Today marks the 100th anniversary of a conflict that most unquestionably changed the course of the modern world: World War I. It was a war that devastated the European landscape, saw the deaths of millions of soldiers and civilians, modernized and redefined warfare, and reshaped the political world in ways that can still be felt today. And although this anniversary marks only the beginning of a four-year-long affair, it's a good opportunity to take a little time to remember both the blessings and the problems we owe to this war.
The first thing to look at is the reasons for the war, which seem rather trivial in comparison to its later and greater brother. In truth, World War I never should have made it out of the Balkans, but Europe's extensive treaties and alliances - made to keep a balance of power between the continent's giants - quickly dragged practically every nation into conflict following Austria-Hungary's initial declaration of war against Serbia on July 28, 1914. Even considering the nations' political ties, it seems to the modern reader such a trite reason for continent-wide war, but another very important distinction must here be mentioned. In the decades prior to World War I, armed hostilities were few and far between, and those that came up were typically resolved in a matter of days or weeks. Who could have known then that World War I would be any different?
It didn't take long for the belligerents to realize that warfare had changed. Gone were the days of mobile military, flank attacks, and sweeping maneuvers that could cripple opponents swiftly. World War I saw the introduction of trench warfare, a new brand that nullified strategy and resulted in mass slaughters and battles of attrition. Heavy machine gun fire became superlatively destructive when combined with barbed wire entrenchments; poison gas and other chemical weapons were employed; and tanks were developed by the Allies to overcome the impenetrable lines of German trenches. It's easy to forget that all these things - which seem like aged tactics today - saw little to no use prior to World War I. I'm sure the nations involved would have thought twice before committing themselves to war had they known the destruction it would cause.
So we have a sense of why and how the war was fought, but what did it earn us? Well, truth be told, World War I left more issues in its wake than benefits. Post-war demands of reparations weakened Germany but the Allies' new fear of war allowed the nation's eventual rise to power in the 1930s. Economic struggles developed in many nations and totalitarian and fascist groups began to gain influence. Most of these issues were resolved in World War II, but one has noticeably stuck around for nearly 100 years. Much of the unrest that has pervaded the Middle East in recent months has its roots in the Allied restructuring of political and national lines in the region following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. How and when these issues will be resolved remains to be seen.
For all its problems, World War I saw some good in its aftermath as well. Perhaps most notable was the League of Nations, which, although remarkably unsuccessful in itself, paved the way for future international peace-keeping groups such as the United Nations. Additionally, World War I brought about a sudden change in the way many people saw war and even life. Much of the modern social order would have been impossible had the war not brought a sudden halt to the peaceful and prosperous lives of much of the West. To some extent we owe our very way of life to those who spilled their blood on the battlefields of this contest.
As you can see, today is an anniversary not to be forgotten or taken lightly. Millions of lives were taken in a war that forever changed the way we live, fight, and die. As we look toward a future that seems to many of us bleak, it is the remembrance of conflicts like this that reminds us of the peace, comfort, and hope of our world. Today we stand in a world united and remember World War I, one hundred years later.
