From the 1870s and 1880s to the beginning of the 20th century, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy established an alliance against Britain and France, with the Anglo-German contradiction developed into the main contradiction between the imperialists, the United Kingdom adjusted the relationship with France and Russia, and Russia considered a temporary alliance with Britain and France, respectively, to sign the Anglo-French Entente and the Anglo-Russian Entente, so that the two main military groups in Europe were finally Formation of the two major military blocs in Europe. At this point, Europe is like a pot of gunpowder keg, as long as a spark falls into, the gunpowder keg will blow up all over the place!
In June 28, 1914, Serbia's national day, the Austro-Hungarian Crown Prince Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo inspection, by the Serbian youth Princip shot. It became the fuse for the First World War.
Subsequently, Austria-Hungary, with the support of Germany, declared war on Serbia under the pretext of the Sarajevo incident. Then Germany, Russia, France and Britain entered the war. The warring parties were the Allies' German and Austro-Hungarian Empires, and the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria, which supported them. On the other side were the Allied Powers of the British, French, and Russian Empires, and Serbia, Belgium, Italy, and the United States, which supported them. Italy, an Allied nation, joined the Allied side in the war after realizing that it could not be beaten.
Germany at that time from the basic strength, the mainland area of about 540,000 square kilometers, the population of more than 60 million, overseas colonies 2.59 million square kilometers, is the world's third largest colonial empire. In addition also has rich coal and iron resources, which is the guarantee of Germany's industrial development, Germany's rich coal and iron resources can fully support Germany's long-term sustained combat. Germany's only weakness is oil, but at that time, the industry's dependence on oil is still relatively low, at this time, Germany's oil shortage is far from the seriousness of World War II, from Austria-Hungary's oil has been enough for Germany to use.
From the industrial strength, Germany was the world's second largest industrial power, industrial strength has exceeded the United Kingdom, only lower than the United States, its industrial indicators are among the top, industrial output value accounted for 15.7% of the world. In addition, Germany's industrial level and technological innovation capacity than the United States are high, firmly in the world first, Germany then claimed that they are the world's first industrial power, this sentence is actually not false at all!
From the point of view of national development, at that time, Germany has popularized compulsory primary education, just in school students have more than 10 million, Germany has the world's most outstanding scientists and a huge number of skilled workers, human resources are extremely rich. In addition, Germany has a perfect medical, health, education, finance and other systems, has a developed infrastructure, only the railroad mileage of 61,000 kilometers, Germany's urbanization rate of up to 60%, Germany's level of development in China until the early 80's generation to barely catch up. At that time, Germany's development level or development potential is absolutely world-class.
At the beginning of the war, Germany had a good chance to win because, according to the Schlieffen Plan, the German army would concentrate on attacking France from Belgium before Russia mobilized and crush the British, French and Belgian armies in one fell swoop, and occupy Paris, France, forcing the end of the Western Front to surrender, and then come back to deal with the Eastern Front Russian army. against the Russian army on the Eastern Front. But because of the long drive, logistical supplies can not be guaranteed, in the army, whether generals or soldiers are complacent, self-interested to change the battle plan, as well as the British and French side of the active preparation soon lost in the Marne River, fell into the predicament of fighting on two fronts!
On the Eastern Front, Austria-Hungary has concerns about Russia going to war, Germany in order to alleviate the pressure of the two-front war, support Austria-Hungary to send troops to Russia, I support you, not afraid! Go over and smoke him! Every time Russia stormed Austria-Hungary, Germany would send troops to attack Russia. Germany at the same time let the Ottoman Turkish Empire go to war against Russia, fighting is not enough! But held Russia back! In this way Germany just relieved the pressure, but could not get out of the way! Although the Russians withstood the attack of the German and Austrian allied forces, the army suffered heavy casualties, the domestic economy was depressed, people's livelihoods suffered, and the country was on the verge of collapse, which ultimately triggered a revolution, leading to the collapse of Tsarist Russia. in March 1918, the newly established Soviet Russia and Germany compromised by signing the Treaty of Brest, ceding a large portion of its land to Germany, and withdrew from the World War I. The Russians were also on the brink of collapse, but they could not escape from the war.
On the Western Front, Germany launched a fierce attack on Britain and France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, and northern France fell, Britain and France could only rely on the strong fortifications to resist the fierce German attack. 1917, Germany launched a third offensive, the Germans broke through the French defense line at one point, and the vanguard was only 37 kilometers away from Paris, which almost finished off France. Germany avoided the dilemma of fighting on two fronts as Russia withdrew from World War I. Germany nearly rolled over in the war! Fortunately, the US joined the Allies in declaring war on Germany.
At sea, the Germans were equally active. The Germans took the initiative to launch a challenge to the world's maritime supremacy at the time of the United Kingdom, Germany's high seas fleet to beat the British Navy scorched, in the North Sea in the naval battle of the British almost let the German Navy to win.
Germany defeated Britain and France on the western front, and scrapped Russia on the eastern front. A country's strength to single-handedly challenge Britain, France and Russia, three major powers, and fight without losing the wind, I have to say that Germany is really powerful. Even after the U.S. entered the war, Germany is still very strong, under the siege of several major powers several times to launch a counter-offensive, the British, French and U.S. into a very difficult situation. The outbreak of civil unrest coupled with China joining the Allied Powers declared war on Germany forcing Germany to withdraw from the war, the Allied Powers wanted to finish off Germany was still not an easy task. Before Germany surrendered, the British, French and American allied forces had just hit the German border. Germany surrendered because of the promise of the United States that "there would be leniency after the surrender."
Germany, was a major participant in the First World War. As the main culprit of World War I, the Allied Powers punished Germany harshly after the war. Germany not only lost one-eighth of its land and one-tenth of its population, but also had to pay huge war reparations. At the same time, in order to prevent Germany's re-emergence, Germany's military power was severely limited, the number of troops could only be kept at 100,000, and many factories and military equipment were dismantled and taken by Britain and France. In addition, it was subjected to close surveillance by Britain and France.
Despite Germany's heavy losses in World War I, Germany saved most of its strength. Germany's people and technology were still there, and the factories and infrastructure were not damaged much, which was the basis for Germany's ability to rise to power. After the war, the U.S. supported Germany vigorously, especially the U.S. provided Germany with large loans, which enabled Germany to quickly restore industrial production and develop its economy rapidly, and by the thirties it was one of the great powers. After the Nazi Party came to power in the early thirties, under the leadership of Hitler, Germany not only economic one-upmanship, but also a sharp expansion of military power, by the Second World War had become Europe's first industrial and military power, with a challenge to the capital of Britain and France. Back on the old path of war.
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