Great War
The Great War was a large military conflict engulfing most of the global powers. It was among the deadliest conflicts in human history to that point.
The Conflict
Prelude
The prelude to the conflict is complex and encompasses many smaller conflicts. The rivalries began at various place depending on the nation involved.
The conflict can be traced back to 1855, when the Russian Empire forced Japan to open up and signs a treaty in regards to interests in China. Both nations were involved in the alliance in the Boxer Rebellion. Tensions were heightened as Russia refused to exit the Liaodong Peninsula due to the building of the Trans Siberian Railway to Port Arthur. Japan relented and offered to recognize Russian interests in Liaodong if Russia recognized Japan's special interests in Korea. Tsar Constantine II agreed to avoid conflict. However, Japan eventually signed an alliance with Great Britain rather than renew the treaty with Russia.
Russia was split in a conflict against the Conservative branch of the House of Romanov led by Alexander Alexandrovich. The Ukrainian War began in 1882 with the death of Alexander Nikolaevich, the father of the younger Alexander. Alexander negotiated with Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary, being able to convince the latter that the former was the rightful claimant to the Russian throne. Though the war was a stalemate, Tsar Constantine I sued for peace and recognized Ukrainian independence. Russia and Ukraine would continue a military arms race in preparation for a follow up war.
Following the Austro-Prussian War, the German had been split between the influences of Prussia, Bavaria, and Austria. Prussia, having come victorious, formed the North German Confederation in 1866. Bavaria formed the South German Confederation in 1870 following a crisis against Occitania. Following Austria's actions in Ukraine, Prussia convinced Bavaria Austria could not be trusted. The two confederations were joined into the German Empire in 1884.
Holland had been expanding their holdings in southern Africa when gold and diamonds were found. British presence in the area attempted to filibuster the territory to be annexed by Britain later. These British citizens were prosecuted by Dutch forces, causing Britain to demand their return. The South African War began in 1880 and ended in a surprising Dutch victory in 1881. Though Dutch control over their territories held, the British presence in Cape Colony continued to trek north. The Dutch colonial forces persecuted the British population, causing anger in the British Government.
Beginning in 1898, Germany, under Kaiser Wilhelm II, began a naval arms race against Britain. Two two began constructing dreadnoughts, which Britain declared for every one the Germans order, they would order two. Holland, having a rivalry with Britain, declared they would join the race as well, adding their fleet to Germany's. The arms race ended in a truce with Britain building a total of 22 dreadnoughts, Germany building 19, and Holland building 7. However, most of the Dutch fleet remained in their territories in Indonesia.
In 1905, Spain's acquisition of Morocco caused outrage in various places, particularly in Germany. Germany began to promise Moroccan independence. However, Germany was outvoted in an international conference, and Spain acquired Morocco. This emboldened a rivalry between Germany and the Iberian Alliance.
With the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary, many of the European powers became outraged and demanded military action. This was adverted by amendments of the Treaty of Berlin, effectively making the situation a fait accompli. However, with the attempted assassination of Archduke Leopold, Austria-Hungary themselves demanded military action. An ultimatum was submitted to Serbia, who declined the Austrians jurisdiction in Serbia. Instead, a conference elected Ukraine to conduct the investigation. In 1915, it was decided that though Serbian officials partook in the attempt, the Serbian government itself was absolved.
Deployment
The Great War began in earnest at the onset of various smaller conflicts. Russia and Britain began mobilization in Persia due to Russian encroachment on British interests.
British citizens began open revolt against the Dutch colonial governments in South Africa. Portugal mobilized their African troops against the Dutch.
Japan and Russia began backing opposing factions in China's Warlord period.
The conflict began in earnest when Bulgaria invaded Serbia, backed by Austria-Hungary and Ukraine, for territory lost during the Second Balkan War. Russia declared war on Ukraine and Austria-Hungary, backed by Holland and Germany. Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary to gain the territory of Venice.
Britain declared war on Holland in South Africa, wherein Portugal also declared war in support of their British allies and to protect their interests in Africa. Occitania subsequently also declared war in support of the Iberian Alliance. Germany then declared war on Occitania after internal deliberation.
Russia declared war on Britain after a skirmish in Persia. Japan declared war on Russia and invaded Manchuria.
The Ottoman Empire sent delegates to all major powers in Europe. Germany gave the best terms for an alliance in the Ottoman's opinions. Despite their historical differences with the allying Russians, the Ottomans joined the war in 1917 on the side of Germany.
Battlefield
Despite being neutral, France became a battleground between the Dutch and Occitan forces. The battles became grand in scale, with neither side gaining much ground. Holland occupied Paris, and established a forward command. From there, the situation deteriorated into trench warfare.
Russia, facing a three front war, was spread thin logistically and looked for allies. The Chinese front and Pacific Theater in general became dominated by the Japanese Imperial Army and Navy. Russia established a protectorate over the Khanate of Mongolia, but was unable to press further outside of their occupation of the railway. However, Japan eventually gained control of the rails, isolating the Russian military.
Russia had more luck on the Persian and Afghan fronts. Russia and Britain vied for Afghanistan's support or neutrality, with Britain offering Russian controlled Tajik territory. However, Russia won out with the offer of the Pashtun regions from British India. Persia was offered sovereignty by both sides, and thus ultimately remained neutral at the start of the war. However, after Russia and Britain fell into trench warfare, Persia demanded the expulsion of both militaries. Britain attempted to give Persia an ultimatum, which pushed the latter towards the Russians.
Germany and Russia combined in the Balkans managed to break through the Austrian and Ukrainian borders. While The Russia-Ukraine border remained a stalemate for much of the war, Germany had more success against the Austrians. Austria-Hungary pulled Romania into the conflict in order to bolster their own numbers and to gain Romanian oil reserves.
Italy invaded Austrian Venice, annexing the territory. From there, Italian war aims grew to include the Croatian coastline from Austria. Though Italy invaded Austria, the two armies were clogged up in the mountains. Meanwhile, the Italian navy established a blockade of the island of Malta in an attempted to severe Britain's capabilities to the Suez Canal.
Holland and Germany successfully invaded British Cape Colony in Africa, with the Dutch government announcing the annexation of the region into their South African holdings. However, Dutch control over Indonesia faltered as the Japanese Imperial Navy won a decisive victory, making landfall near the capital city of Batavia. The Indonesian populace welcomed the Japanese as liberators, and rose up against the Dutch colonizers.
Britain began to support an Arab Revolt in the Ottoman Empire in order to undermine their war efforts in Europe. As such, the Ottomans were unable to commit major forces in the European theaters and had to look towards internal concerns for the majority of the war.
Beginning in 1918, representatives in Egypt began to petition Britain for greater autonomy, wishing to send their own representatives to London and to the peace negotiations to make their plea. Britain denied the request, and the leaders were arrested and exiled from Egypt to Malta. Following this, riots and protests broke out in the region, significantly hindering British war efforts and their trade link to the Asian colonies via the Suez Canal. Unable to avert the needed manpower to quell the rebellions, Britain instead used what they could spare to secure the Suez Canal, and recognized Egyptian independence in 1919.
Conditions
Though officially neutral, the Kingdom of America hosted the Congress of Columbia, inviting all of the major powers of North and South America. The purpose of the conference was to address the situation in Europe and around the world in relation to the Continental Ordinance. Nations such as Canada elected to join the war, sending troops to aid Britain. Others, such as Haiti, wished to join the war against Britain in order to expand their territory into Jamaica. Others still wished to remain neutral, as various other conflicts and crises were occurring.
With the death of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary in 1916, much of the desire for war faded. However, the now Emperor Leopold II felt Austria had sacrificed too much in order to surrender. Although this sentiment was shared by the Austrian populace, as the dead mounted, they became disillusioned with the idea of an honorable end to the conflict.
The Engagement
With most of the military forces spread thin, much of the war devolved into trench warfare. Persia, aided by Russia, forced the British out through their southern border.
Japanese forces engulfed the archipelago of Indonesia. While there, they attempted to create a puppet government under Indonesian nationalists.
Germany had initially held an ideology of focusing on the western front first to defeat Spain and Britain and alleviate the Dutch. It was not until spring of 1919 that German forces successfully seized Vienna. The Austrian court attempted to establish a government in Budapest, but the Hungarian elite had been against the war from the start. The antiwar sentiment, which had always undermined the Austrian war effort, forced the Austrians to sue for peace.
Outcome
The German Empire rose victoriously alongside Holland, Russia, and Italy in Europe. The war in the Pacific was still waging as Japan refused the peace deals as they currently hold the advantage against Russia in Manchuria and Holland in Indonesia. Instead, Japan negotiated a treaty with the Kingdom of Hawaii for an additional naval port in the Pacific in 1919. Britain attempted to continue the blockade in the North Sea while also sending aid to holdouts in Spain and Occitania. Eventually, Britain was forced to come to the negotiating table amid international pressure and German and Dutch support for a free Ireland.
Germany attempted to take Spanish Indochina, but Japan emboldened resistance. The Dutch in Indonesia hold out against the Japanese, though the local populace begins to side against the colonists.
China remained a battleground for a proxy war. Japan backs the Fengtian Clique in Manchuria, Britain backs the Zhili Clique, and Russia backs the right-wing arm of the Kuomintang.
The Ottoman Empire was able to gain the territories in the Arabian Peninsula that Britain had made protectorates, as well as the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Britain had done this knowing the Arab Revolt was still ongoing, and had hopes this would fracture the Ottoman Empire into manageable spheres of influence against Russia in the Middle East.
Aftermath
Japan was finally brought to the negotiating table after immense global pressure. Though they did have to return their holding in Indonesia to Holland, the crippling of the Dutch government and military in the area had grown too problemsome.
Tsar Nicholas I of Ukraine abdicated from popular opinion in favor of his brother, Michael I. Michael, having no interest in the throne of Ukraine, returned the territory to Russia.
King Louis IV of Holland, though coming out of the war victorious, was forced to abdicate during an uprising from dissent led by supporters of Vladimir Lenin. Holland was declared a republic, with Indonesia and South South Africa declaring independence.
Britain was forced to cede some of its colonies, including their holdings in New Guinea. However, Britain managed to maintain their control over India. They were, however, forced to grant dominion status to the colony.
The monarchy of Occitania fell from the loss of the conflict. Socialist uprisings near the capital of Toulouse demanded an exit from the war, and overthrew the government. Similar uprisings occurred in Spain and Portugal, with a civil war breaking out in Spain over differing post war ideologies.
The Arab Revolt grew to a halt as the Ottoman Empire was officially pushed out of the Peninsula. The following Arabian War saw the Arabian states enter into a civil war that saw the rise of the German aligned Kingdom of Hejaz and the British aligned Sultanate of Nejd.
Italy failed in the negotiations to recieve all of the land it had desired. Most of the Dalmatia Coast went to the newly formed Kingdom of Yugoslavia, as they were the people who had managed to gain a hold of the land. Furthermore, Italy failed in their claims over Malta, as they failed to gain control of the island. In the end, Italy was granted control over Venice, but the lack of support amongst its allies for the other claims led to a belief in a mutilated victory.
Historical Significance
Legacy
For me as a German, it is extremely exciting to read about not being considered a warmongering nation during this era (apart from the arms race). However, I would be very interested to see what happens to the power structure in Europe after this Great War; after all, the winner dictates the conditions to the losing nations.
Thank you. I tried to make the Great War and the events leading up to it complex enough that no one nation is the bad guy while at the same time no one is guilt free either. I have some ideas for what comes after, but still working on the specifics for this.