Effects of World War I

 

Effects of World War I 

The first world war (WWI) was fought between 1914-1918. It came to an end officially with Paris Peace Conference of 1919. It was the first most destructive war in the history of humankind.

It resulted into the death of several thousand people. These human losses included both soldiers and civilians. Due to WWI, many diseases were spread and many people starved.

Due to this reason as well, many people lost their lives. The financial losses to the

countries fighting this war were also very heavy. It caused destruction of rail tracks, bridges, roads, factories and other types of infrastructure and industries. It also affected the fertility of land/soil due to use of bombs and chemical weapons. The economic losses caused by WWI were tremendous. Historians say that the amount destruction caused was beyond calculations. Both the developed and the less developed countries faced economic problems caused by the WWI. The currencies of many countries became weak, the less

developed countries found it difficult to buy the industrial goods, the debt of the European countries increased the taxes and sold bonds to the people for raising money and they heavily borrowed from USA. The allied countries were troubling the defeated central

powers to pay the war losses. Hence the economic conditions of countries like Germany was be- coming worse.

After WWI, in Germany a democratic government was established. Even Austria became a democratic country. In Turkey, the rule of Muhammad VI, the Ottoman Sultan was brought to an end by Mustafa Kemal Pasha. The new republics such as Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia came into existence. The part of Erstwhile Ottoman Empire ruled by Ottoman Sultan of Turkey came to be controlled Britain and France.

Dictatorship in Turkey, Italy and Germany: After WWI, there was a rise in the dictatorship in Turkey, Italy and Germany. Until WWI, Turkey was ruled by Sultans and the rule of Sultan Muhammad VI was brought to an end by Kemal Pasha in 1922. After the abolition of sultanate of Mustafa Kemal Pasha became the dictator of Turkey and brought revolutionary re- forms which resulted in modernization of Turkey. Mussolini and Hitler forcibly took over the power in Italy and Germany respectively by overthrowing democratically elected governments.

Change of Maps: After WWI, Turkish and Austrian Empire became history and new nations came into existence which changed the map of Europe and western Asia. New nations like Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.

Paris Peace Conference: After WWI, Paris Peace Conference was held in 1919 in order to sign the treaties and establish peace. The most important treaty signed in the Paris Peace Conference were treaty of Versailles, treaty of St. Germain, and treaty of Sevres signed with Germany, Austria- Hungary and Turkey respectively.

Increase in the power of Allied Countries: After WWI, allied countries like England, France, America merged as very powerful countries in world affairs.

Rise of Ultra-nationalism: After WWI, countries like Italy and especially Germany witnessed the rise of aggressive nationalism. The dictators of these countries particularly Hitler promoted hatred towards allied powers which ultimately led to second world war in 1939,

League of Nations: In order to maintain the peace in the world and solve political and other problems in an amicable manner, an international organisation called League of Nations was established.