How Did World War 1 Affect Europe

World War I sparked a multitude of significant short and long term political changes throughout Europe. In the immediate aftermath of the war, territory was reallocated, four empires fell, and the League of Nations was created. The creation of the League of Nations, despite its eventual failure, demonstrated a major shift in international politics from the desire to expand and conquer to the recognition of the importance of the balance of power. The Treaty of Versailles also divided Austria-Hungary into independent states, required Germany and Russia to give land to Poland, returned Alsace-Lorraine to France, and put some Middle Eastern countries under the control of Britain and France. As time progressed and the deficiencies of the League
of Nations became more glaring, the world leaders that wanted to help promote and maintain peace throughout Europe found themselves helpless to combat the rise of fascism, mitigate the increasing tensions in Europe, and hold offending countries responsible for acts of aggression and treaty violations.
In addition to drastic political changes across Europe after the war, the cost of the war had strained the world economy and resulted in a widespread economic depression in the years following its conclusion.
Russia’s economy suffered worse during the war than most of the other participants due to its underdeveloped Industrial sector. Eventually, the toll on the Russian economy and quality of life caused the Russian people to rebel against Czar Nicholas II and a revolution took place in 1917. When Vladimir Lenin of the Bolsheviks came to power, he withdrew Russia from the war in order to begin ameliorating working conditions and quality of life, but before he could begin stabilizing the economic and political climate in Russia, a Civil War broke out. Ultimately, the Bolshevik regime won the war and Russia emerged as the Soviet Union: the first communist country in
history.
Across Europe and in the United States, economies began to crumble after the war. During the war, many countries had to print more money in order to afford weaponry, which lead to significant inflation. Additionally, jobs that developed to support the war were no longer needed and many businesses had to shut down. Further contributing to the worldwide economic downturn, the flood of soldiers returning home from war came to find their jobs being filled by women that had fully integrated into the workforce and depended on the money they earned to support themselves. Despite these issues plaguing the economies of the majority of World War I participants, America’s late entrance into the war left the American economy slightly better off than the European economies and the United States emerged “as the world’s leading creditor and industrial power.”
Together, the political upheaval immediately following the end of World War I and the worldwide economic crisis created the optimal environment for dictators to seize power. For example, despite Spain’s relatively neutral position throughout World War I, they experienced increasing levels of unemployment, poverty and civil unrest as inexperienced, left-leaning and right-leaning governments failed to provide enough relief to their citizens. As prominent members of society became increasing unhappy with the state of the Second Republic, a military coup was planned with Francisco Franco at the helm. Civil War broke out and it took three years for Franco to successfully implement a totalitarian state.
Italy experienced similar political instability and economic crisis following the war, and they were bitter and angry. The Italians did not feel they were adequately compensated for their role in achieving victory for the Allies. Benito Mussolini was able to use the political and economic instability and promised to return Italy to its former glory. Because the people largely felt slighted by the west, they supported Mussolini and fascism as the solution to their problems. The trend continued in Germany with Hitler’s rise to power. Germany was both politically and economically in ruins after World War I, and the additional burdens levied on the Germans at the Treaty of Versailles required $33 billion in reparations and left the Germans angry and resentful. Again, these conditions provided the perfect environment for a dictator to seize power.
World War I also sparked an array of short and long term social changes.
On the Home Front, social changes occurred immediately as women flooded the workforce to fill vacancies left by soldiers. With this massive increase in women as part of the workforce it was easier for them to demand the right to vote and women of the middle and lower classes insisted on playing a bigger role in post war society. Also, birth rates during the war decreased because of economic concerns as well as separation. Additionally, the brutality and devastation seen throughout World War I changed the way people viewed war. Many feared another World War and adopted a policy of appeasement, giving Hitler what he wanted to avoid going to war with him. The devastation resulting from World War I also increased the desire to purse military technological advances just in
case.
The immediate devastation caused from World War I resulted in the downfall of four monarchies and widespread political and economic instability. The strains of war on both the political and economic landscape precipitated Civil Wars in both Russia and Spain and it allowed for major political shifts. The rise of fascism in Italy and Germany and the rise of totalitarian dictator in Spain were direct consequences of the political and economic damage during the war. Social changes on the Home Front such as women entering the workforce also put strains on the economy, though it did provide a better platform for fighting for the right to vote. The carnage of World War I also resulted in social changes, as fear of another conflict lead to changes in foreign policies. Ultimately, the short term and long term consequences are what set the stage for World War II. As historian Fritz Stern described it, World War I was just “the first calamity of the twentieth-century, the calamity from which all other calamities sprang.”