relative of Nicholas the Emperor of the Russian Empire, On August 1, 1914, Germany declares war on the Russian Empire. At the same time, Germany entered into an alliance with the Ottoman Empire.

After Germany invaded neutral Belgium, Britain did not adhere to neutrality and declared war on the Germans. August 6, Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia. Italy adheres to neutrality. On August 12, Austria-Hungary begins to fight with Britain and France. Japan plays against Germany on August 23. Further down the chain, more and more states are drawn into the war, one after another, all over the world. The United States of America does not join until December 7, 1917.

Important! England first used combat vehicles tracked, now known as a tank during the First World War. The word "tank" means tank. So British intelligence tried to disguise the transfer of equipment under the guise of tanks with fuel and lubricants. Subsequently, this name was assigned to combat vehicles.

Main events of the First World War and Russia's role in the conflict

The main battles take place on the Western Front, in the direction of Belgium and France, as well as on the Eastern Front, on the Russian side. With the entry of the Ottoman Empire started new round actions in the eastern direction.

Chronology of Russia's participation in the First World War:

• East Prussian operation. The Russian army crossed the border of East Prussia towards Königsberg. 1st Army from the east, 2nd Army from the west of the Masurian Lakes. The Russians won the first battles, but misjudged the situation, which led to further defeat. Large number soldiers became prisoners, many died, so had to retreat fighting.
• Galician operation. A huge battle. Five armies were involved here. The front line was oriented towards Lvov, it was 500 km. Later the front split into separate positional battles. Then the Russian army began a rapid offensive against Austria-Hungary, its troops were pushed back.
• Warsaw ledge. After a series of successful operations from different sides, the front line became crooked. There was a lot of strength thrown to level it. The city of Lodz was alternately occupied by one side or the other. Germany launched an attack on Warsaw, but it was unsuccessful. Although the Germans failed to capture Warsaw and Lodz, the Russian offensive was thwarted. Russia's actions forced Germany to fight on two fronts, thanks to which a large-scale offensive against France was thwarted.
• Japan's entry into the Entente side. Japan demanded that Germany withdraw its troops from China, and after the refusal announced the beginning of hostilities, taking the side of the Entente countries. This was an important event for Russia, since now there was no need to worry about the threat from Asia, and the Japanese were helping with supplies.
• The entry of the Ottoman Empire into the Triple Alliance. The Ottoman Empire hesitated for a long time, but still took the side of the Triple Alliance. The first act of her aggression was attacks on Odessa, Sevastopol, and Feodosia. After which, on November 15, Russia declared war on Turkey.
• August operation. It took place in the winter of 1915, and received its name from the city of Augustow. Here the Russians could not resist; they had to retreat to new positions.
• Carpathian operation. There were attempts on both sides to cross the Carpathian Mountains, but the Russians failed to do so.
• Gorlitsky breakthrough. The army of Germans and Austrians concentrated their forces near Gorlitsa, towards Lvov. On May 2, an offensive was carried out, as a result of which Germany was able to occupy Gorlitsa, Kielce and Radom provinces, Brody, Ternopil, and Bukovina. In the second wave, the Germans managed to recapture Warsaw, Grodno, and Brest-Litovsk. In addition, they managed to occupy Mitava and Courland. But off the coast of Riga the Germans were defeated. To the south, the offensive of the Austro-German troops continued, Lutsk, Vladimir-Volynsky, Kovel, and Pinsk were occupied there. By the end of 1915 the front line has stabilized. Germany sent its main forces towards Serbia and Italy. As a result of major failures at the front, the heads of the army commanders rolled. Emperor Nicholas II took upon himself not only the governance of Russia, but also direct command of the army.
• Brusilovsky breakthrough. The operation was named after commander A.A. Brusilov, who won this fight. As a result of the breakthrough (May 22, 1916) the Germans were defeated they had to retreat with huge losses, leaving Bukovina and Galicia.
• Internal conflict. The Central Powers began to become significantly exhausted from the war. The Entente and its allies looked more advantageous. Russia at that time was on the winning side. She put a lot of effort into this and human lives, but could not become a winner due to internal conflict. Something happened in the country, because of which Emperor Nicholas II abdicated the throne. The Provisional Government came to power, then the Bolsheviks. To stay in power, they withdrew Russia from the theater of hostilities, making peace with the central states. This act is known as Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
• Internal conflict of the German Empire. On November 9, 1918, a revolution took place, the result of which was the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Weimar Republic was also formed.
• Treaty of Versailles. Between the winning countries and Germany On January 10, 1920, the Treaty of Versailles was concluded. Officially The First World War ended.
• League of Nations. The first assembly of the League of Nations took place on November 15, 1919.

Attention! The field postman wore a bushy mustache, but during a gas attack the mustache prevented him from putting on his gas mask tightly, because of this the postman received severe poisoning. I had to make small antennae so that they wouldn’t interfere with putting on a gas mask. The postman's name was .

Consequences and results of the First World War for Russia

Results of the war for Russia:

• One step away from victory, the country made peace, having lost all privileges as a winner.
• The Russian Empire ceased to exist.
• The country voluntarily gave up large territories.
• Undertook to pay indemnity in gold and food.
• It was not possible to establish the state machine for a long time due to internal conflict.

Global consequences of the conflict

Irreversible consequences occurred on the world stage, the cause of which was the First World War:

1. Territory. 34 of the 59 states were involved in the theater of operations. This is more than 90% of the Earth's territory.
2. Human sacrifices. Every minute 4 soldiers were killed and 9 were injured. In total there are about 10 million soldiers; 5 million civilians, 6 million died from epidemics that broke out after the conflict. Russia in the First World War lost 1.7 million soldiers.
3. Destruction. A significant part of the territories where the fighting took place were destroyed.
4. Dramatic changes in the political situation.
5. Economy. Europe lost a third of its gold and foreign exchange reserves, which led to a difficult economic situation in almost all countries except Japan and the United States.

Results of the armed conflict:

• The Russian, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman and German empires ceased to exist.
• European powers lost their colonies.
• States such as Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, Austria, Hungary appeared on the world map.
• The United States of America has become the leader of the world economy.
• Communism has spread to many countries.

The role of Russia in the 1st World War

Results of the First World War for Russia

Conclusion

Russia in the First World War 1914 – 1918. had victories and defeats. When the First World War ended, it received its main defeat not from an external enemy, but from itself, an internal conflict that put an end to the empire. It is unclear who won the conflict. Although the Entente and its allies are considered victorious, but their economic condition was deplorable. They did not have time to recover, even before the next conflict began.

To maintain peace and consensus among all states, the League of Nations was organized. It played the role of an international parliament. It is interesting that the United States initiated its creation, but itself refused membership in the organization. As history has shown, it became a continuation of the first, as well as a revenge of the powers offended by the results of the Treaty of Versailles. The League of Nations here showed itself to be an absolutely ineffective and useless body.

Content:

Any war, no matter what its nature and scale, always brings with it tragedy. This is the pain of loss that does not subside over time. This is the destruction of houses, buildings and structures that are monuments of centuries-old culture. During war, families break up, customs and foundations are broken. All the more tragic is a war involving many states, and which is therefore defined as a world war. The First World War was one of the sad pages in the history of mankind.

Main reasons

Europe on the eve of the 20th century was formed as a conglomerate of Great Britain, Russia and France. Germany remained on the sidelines. But only as long as its industry stood on strong legs and strengthened military power. While she didn't aspire to the role main force in Europe, but it began to lack markets for selling its products. There was a shortage of territories. Access to international trade routes was limited.

Over time, the highest echelons of German power realized that the country did not have enough colonies for its development. Russia was a huge state with vast expanses. France and England developed with the help of their colonies. Thus, Germany was the first to ripen to the need to redivide the world. But how to fight against a bloc that included the most strong countries: England, France and Russia?

It is clear that you cannot cope alone. And the country enters into a bloc with Austria-Hungary and Italy. Soon this block received the name Central. In 1904, England and France entered into a military-political alliance and called it the Entente, which means “cordial agreement.” Before this, France and Russia had concluded an agreement in which the countries pledged to help each other in the event of military conflicts.

Therefore, an alliance between Great Britain and Russia was a matter of urgency. Soon this happened. In 1907, these countries entered into an agreement in which they defined spheres of influence in Asian territories. This removed the tension that separated the British and Russians. Russia joined the Entente. After some time, already during hostilities, Germany’s former ally Italy also gained membership in the Entente.

Thus, two powerful military blocs were formed, the confrontation of which could not but result in a military conflict. The most interesting thing is that the desire to find colonies and markets that the Germans dreamed of is far from the most important reasons for the subsequent world war. There were mutual claims of other countries against each other. But all of them were not so important as to unleash a global conflagration of war because of them.

Historians are still puzzling over the main reason that prompted the whole of Europe to take up arms. Each state gives its own reasons. One gets the feeling that this most important reason did not exist at all. Has the global massacre of people become the reason for the ambitious attitude of some politicians?

There are a number of scientists who believe that the contradictions between Germany and England gradually escalated before a military conflict arose. The rest of the countries were simply forced to fulfill their allied duty. Another reason is also mentioned. This is the definition of the path of socio-economic development of society. On the one hand, the Western European model dominated, on the other, the Central-South European model.

History, as we know, does not like the subjunctive mood. And yet, the question increasingly arises: could that terrible war have been avoided? Of course you can. But only if the leaders of European states, especially Germany, wanted it.

Germany felt its power and military force. She couldn’t wait to walk across Europe with a victorious step and stand at the head of the continent. No one could have imagined then that the war would drag on for more than 4 years, and what consequences it would lead to. Everyone saw the war as fast, lightning fast and victorious on each side.

That such a position was illiterate and irresponsible in all respects is evidenced by the fact that 38 countries involving one and a half billion people were involved in the military conflict. Wars with this a large number participants cannot be completed quickly.

So, Germany was preparing for war, waiting. A reason was needed. And he didn’t keep himself waiting.

The war started with one shot

Gavrilo Princip was an unknown student from Serbia. But he was a member of a revolutionary youth organization. On June 28, 1914, the student immortalized his name with black glory. He shot Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. Among some historians, no, no, but a note of annoyance slips through, they say, if the fatal shot had not happened, the war would not have happened. They are wrong. There would still be a reason. And organizing it was not difficult.

The Austrian-Hungarian government issued an ultimatum to Serbia less than a month later, on July 23. The document contained requirements that were impossible to fulfill. Serbia undertook to fulfill many points of the ultimatum. But Serbia refused to open the border to Austrian-Hungarian law enforcement agencies to investigate the crime. Although there was no outright refusal, it was proposed to negotiate this point.

Austria-Hungary rejected this proposal and declared war on Serbia. Less than a day had passed before bombs rained down on Belgorod. Next, Austro-Hungarian troops entered the territory of Serbia. Nicholas II telegraphs Wilhelm I with a request to resolve the conflict peacefully. Advises that the dispute be brought to the Hague Conference. Germany responded with silence. On July 28, 1914, the First World War began.

Lots of plans

It is clear that Germany stood behind Austria-Hungary. And her arrows were not directed towards Serbia, but towards France. After capturing Paris, the Germans intended to invade Russia. The goal was to subjugate part of the French colonies in Africa, some provinces of Poland and the Baltic states belonging to Russia.

Germany intended to further expand its possessions at the expense of Turkey and the countries of the Middle and Near East. Of course, the redivision of the world was started by the leaders of the German-Austrian bloc. They are considered the main culprits of the conflict that escalated into the First World War. It’s amazing how simple the leaders of the German General Staff, who were developing the blitzkrieg operation, imagined the victorious march.

Given the impossibility of conducting a quick campaign, fighting on two fronts: with France in the west and with Russia in the east, they decided to deal with the French first. Believing that Germany would mobilize in ten days, and Russia would need at least a month, they intended to deal with France in 20 days and then attack Russia.

This is what the military leaders calculated. General Staff that piece by piece they would deal with their main opponents and celebrate victory in the same summer of 1914. For some reason, they decided that Great Britain, frightened by Germany’s victorious march across Europe, would not get involved in the war. As for England, the calculation was simple. The country did not have strong ground forces, although it had a powerful navy.

Russia did not need additional territories. Well, the turmoil started by Germany, as it seemed then, was decided to be used to strengthen its influence on the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, to subjugate Constantinople, to unite the lands of Poland and become the sovereign mistress of the Balkans. By the way, these plans were part of the general plan of the Entente states.

Austria-Hungary did not want to remain on the sidelines. Her thoughts extended exclusively to the Balkan countries. Each country got involved in the war not only fulfilling its allied duty, but also trying to grab its share of the victory pie.

After a short break caused by waiting for a response to the telegram, which never came, Nicholas II announced general mobilization. Germany issued an ultimatum demanding that the mobilization be cancelled. Here Russia remained silent and continued to carry out the emperor’s decree. On July 19, Germany announced the start of war against Russia.

And yet on two fronts

While planning victories and celebrating their upcoming conquests, countries were poorly prepared for war in technical terms. At this time, new, more advanced types of weapons appeared. Naturally, they could not help but influence the tactics of combat. But this was not taken into account by the military leaders, who were accustomed to using old, outdated techniques.

An important point was the involvement of more soldiers during operations, specialists who can work on new technology. Therefore, the battle diagrams and victory diagrams drawn at headquarters were crossed out by the course of the war from the first days.

Nevertheless, powerful armies were mobilized. The Entente troops numbered up to six million soldiers and officers, the Triple Alliance gathered three and a half million people under its banner. This became a big test for the Russians. At this time, Russia continued military operations against Turkish troops in Transcaucasia.

On the Western Front, which the Germans initially considered the main one, they had to fight the French and British. In the east, Russian armies entered the battle. The US refrained from military action. Only in 1917 did American soldiers land in Europe and take the side of the Entente.

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Russia became Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich. As a result of mobilization, the Russian army grew from one and a half million people to five and a half million. 114 divisions were formed. 94 divisions opposed the Germans, Austrians and Hungarians. Germany fielded 20 of its own and 46 allied divisions against the Russians.

So, the Germans began to fight against France. And they stopped almost immediately. The front, which initially curved towards the French, soon leveled off. They were helped by English units that arrived on the continent. The fighting went on with varying degrees of success. This came as a surprise to the Germans. And Germany decides to withdraw Russia from the theater of military operations.

Firstly, fighting on two fronts was unproductive. Secondly, it was not possible to dig trenches along the entire length of the Eastern Front due to the enormous distances. Well, the cessation of hostilities promised Germany the release of armies for use against England and France.

East Prussian operation

At the request of the command of the French armed forces, two armies were quickly formed. The first was commanded by General Pavel Rennenkampf, the second by General Alexander Samsonov. Armies were created hastily. After mobilization was announced, almost all the military personnel in the reserve arrived at recruiting stations. There was no time to figure it out, officer positions were filled quickly, non-commissioned officers had to be enrolled in the rank and file.

As historians note, at this moment both armies represented the flower of the Russian army. They were led by military generals, famous in battles in eastern Russia, as well as in China. The start of the East Prussian operation was successful. On August 7, 1914, the 1st Army, near Gumbinen, completely defeated the German 8th Army. The victory turned the heads of the commanders of the Northwestern Front, and they gave the order to Rennenkampf to advance on Königsberg, then go to Berlin.

The commander of the 1st Army, fulfilling the order, was forced to withdraw several corps from the French direction, including three of them with the most dangerous area. The 2nd Army of General Samsonov was under attack. Further events became disastrous for both armies. Both of them began to develop attacks, being far from each other. The warriors were tired and hungry. There was not enough bread. Communication between the armies was carried out via radiotelegraph.

The messages were sent in plain text, so the Germans knew about all movements military units. And then there were messages from higher commanders that brought confusion to the deployment of armies. The Germans managed to block the army of Alexander Samsonov with the help of 13 divisions, depriving it of a preferential strategic position. On August 10, the German army of General Hindenburg begins to encircle the Russians and by August 16 drives it into swampy places.

Selected guards corps were destroyed. Communication with the army of Paul Rennenkampf was interrupted. At an extremely tense moment, the general and his staff officers go to a dangerous site. Realizing the hopelessness of the situation, acutely experiencing the death of his guards, the famous general shoots himself.

General Klyuev, appointed commander instead of Samsonov, gives the order to surrender. But not all officers followed this order. The officers who did not obey Klyuev removed approximately 10,000 soldiers from the swampy cauldron. It was a crushing defeat for the Russian army.

General P. Rennenkampf was blamed for the disaster of the 2nd Army. He was accused of treason and cowardice. The general was forced to leave the army. On the night of April 1, 1918, the Bolsheviks shot Pavel Rennenkapf, accusing him of betraying General Alexander Samsonov. So, as they say, from a sore head to a healthy one. Even in tsarist times, it was even attributed to the general that he bore a German surname, which meant he had to be a traitor.

In this operation, the Russian army lost 170,000 soldiers, the Germans were missing 37,000 people. But the victory of the German troops in this operation was strategically equal to zero. But the destruction of the army brought devastation and panic into the souls of Russians. The mood of patriotism has disappeared.

Yes, the East Prussian operation was a disaster for the Russian army. She only confused the cards for the Germans. The loss of the best sons of Russia became salvation for the French armed forces. The Germans were unable to capture Paris. Subsequently, Marshal of France Foch noted that thanks to Russia, France was not wiped off the face of the earth.

The death of the Russian army forced the Germans to switch all their forces and all their attention towards the east. This, ultimately, predetermined the victory of the Entente.

Galician operation

In contrast to the northwestern theater of military operations, in the southwestern direction the Russian troops were doing much more successfully. In the operation, which later became known as the Galician operation, which began on August 5 and ended on September 8, troops of Austria-Hungary fought against the Russian armies. Approximately two million troops on both sides took part in the fighting. 5,000 guns fired at the enemy.

The front line stretched for four hundred kilometers. The army of General Alexei Brusilov began attacking the enemy on August 8. Two days later, the remaining armies entered the battle. It took the Russian army just over a week to break through the enemy’s defenses and penetrate up to three hundred kilometers into enemy territory.

The cities of Galich and Lvov, as well as a vast territory of all of Galicia, were captured. Austria-Hungary's troops lost half their strength, approximately 400,000 fighters. The enemy army lost its combat effectiveness until the end of the war. Losses Russian formations amounted to 230,000 people.

The Galician operation affected further military operations. It was this operation that ruined all the plans of the German General Staff for the lightning-fast progress of the military campaign. The Germans' hopes for armed forces its allies, in particular Austria-Hungary. The German command had to urgently redeploy military units. And in in this case divisions had to be withdrawn from the Western Front.

It is also important that it was at this time that Italy left its ally Germany and took the side of the Entente.

Warsaw-Ivangorod and Lodz operations

October 1914 was also marked by the Warsaw-Ivangorod operation. The Russian command decided on the eve of October to transfer troops located in Galicia to Poland in order to subsequently launch a direct attack on Berlin. The Germans, to support the Austrians, transferred the 8th Army of General von Hindenburg to help her. The armies were tasked with going to the rear of the Northwestern Front. But first, it was necessary to attack the troops of both fronts - Northwestern and Southwestern.

The Russian command sent three armies and two corps from Galicia to the Ivangorod-Warsaw line. The fighting was accompanied by a large number of killed and wounded. The Russians fought bravely. Heroism took on a mass character. It was here that the name of the pilot Nesterov, who committed a heroic act in the sky, first became widely known. For the first time in the history of aviation, he went to ram an enemy plane.

On October 26, the advance of the Austro-German forces was stopped. They were thrown back to their previous positions. During the operation, the troops of Austria-Hungary lost up to 100,000 people killed, the Russians - 50,000 soldiers.

Three days after the completion of the Warsaw-Ivangorod operation, military operations moved to the Lodz area. The Germans intended to encircle and destroy the 2nd and 5th armies, which were part of the Northwestern Front. The German command transferred nine divisions from the Western Front. The fighting was very stubborn. But for the Germans they were ineffective.

The year 1914 became a test of strength for the warring armies. A lot of blood was spilled. The Russians lost up to two million soldiers in the battles, the German-Austrian troops were thinned by 950,000 soldiers. Neither side gained a noticeable advantage. Although Russia, not being ready for military action, saved Paris and forced the Germans to fight on two fronts at once.

Everyone suddenly realized that the war would be protracted and a lot more blood would be shed. The German command began to develop an offensive plan in 1915 along the entire Eastern Front. But again, a mischievous mood reigned in the German General Staff. It was decided to quickly deal with Russia first, and then one by one defeat France, then England. By the end of 1914, there was a lull on the fronts.

Calm before the storm

Throughout 1915, the warring parties were in a state of passively supporting their troops in occupied positions. There was preparation and redeployment of troops, delivery of equipment and weapons. This was especially true for Russia, since factories producing weapons and ammunition were not fully prepared by the start of the war. The reform in the army at that time was not yet completed. The year 1915 provided a favorable respite for this. But it was not always quiet on the fronts.

Having concentrated all their forces on the Eastern Front, the Germans initially achieved success. The Russian army is forced to leave its positions. This takes place in 1915. The army retreats from big losses. The Germans did not take one thing into account. The factor of huge territories begins to act against them.

Having reached Russian soil after thousands of kilometers of walking with weapons and ammunition, the German soldiers were left exhausted. Having conquered part of Russian territory, they did not become winners. However, it was not difficult to defeat the Russians at this moment. The army was almost without weapons and ammunition. Sometimes three ammunition made up the entire arsenal of one gun. But even in an almost unarmed state, Russian troops inflicted significant damage on the Germans. The highest spirit of patriotism was also not taken into account by the conquerors.

Having failed to achieve noticeable results in battles with the Russians, Germany returned to Western Front. The Germans and French met on the battlefield near Verdun. It was more like exterminating each other. 600 thousand soldiers died in that battle. The French survived. Germany was unable to turn the tide of the battle in its direction. But this was already in 1916. Germany became increasingly bogged down in the war, dragging more and more countries along with it.

And the year 1916 began with victories of the Russian armies. Türkiye, which was in an alliance with Germany at that time, suffered a number of defeats from Russian troops. Having advanced deep into Turkey up to 300 kilometers, the armies of the Caucasian Front, as a result of a number of victorious operations, occupied the cities of Erzurum and Trebizond.

After a lull, the victorious march was continued by the army under the command of Alexei Brusilov.

To ease tension on the Western Front, the Entente allies turned to Russia with a request to begin military operations. Otherwise, the French army could be destroyed. Russian military leaders considered this an adventure that could turn into failure. But the order came to attack the Germans.

The offensive operation was led by General Alexei Brusilov. According to the tactics developed by the general, the offensive was launched on a wide front. In this state, the enemy could not determine the direction of the main attack. For two days, on May 22 and 23, 1916, artillery salvoes thundered over the German trenches. Artillery preparation gave way to calm. As soon as the German soldiers climbed out of the trenches to take up positions, the shelling began again.

It took only three hours to crush the enemy's first line of defense. Several tens of thousands of enemy soldiers and officers were captured. The Brusilovites advanced for 17 days. But Brusilov’s command did not allow him to develop this offensive. An order was received to stop the offensive and go into active defense.

7 days have passed. And Brusilov was again given the command to go on the attack. But time was lost. The Germans managed to bring up reserves and prepare well the fortification redoubts. Brusilov's army had a hard time. Although the offensive continued, it was slow, and with losses that could not be called justified. With the onset of November, Brusilov's army completed its breakthrough.

The results of the Brusilov breakthrough are impressive. 1.5 million enemy soldiers and officers were killed, and another 500 were captured. Russian troops entered Bukovina and occupied part of the territory of East Prussia. The French army was saved. The Brusilov breakthrough became the most noticeable military operation First World War. But Germany continued to fight.

A new commander-in-chief was appointed. The Austrians transferred 6 divisions from the south, where they opposed Italian troops, to the Eastern Front. For the successful advancement of Brusilov's army, support from other fronts was necessary. It didn't come.

Historians give this operation very great significance. They believe that this was a crushing blow to the German troops, from which the country never recovered. Its result was the practical withdrawal of Austria from the war. But General Brusilov, summing up his feat, noted that his army worked for others, and not for Russia. By this he seemed to be saying that Russian soldiers saved the allies, but did not reach the main turning point of the war. Although there was still a fracture.

The year 1916 became favorable for the Entente troops, in particular for Russia. At the end of the year, the armed forces numbered 6.5 million soldiers and officers, of whom 275 divisions were formed. In the theater of military operations, stretching from Black to Baltic seas, 135 divisions took part in Russian military operations.

But the losses of Russian military personnel were enormous. During the entire period of the First World War, Russia lost seven million of its best sons and daughters. The tragedy of the Russian troops was especially evident in 1917. Having shed a sea of ​​blood on the battlefields and emerged victorious in many decisive battles, the country did not take advantage of the fruits of its victories.

The reason was that the Russian army was demoralized by revolutionary forces. On the fronts, fraternization with opponents began everywhere. And the defeats began. The Germans entered Riga and captured the Moondzun archipelago, located in the Baltic.

Operations in Belarus and Galicia ended in defeat. A wave of defeatism swept over the country, and demands for an exit from the war grew louder and louder. The Bolsheviks took advantage of this brilliantly. By proclaiming the Decree of Peace, they attracted to their side a significant part of the military personnel who were tired of the war and the incompetent management of military operations by the Supreme Command.

The country of the Soviets emerged from the First World War without hesitation, concluding the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty with Germany in the March days of 1918. On the Western Front, military operations ended with the signing of the Compiegne Armistice Treaty. This happened in November 1918. The final results of the war were formalized in 1919 at Versailles, where a peace treaty was concluded. Soviet Russia there was no such agreement among the participants.

Five periods of opposition

It is customary to divide the First World War into five periods. They are correlated with the years of confrontation. The first period occurred in 1914. At this time, fighting took place on two fronts. On the Western Front, Germany fought with France. In the East, Russia collided with Prussia. But before the Germans turned their arms against the French, they easily occupied Luxembourg and Belgium. Only after this did they begin to act against France.

The lightning war did not work out. Firstly, France turned out to be a tough nut to crack, which Germany never managed to crack. On the other hand, Russia put up worthy resistance. The plans of the German General Staff were not allowed to be realized.

In 1915, fighting between France and Germany alternated with long periods of calm. It was hard for the Russians. Poor supplies became the main reason for the retreat of the Russian troops. They were forced to leave Poland and Galicia. This year has become tragic for the warring parties. A lot of fighters died on both sides. This stage in the war is the second.

The third stage is marked by two big events. One of them became the bloodiest. This is the battle of the Germans and the French at Verdun. Over a million soldiers and officers were killed during the battle. The second important event was the Brusilovsky breakthrough. He entered military textbooks educational institutions many countries, as one of the most ingenious battles in the history of wars.

The fourth stage of the war occurred in 1917. The bloodless German army was no longer capable of not only conquering other countries, but also of offering serious resistance. Therefore, the Entente dominated on the battlefields. The coalition troops are being reinforced by US military units that have also joined the Entente military bloc. But Russia leaves this union in connection with the revolutions, first the February, then the October.

The final, fifth period of the First World War was marked by the conclusion of peace between Germany and Russia on very difficult and extremely unfavorable conditions for the latter. The Allies leave Germany, making peace with the Entente countries. Revolutionary sentiments are brewing in Germany, defeatist sentiments are spreading in the army. As a result, Germany is forced to surrender.

Significance of World War I

The First World War was the largest and bloodiest for many countries that took part in it in the first quarter of the 20th century. The Second World War was still a long way off. And Europe tried to heal its wounds. They were significant. Approximately 80 million people, including military personnel and civilians, were killed or seriously injured.

In a very short period of five years, four empires ceased to exist. These are Russian, Ottoman, German, Austro-Hungarian. Plus, it happened in Russia October Revolution, which firmly and for a long time divided the world into two irreconcilable camps: communist and capitalist.

There have been significant changes in the economies of countries under colonial dependence. Many trade ties between countries were destroyed. With a reduction in goods receipts industrial production from the metropolises, colonial-dependent countries were forced to organize their production. All this accelerated the process of development of national capitalism.

The war caused enormous damage to the agricultural production of colonial countries. At the end of the First World War, there was a surge of anti-war protests in the countries that participated in it. In a number of countries it grew into a revolutionary movement. Subsequently, following the example of the world's first socialist country, communist parties began to be created everywhere.

Following Russia, revolutions took place in Hungary and Germany. The revolution in Russia overshadowed the events of the First World War. Many heroes are forgotten, the events of those days are erased from memory. IN Soviet era There was an opinion that this war was senseless. To some extent this may be true. But the sacrifices were not in vain. Thanks to the skillful military actions of generals Alexei Brusilov? Pavel Rennenkampf, Alexander Samsonov, other military leaders, as well as the armies they led, Russia defended its territories. The mistakes of military operations were adopted by new military leaders and subsequently studied. The experience of this war helped us survive and win during the Great Patriotic War.

By the way, Russian leaders in current time They also call for the definition of “Patriotic” to be applied to the First World War. More and more insistent calls are being made to announce the names of all the heroes of that war, to immortalize them in history textbooks and in new monuments. During the First World War, Russia once again showed that it knows how to fight and defeat any enemy.

Having resisted a very serious enemy, Russian army fell under the onslaught of an internal enemy. And again there were casualties. It is believed that the First World War gave birth to revolutions in Russia and other countries. The statement is controversial, as is the fact that another result was the Civil War, which also claimed lives.

It is important to understand something else. Russia has experienced terrible hurricane wars that devastated it. She survived and was reborn. Of course, today it is impossible to imagine how strong the state would be if multimillion-dollar losses had not occurred, if there had not been destruction of cities and villages, and devastation of the most productive fields in the world.

It is unlikely that anyone in the world understands this better than the Russians. And that’s why they don’t want war here, no matter in what form it may be presented. But if war happens, the Russians are ready to once again show all their strength, courage and heroism.

Notable was the creation in Moscow of the Society for the Memory of the First World War. Data about that period is already being collected and documents are being examined. The society is international public organization. This status will help you receive materials from other countries.

Both sides pursued aggressive goals. Germany sought to weaken Great Britain and France, seize new colonies on the African continent, tear Poland and the Baltic states away from Russia, Austria-Hungary - to establish itself on the Balkan Peninsula, Great Britain and France - to retain their colonies and weaken Germany as a competitor in the world market, Russia - to seize Galicia and take possession of the Black Sea straits.

Reasons

Intending to go to war against Serbia, Austria-Hungary secured German support. The latter believed that the war would become local if Russia did not defend Serbia. But if it provides assistance to Serbia, then Germany will be ready to fulfill its treaty obligations and support Austria-Hungary. In an ultimatum presented to Serbia on July 23, Austria-Hungary demanded that its military units be allowed into Serbia in order to, together with Serbian forces, suppress hostile actions. The answer to the ultimatum was given within the agreed 48-hour period, but it did not satisfy Austria-Hungary, and on July 28 it declared war on Serbia. On July 30, Russia announced general mobilization; Germany used this occasion to declare war on Russia on August 1, and on France on August 3. Following the German invasion of Belgium on 4 August, Great Britain declared war on Germany. Now all the great powers of Europe were drawn into the war. Together with them, their dominions and colonies were involved in the war.

Progress of the war

1914

The war consisted of five campaigns. During the First Campaign, Germany invaded Belgium and northern France, but was defeated at the Battle of the Marne. Russia captured parts of East Prussia and Galicia (East Prussian Operation and Battle of Galicia), but was then defeated by the German and Austro-Hungarian counter-offensive. As a result, there was a transition from maneuvering to positional forms of combat.

1915

Italy, the disruption of the German plan to withdraw Russia from the war and bloody, inconclusive battles on the Western Front.

During this campaign, Germany and Austria-Hungary, concentrating their main efforts on the Russian front, carried out the so-called Gorlitsky breakthrough and ousted Russian troops from Poland and parts of the Baltic states, but were defeated in the Vilna operation and were forced to switch to positional defense.

On the Western Front, both sides fought a strategic defense. Private operations (at Ypres, Champagne and Artois) were unsuccessful, despite the use of poison gases.

On the Southern Front, Italian troops undertook unsuccessful operation against Austria-Hungary on the Isonzo River. German-Austrian troops managed to defeat Serbia. Anglo-French troops successfully carried out the Thessaloniki operation in Greece, but were unable to capture the Dardanelles. On the Transcaucasian front, Russia, as a result of the Alashkert, Hamadan and Sarykamysh operations, reached the approaches to Erzurum.

1916

The city's campaign is associated with the entry of Romania into the war and the waging of a grueling positional war on all fronts. Germany again turned its efforts against France, but was unsuccessful at the Battle of Verdun. The operations of the Anglo-French troops on Somna were also unsuccessful, despite the use of tanks.

On the Italian front, Austro-Hungarian troops launched the Trentino offensive, but were driven back by a counter-offensive by Italian troops. On the Eastern Front, troops of the Southwestern Russian Front carried out a successful operation in Galicia on a wide front stretching up to 550 km (Brusilovsky breakthrough) and advanced 60-120 km, occupied eastern regions Austria-Hungary, which forced the enemy to transfer up to 34 divisions from the Western and Italian fronts to this front.

On the Transcaucasian front, the Russian army carried out the Erzurum and then Trebizond offensive operations, which remained unfinished.

The decisive Battle of Jutland took place on the Baltic Sea. As a result of the campaign, conditions were created for the Entente to seize the strategic initiative.

1917

The city's campaign is associated with the entry of the United States into the war, Russia's revolutionary exit from the war and the conduct of a number of successive offensive operations on the Western Front (Nivelle's operation, operations in the Messines area, Ypres, near Verdun, and Cambrai). These operations, despite the use of large forces of artillery, tanks and aviation, practically did not change the general situation in the Western European theater of military operations. In the Atlantic at this time, Germany launched an unrestricted submarine war, during which both sides suffered heavy losses.

1918

The campaign was characterized by a transition from positional defense to a general offensive by the Entente armed forces. First, Germany launched the March Allied offensive in Picardy and private operations in Flanders and on the Aisne and Marne rivers. But due to lack of strength, they did not develop.

From the second half of the year, with the entry of the United States into the war, the Allies prepared and launched retaliatory offensive operations (Amiens, Saint-Miel, Marne), during which they eliminated the results of the German offensive, and in September they launched a general offensive, forcing Germany to surrender ( Truce of Compiegne).

Results

The final terms of the peace treaty were worked out at the Paris Conference of 1919-1920. ; During the sessions, agreements were reached regarding five peace treaties. After its completion, the following were signed: 1) the Treaty of Versailles with Germany on June 28; 2) Saint-Germain Peace Treaty with Austria on September 10, 1919; 3) Neuilly Peace Treaty with Bulgaria on November 27; 4) Trianon Peace Treaty with Hungary on June 4; 5) Treaty of Sèvres with Turkey on August 20. Subsequently, according to the Treaty of Lausanne on July 24, 1923, changes were made to the Treaty of Sèvres.

As a result of the First World War, the German, Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires were liquidated. Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire were divided, and Russia and Germany, ceasing to be monarchies, were reduced territorially and economically weakened. Revanchist sentiments in Germany led to World War II. The First World War accelerated the development of social processes and was one of the prerequisites that led to revolutions in Russia, Germany, Hungary, and Finland. As a result, a new military-political situation in the world was created.

In total, the First World War lasted 51 months and 2 weeks. Covered the territories of Europe, Asia and Africa, the waters of the Atlantic, Northern, Baltic, Black and Mediterranean seas. This is the first military conflict on a global scale, in which 38 of the 59 independent states that existed at that time were involved. Two thirds of the population participated in the war globe. The number of warring armies exceeded 37 million people. Total quantity mobilized into the armed forces amounted to about 70 million people. The length of the fronts was up to 2.5-4 thousand km. The casualties of the parties amounted to about 9.5 million killed and 20 million wounded.

During the war, new types of troops were developed and widely used: aviation, armored forces, anti-aircraft troops, anti-tank weapons, and submarine forces. New forms and methods of armed struggle began to be used: army and front-line operations, breaking through front fortifications. New strategic categories have emerged: operational deployment of the armed forces, operational cover, border battles, initial and subsequent periods of the war.

Materials used

• Dictionary "War and Peace in Terms and Definitions", First World War
• Encyclopedia "Around the World"