BRITAIN AT WAR (1914-l919)
The great war caused the ruin
of four empires, made possible a communist revolution in Russia and revolution in Russia and prepared the way for the
rise of dictators like Mussolini and Hitler.
- Britain
escaped devastation and political breakdown, but never recovered from its
economic effects;
- Germany
expected a brief conflict. It nearly defeated the Allies in first few
weeks of war in 1914: it had better equipment, better trained soldiers and
a clear of attack.
This was Britain's first European War and
Napoleonic Wars and the country was unprepared for the terrible destructive
power of modern artillery, machine guns and tanks.
"Shell shock" was the term used by doctors to allude the psychological disorders among soldiers caused by
the frequent shell explosions. The War Poets expressed their anger about the
"stupidity" of this war. In 1916 were introduced:
Military Service Act: forced
men between 18 and 41 to enlist;
Female Work also became a means of
emancipation
Large Contingents coming
from Canada, Australia, New
Zealand and South Africa
reinforced the Britain
troops;
Arrival of American troops in France ended the hopes of Germany, which surrendered in
November 1918.
In 1919, the Peace
treaty was
signed at Versailles.
The victory brought Great
Britain in a further
extensions of its colonial possession but also economical problems,
unemployment and the unresolved Irish question.
Was founded the League of Nations a precursor of the Unit Nations in its aim of securing
peace and guaranteeing all nations against aggression.
But that had two fundamental
weaknesses:
Its constitution was very vague;
Not all the great powers were members:
Ø The
USA refused to join it;
Ø Germany and Russia were not invited to join it.
So, the task fell entirely to Britain and France, and they failed.
