World War I: The Great War

Lindsey Stegemoller
April 23, 2012
Greene
ENG102
The Great War The time was 1914. Europe was a thermometer with skyrocketing temperatures of tension. As countries began declaring war on each other in Europe, troops began to mobilize for what they thought would be a traditionally fought war: the British cavalry leading the Entente to a decisive victory. How were the European powers to know that this massive war would be fought entirely in the ground with surprise attacks and innovative technology that changed the meaning of “war” forever? World War I (The Great War) was unique from any other war in history because of the development of modern chemical weaponry, the way soldiers fought, and the post-war dealings. In past wars, large cannons
Although Wilson’s intentions were good, the European nations had other plans as far as alleged “peace talks”. Secret negotiations had been made throughout the battling countries during the war and made the aftermath a lot more complicated as far as sorting out how to rebuild Europe (“World War I”). Much of the negotiations made after World War I greatly contributed to the beginnings of World War II. Perhaps one of the most controversial plans involving how to begin rebuilding was Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points and the widely discussed national self-determination. Although widely criticized by public leaders, the outcome of the infamous Fourteen Points is forever remembered because "its fate was Wilson’s greatest failure” (Throntveit). Wilson was simply ahead of his time by suggesting such radical ideas in the fragile state of the world. The President wanted no blame to be put on Germany, unlike France. Since France believed it was the “most affected” by the war, it believed that Germany should take the blame and pay reparations for all it had done. These ideas went completely against Wilson’s ideology for a more peaceful world after such a conflict. He believed that blame would only make matters worse and create a deeper conflict that would soon lead to another war (Throntveit). The Treaty of Versailles (1919) was supposed to include Wilson’s
Never before was there a war fought with such new technology and chemical advancement. Lethal gases, produced mainly by Germany and Britain, created a never-before-seen battlefield consisting of deep tunnels surrounded by barbed wire and machine guns. Although no advancement was made during battles, the inventions of chlorine gas, tanks, and airplanes led to new innovations that would be used in World War II and future wars. Where some factors showed futuristic qualities, others showed outdated policies such as the post war dealings. The way the Entente handled Germany after an armistice was signed single-handedly caused World War II. If Germany had not been given all reparations and blame, low morale and fear of a deeper depression may not have led to the rise of Hitler. Many factors differentiated World War I from any other war in history, but the new chemical weaponry, the way the soldiers fought, and the post war dealings separate the Great War from any