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Before World War II, the events of 1914–1918 were generally known as the Great War or simply the World War. [1] In August 1914, the magazine The Independent wrote "This is the Great War. It names itself". [2] In October 1914, the Canadian magazine Maclean's similarly wrote, "Some wars name themselves. This is the Great War."
[3] [4] More than 9 million combatants were killed, largely because of great technological advances in firepower without corresponding advances in mobility. It was the sixth deadliest conflict in world history, subsequently paving the way for various political changes such as revolutions in the nations involved.
"WWI Timeline". The Great War. USA: Public Broadcasting System. "WWI Timeline". National Wwi Museum and Memorial. USA: National World War I Museum. "World War One Timeline". UK: BBC. "New Zealand and the First World War (timeline)". New Zealand Government. "Timeline: Australia in the First World War, 1914-1918". Australian War Memorial.
While this ensured units were withdrawn before their ability to fight was significantly eroded, it meant a high proportion of the French army was affected by the battle. [22] By the beginning of 1917, morale was brittle, even in divisions with good combat records.
The first day of the battle consisted of light skirmishes; the main battle did not begin until 21 August. [ 6 ] According to the pre-war French strategy document, Plan XVII , German forces in the area were only expected to be light, with French light, rapid-firing artillery proving advantageous in a wooded terrain such as that found in the ...
[a] Workers' and soldiers' councils took control in most major cities west of the Elbe, including Berlin, where the new Reich government, the socialist-dominated Council of the People's Deputies, had their full support. [22] One of the primary goals of the councils was an immediate end to the war. [23]
In 1914 the war was so unexpected that no one had formulated long-term goals. An ad-hoc meeting of the French and British ambassadors with the Russian Foreign Minister in early September led to a statement of war aims that was not official, but did represent ideas circulating among diplomats in St. Petersburg, Paris, and London, as well as the secondary allies of Belgium, Serbia, and Montenegro.
One goal of diplomacy throughout the period was to achieve a "balance of power", so that no one or two powers would be dominant. [4] If one power gained an advantage—for example by winning a war and acquiring new territory—its rivals might seek "compensation"—that is, territorial or other gains, even though they were not part of the war ...