5 paragraph essay on world war 1

If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable JavaScript in your browser.

World History Project - Origins to the Present

Course: world history project - origins to the present   >   unit 7, read: what caused the first world war.

• BEFORE YOU WATCH: Britain and World War I
• WATCH: Britain and World War I
• BEFORE YOU WATCH: Southeast Asia and World War I
• WATCH: Southeast Asia and World War I
• BEFORE YOU WATCH: The Middle East and World War I
• WATCH: The Middle East and World War I
• BEFORE YOU WATCH: How World War I Started
• WATCH: How World War I Started
• READ: The First World War as a Global War
• READ: World War I — A Total War
• READ: The Mexican Revolution
• READ: The Power of One — The Russian Revolution
• BEFORE YOU WATCH: Armenian Genocide
• WATCH: Armenian Genocide
• READ: Capitalism and World War I
• World War 1

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Second read: key ideas and understanding content.

• Who killed Franz Ferdinand? Why did they kill him?
• How did the European alliance system help start the war?
• How did imperialism help start the war?
• Why does the author argue that industrialization made the war inevitable once preparations were started?
• How might the First World War have happened on accident?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

• This article gives several examples of how transformations in the nineteenth century led to the war. Things like nationalism (communities frame), industrialization (production and distribution frame), and outdated diplomatic technology (networks frame) are blamed for the war. Can you think of any transformations during the nineteenth century that might have helped prevent war?

What Caused the First World War?

World war why, one shot: the assassination of archduke franz ferdinand, deeper trends: help me help you help me, accidental war: missed the memo, hit the target.

• Yes, these terms can get confusing. Nationalism was introduced to you as the idea that a state should govern itself, and not have some empire as its boss. But at some point, that feeling that you should get to govern yourself can turn into the idea that you are better than other nations, and becomes a kind of extreme patriotism. We call that nationalism as well. As we will see, nationalism is a pretty flexible thing, and it can be used for lots of different purposes.
• Top map by Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_the_German_Empire_-_1914.PNG
• Bottom map by Andrew0921, CC BY-SA 3.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:British_Empire_in_1914.png

Want to join the conversation?

• Upvote Button navigates to signup page
• Downvote Button navigates to signup page
• Flag Button navigates to signup page

Essay on World War 1

Students are often asked to write an essay on World War 1 in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on World War 1

Introduction.

World War 1, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict that started in 1914 and ended in 1918. It involved many world powers and caused significant changes globally.

Causes of the War

The war began due to various reasons including nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and a complex system of alliances. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary triggered the war.

Major Battles

Key battles included the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Verdun. These battles caused heavy casualties and marked turning points in the war.

End of the War

The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. This treaty held Germany responsible for the war and imposed heavy penalties.

Impact of the War

World War 1 had significant impacts. It led to the fall of empires, redrew the world map, and set the stage for World War 2.

Also check:

• 10 Lines on World War 1

250 Words Essay on World War 1

Origins of world war 1.

World War 1, also known as the Great War, began in 1914, triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. An intricate web of alliances across Europe, coupled with nationalistic fervor, propelled the continent into war.

The Central and Allied Powers

The war was fought between the Central Powers, led by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire, and the Allied Powers, comprising France, Russia, and the United Kingdom. The United States initially maintained neutrality but joined the Allies in 1917.

The Nature of Warfare

World War 1 marked a shift from conventional to trench warfare, characterized by its static nature and high casualty rates. The war also saw the introduction of new technology, including tanks, aircraft, and chemical weapons, which further escalated its devastating impact.

Impact and Aftermath

The war resulted in significant geopolitical changes, including revolutions in many of the nations involved. The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, ended the war but sowed the seeds for future conflicts, including World War 2. The war also marked the beginning of significant shifts in global power.

Legacy of World War 1

World War 1 had profound effects on the course of the 20th century. It led to the fall of empires, redrew the world map, and set the stage for the rise of the United States and the Soviet Union as global superpowers. Its legacy continues to shape contemporary global politics.

500 Words Essay on World War 1

World War I, often referred to as the Great War, was a global conflict that commenced on July 28, 1914, and lasted until November 11, 1918. This war, unprecedented in the annals of history, brought significant changes to the political, social, and economic spheres of the world.

The inception of World War I can be attributed to a complex interplay of factors. Nationalism, militarism, and imperialism were the undercurrents that fueled the war. However, the immediate catalyst was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, by a Serbian nationalist in June 1914. This event led to a diplomatic crisis, and the entangled web of alliances among European powers escalated the situation into a full-scale war.

The War Fronts and Strategies

World War I was characterized by trench warfare, where soldiers fought from deep trenches, making the conflict a war of attrition. The Western and Eastern Fronts were the primary battlefields. The Western Front, a series of trenches stretching from the English Channel to the Swiss border, witnessed brutal warfare. The Eastern Front, though larger and less fortified, was equally deadly.

Major Events

Key events of World War I include the Battle of the Marne, where the German advance was halted, marking the end of mobile warfare on the Western Front. The Gallipoli Campaign was another significant event, where the Allies’ failed attempt to control the sea route from Europe to Russia resulted in heavy casualties. The sinking of the passenger ship Lusitania by a German submarine, which resulted in American deaths, was instrumental in bringing the United States into the war in 1917.

Technological Advancements

World War I was a crucible for technological innovation. The war saw the first use of chemical weapons, tanks, and aircraft in combat. Submarines became a significant naval weapon, and machine guns became a ubiquitous feature on the battlefield. These advancements changed the face of warfare, making it more lethal and mechanized.

Conclusion: The Aftermath

The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which held Germany responsible for the war and imposed hefty reparations. The aftermath of World War I saw the dissolution of empires, redrawing of boundaries, and the emergence of new nations. The League of Nations was established to maintain world peace, but it failed to prevent another devastating conflict – World War II. The social and economic upheavals caused by the war also set the stage for significant political changes, including the Russian Revolution and the rise of Fascism.

World War I was a watershed event in human history, leaving an indelible mark on the world’s political, social, and economic landscape. Its repercussions are still felt today, making it a pivotal study in understanding the dynamics of global conflicts.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Work Life Balance
• Essay on Work is Worship
• Essay on Work From Home

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

One Comment

This essay is on point, brief and helpful. Thanks.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

The Causes and Effects of World War I Essay

Introduction.

The effects of World War I can be seen around the world even now, more than one hundred years after its end; however, there is still no consensus as to its cause. In the words of Alfred Korzybski, “the destruction was brought about by nationalism, entangled alliances, narrow ethnic concerns, and desires for political gain – forces that are still with people today.” (cited in Levinson, 2014). Even though the majority of United States citizens did not have the direct experience of the terrific upset that the war caused in Europe, it can be argued that the country’s concern with championing democracy around the globe is one of its products (Levinson, 2014).

Many historians agree that an atmosphere of twentieth-century Europe was conducive to the creation of a complex mixture of economic, social, and political reasons that translated into powerful forces of imperialistic, nationalistic, and militaristic movements leading to the diplomatic crises of 1914 (Donaldson, 2014). Therefore, it can be said that the blame for the war could not be assigned to any individual country or a group of countries.

Nonetheless, the issue of responsibility was the main focus of the world in the years following the Armistice of 1918 (Donaldson, 2014). To this end, the Commission on the Responsibility of the Authors of the War and the Enforcement of Penalties met in Paris in 1919 (Donaldson, 2014). The investigation conducted by the commission showed that Germany and Austria, along with Turkey and Bulgaria as their allies, were responsible for the aggressive foreign policy tactics that led to the precipitation of the war (Donaldson, 2014).

The start of World War I was precipitated by the assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, on June 28, 1914 (Mulligan, 2010) The elimination of the high-standing official was carried out by the group of secret society members called Black Hand and directed by Bosnian Serb Danilo Ilić (Storey, 2009). The political objective of the murder was to separate Austria-Hungary’s South Slav provinces to combine them into Yugoslavia (Storey, 2009).

In response to the killing of their official, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia that commanded its government to prosecute the assassins. The objective of the ultimatum was to make its terms so strict that Serbia would be forced to reject it, thereby giving an excuse for launching a small war against it (Storey, 2009). Taking into consideration that Serbia had diplomatic relationships with Russia strengthened by their shared Slavic ties, the Austro-Hungarian government decided to take precautions against the two countries declaring war on it and allied with Germany. It is agreed that Germany was not opposed to Austro-Hungarian bellicosity, but rather supported and encouraged it, thus providing one more reason for the precipitation of the Great War (Levinson, 2014).

Even though Serbia’s response to the ultimatum was placating, Austria-Hungary decided to take aggressive action and declare war. It is argued that the main reason for World War I was the web of entangling alliances among the countries having an interest in the conflict between Austro-Hungary and Serbia (Storey, 2009). Following the Austro-Hungarian declaration of war, the Russian monarch mobilized his army because of the binding commitment of the treaty signed by the two countries.

As a result, on August 3, 1914, Germany declared war on the Russian Empire (Levinson, 2014). France was bound by treaty to Russia, and, therefore, had to start a war on Austria-Hungary and Germany. Even though a treaty tying France and Britain was loosely worded, the latter country had “a moral obligation” to defend the former (Levinson, 2014). Therefore, Britain and its allies Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Japan, and the Union of South Africa also took a bellicose stance against Germany and offered their assistance in the military action against the country (Levinson, 2014). Thus, a gigantic web of entangling alliances pushed numerous countries to the precipice of war over what was intended to be a small-scale conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia.

Numerous other reasons led to World War I. The conflicting political interests of Russia and Japan over Manchuria and Korea resulted in a military defeat of Russia (Levinson, 2014). Therefore, the country wanted to restore its dignity by a victorious war. During the same period, a lot of small nations were seething with discontent over the Turkish and Austro-Hungarian rule, thereby providing an opportunity for the Russian Empire further to stir resentment by firing up nationalistic zeal under a pretense of pan-Slavic narrative (Levinson, 2014).

Austria-Hungary, on the other hand, sought an opportunity to establish its influence over a vast territory of mixed nations; the assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne provided them with a perfect excuse for the initiation of the war. Political clashes in Germany were a reason for the country’s government to resort to the military conflict as a way of “averting civil unrest” (Levinson, 2014). Another factor that caused World War I was the desire of France to revenge a military defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1871 (Levinson, 2014).

It is impossible to name a single reason for the initiation of World War I. However, it is clear that the entangling web of alliances among numerous parties participating in the war, as well as complicated plots of governments and empires, led the small-scale dispute between Austria-Hungary and Serbia escalating into a military conflict that swept the entire world.

Donaldson, P. (2014). Interpreting the origins of the First World War. Teaching History , 155 (4), 32-33.

Levinson, M. (2014). Ten cautionary GS lessons from World War I. Et Cetera, 71 (1), 41-48.

Mulligan, W. (2010). The origins of the First World War . Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

Storey, W. (2009). The First World War . Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2020, October 9). The Causes and Effects of World War I. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-causes-and-effects-of-world-war-i/

"The Causes and Effects of World War I." IvyPanda , 9 Oct. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/the-causes-and-effects-of-world-war-i/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'The Causes and Effects of World War I'. 9 October.

IvyPanda . 2020. "The Causes and Effects of World War I." October 9, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-causes-and-effects-of-world-war-i/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Causes and Effects of World War I." October 9, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-causes-and-effects-of-world-war-i/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Causes and Effects of World War I." October 9, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-causes-and-effects-of-world-war-i/.

• Eastern Crisis of 1875-1878
• The Late 19th Century and the First World War, 1850-1918
• The Ultimatum Game Research Prospectus
• World War I, Its Origin and Allies
• The Worst Team in History: the Gallipoli Failure
• Principal Causes of the First World War
• "Two Cheers for Versailles" by Mark Mazower
• Germany's Aims in the First World War

Home — Essay Samples — History — World History — WW1 And Its Effects On The World

Ww1 and Its Effects on The World

• Categories: Germany Russia World History

About this sample

Words: 966 |

Published: Mar 18, 2021

Words: 966 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Heisenberg

Verified writer

• Expert in: Geography & Travel History

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 989 words

2 pages / 1066 words

7 pages / 3347 words

5 pages / 2483 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on World History

Delgado, J. P. (2008). Khubilai Khan's Lost Fleet: In Search of a Legendary Armada. HarperCollins.Seymour, G. (1995). Divided Loyalties: Fort St. George During the American Revolution. Rutgers University Press.Belloc, H. (1926). [...]

The Historical Impact of Sugar: Analyze the profound historical impact of sugar on global trade, economies, and societies, discussing its role in the development of the Atlantic slave trade and the rise of plantation [...]

In the annals of history, the classical Greek city-states of Athens and Sparta are often portrayed as polar opposites. While Sparta is lauded for its unparalleled military prowess and austere lifestyle, Athens is celebrated for [...]

The annals of history are replete with figures whose exploits have shaped the trajectory of global development. Among these, Zheng He, a Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat, and fleet admiral, occupies a revered space. His [...]

“I believe all women are pretty without makeup – but with the right about can be pretty powerful.” Bobbi Brown. Whether it is your wedding day, party, or even just a quick errand, putting on makeup is a major part of a [...]

A scream rang through the church. Tituba, a Puritan slave who claimed to believe voodoo magic coursed through her veins had to confess to God to pray away the devil . In the year 1620, after the Puritans came from France and [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• History Classics
• Your Profile
• Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window)
• This Day In History
• History Podcasts
• History Vault

US Entry Into World War I

By: History.com Editors

Updated: May 10, 2024 | Original: April 6, 2017

When World War I broke out across Europe in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the United States would remain neutral, and many Americans supported this policy of nonintervention. However, public opinion about neutrality started to change after the sinking of the British ocean liner Lusitania by a German U-boat in 1915; almost 2,000 people perished, including 128 Americans. Along with news of the Zimmermann telegram threatening an alliance between Germany and Mexico against America, Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. The United States officially entered the conflict on April 6, 1917.

World War I Begins

On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand , heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife Sophie were assassinated by a Bosnian Serb nationalist in Sarajevo, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian province of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

One month later, on July 28, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia . Within a week, Russia, France, Belgium, Great Britain and Serbia had sided against Austria-Hungary and Germany, and the Great War, as it was originally called, was underway.

The Great War

Two-Night Event, The Great War Begins Monday, May 27 at 8/7c and streams the next day

Central Powers

Germany and Austria-Hungary later teamed with the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria and were referred to collectively as the Central Powers. Russia, France and Great Britain, the major Allied Powers, eventually were joined by Italy, Japan and Portugal, among other nations.

On August 4, as World War I erupted across Europe, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed America’s neutrality, stating the nation “must be neutral in fact as well as in name during these days that are to try men’s souls.”

With no vital interests at stake, many Americans supported this position. Additionally, America was home to a number of immigrants from countries at war with each other and Wilson wanted to avoid this becoming a divisive issue.

American companies, however, continue to ship food, raw materials and munitions to both the Allies and Central Powers, although trade between the Central Powers and the United States was severely curtailed by Britain’s naval blockade of Germany. U.S. banks also provided the warring nations with loans, the bulk of which went to the Allies.

Lusitania Sinks

On May 7, 1915, a German submarine sank the British ocean liner Lusitania , resulting in the deaths of nearly 1,200 people, including 128 Americans. The incident strained diplomatic relations between Washington and Berlin and helped turn public opinion against Germany.

President Wilson demanded that the Germans stop unannounced submarine warfare; however, he didn’t believe the United States should take military action against Germany.

Some Americans disagreed with this nonintervention policy, including former president Theodore Roosevelt , who criticized Wilson and advocated going to war. Roosevelt promoted the Preparedness Movement, whose aim was to persuade the nation it must get ready for war.

'America First'

In 1916, as American troops were deployed to Mexico to hunt down Mexican rebel leader Pancho Villa following his raid on Columbus, New Mexico , concerns about the readiness of the U.S. military grew. In response, Wilson signed the National Defense Act in June of that year, expanding the Army and the National Guard, and in August, the president signed legislation designed to significantly strengthen the Navy.

After campaigning on the slogans “He Kept Us Out of War” and “America First,” Wilson was elected to a second term in the White House in November 1916.

Meanwhile, some Americans joined the fighting in Europe their own. Starting in the early months of the war, a group of U.S. citizens enlisted in the French Foreign Legion. (Among them was the poet Alan Seeger, whose poem “I Have a Rendezvous with Death” later was a favorite of President John F. Kennedy . Seeger was killed in the war in 1916.) Other Americans volunteered with the Lafayette Escadrille, a unit of the French Air Service, or drove ambulances for the American Field Service.

Submarine Warfare Resumes

In March 1916, a German U-boat torpedoed a French passenger ship, Sussex , killing dozens of people, including several Americans. Afterward, the United States threatened to cut diplomatic ties with Germany.

In response, the Germans issued the Sussex pledge, promising to stop attacking merchant and passenger ships without warning. However, on January 31, 1917, the Germans reversed course, announcing they would resume unrestricted submarine warfare, reasoning it would help them win the war before America, which was relatively unprepared for battle, could join the fighting on behalf of the Allies.

In response, America severed diplomatic ties with Germany on February 3. During February and March, German U-boats sank a series of U.S. merchant ships, resulting in multiple casualties.

Zimmermann Telegram

Meanwhile, in January 1917, the British intercepted and deciphered an encrypted message from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German minister in Mexico, Heinrich von Eckhart.

The so-called Zimmermann telegram proposed an alliance between Germany and Mexico—America’s southern neighbor—if America joined the war on the side of the Allies.

As part of the arrangement, the Germans would support the Mexicans in regaining the territory they’d lost in the Mexican-American War— Texas , New Mexico and Arizona . Additionally, Germany wanted Mexico to help convince Japan to come over to its side in the conflict.

The British gave President Wilson the Zimmermann telegram on February 24, and on March 1 the American press reported on its existence. The American public was outraged by the news of the Zimmermann telegram and it, along with Germany’s resumption of submarine attacks, helped lead to the United States joining the war.

America Declares War on Germany

On April 2, 1917, Wilson went before a special joint session of Congress and asked for a declaration of war against Germany, stating: “The world must be made safe for democracy.”

On April 4, the Senate voted 82 to 6 to declare war. Two days later, on April 6, the House of Representatives voted 373 to 50 in favor of adopting a war resolution against Germany.

Among the dissenters was Rep. Jeannette Rankin of Montana , the first woman in Congress. It was only the fourth time Congress had declared war; the others were the War of 1812 , the Mexican-American War and the Spanish-American War of 1898.

In early 1917, the U.S. Army had just 133,000 members. That May, Congress passed the Selective Service Act , which reinstated the draft for the first time since the Civil War and led to some 2.8 million men being inducted into the U.S. military by the end of the Great War. Around 2 million more Americans voluntarily served in the armed forces during the conflict.

The first U.S. infantry troops arrived on the European continent in June 1917; in October, the first American soldiers entered combat in France. That December, America declared war against Austria-Hungary (America never was formally at war with the Ottoman Empire or Bulgaria).

When the war concluded in November 1918, with a victory for the Allies, more than 2 million U.S. troops had served at the Western Front in Europe, and more than 50,000 of them died.

HISTORY Vault: World War I Documentaries

Stream World War I videos commercial-free in HISTORY Vault.

U.S. Entry into World War I, 1917. U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian . Why did the US enter World War I? The University of Rochester Newscenter . U.S. Participation in the Great War (World War I). Library of Congress .

Sign up for Inside History

Get HISTORY’s most fascinating stories delivered to your inbox three times a week.

By submitting your information, you agree to receive emails from HISTORY and A+E Networks. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States.

More details : Privacy Notice | Terms of Use | Contact Us

• DIGITAL MAGAZINE

MOST POPULAR

World War 1 facts

Nat geo kids travels back in time to find out more about a conflict that rocked the world….

On  July 28th 1914 began the outbreak of the First World War, aka World War 1  or The Great War for Civilisation . Join us as we learn everything there is to know in our World War 1 facts …

World War 1 facts: Why did it start?

A hundred years might seem like a very long time ago, but it isn’t really. Your  great-great grandparents  were around then, and they would have lived through, and maybe even taken part in, this terrible conflict.

Lots of history books have been written on World War 1 facts and why it started. But it all boils down to the fact that Europe had split into two large families of countries. The Allies — the British Empire, France, Belgium, Russia and later, the USA — were in one family. And the Central Powers of Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey were in the other. On 4 August 1914 , Germany invaded Belgium, and so, standing by its promise to stick up for Belgium, Britain declared war on Germany. The world was at war…

Check out our magazine!

National Geographic Kids is an exciting monthly read for planet-passionate boys and girls, aged 6-13!

Packed full of fun features, jaw-dropping facts and awe-inspiring photos – it’ll keep you entertained for hours!

Find our magazine in all good newsagents, or become a subscriber and have it delivered to your door! Ask your parents to check out the ‘Subscribe’ tab on our website!

How long did World War 1 last?

When the First World War began that summer, most people thought it would be over by Christmas. Many believed that Britain was so powerful it could win very quickly. In fact, the First World War lasted four terrible years , not four months.

Life in the trenches in World War 1

By the winter of 1915, the opposing sides had both dug long ditches called trenches which faced each other, in some places just 30m apart! These lines of narrow trenches stretched from the Belgian coast to Switzerland, and were known as the Western Front . Over five million British soldiers spent time living in these muddy, miserable ditches, taking it in turns to be on the Front Line — the trench closest to the enemy.

Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable  First World War primary resource ? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

Day-to-day life there was smelly and grim. There were millions of giant rats, overflowing latrines (loos) and terrible lice infestations. Not to mention the dead bodies. Every so often, soldiers on the Front Line would be instructed to leave their trench and venture into dangerous No Man’s Land (the area between the sides) to try to push back the enemy.

A new type of war

This war was very different from conflicts of the past. For the first time, powerful new weapons and vehicles were used – at sea, on land and in the air – resulting in many people being killed or wounded. In Britain, you could sometimes hear what sounded like thunder coming across the English Channel from Europe . In fact, it was the huge boom of big guns, called artillery, being fired on the Western Front. 75% of all men who died in World War 1 were killed by artillery .

The largest battle of the World War 1 – the Battle of the Somme – is known as one of the bloodiest battles in history. It was fought by the French and British against the Germans on both sides of the River Somme in France , and lasted for more than five months . Over a million men were killed or wounded, and it was the first time that a tank was used in combat.

Animals during World War 1

Both on the battlefield and back at home, some incredible creatures helped to transport soldiers and goods – and save lives.

Almost a million horses were involved in the war. Soldiers on horseback were known as the  Cavalry  and horses also pulled some of the  gigantic guns ,  ambulances  and  supply wagons . Gas from horse droppings could even be used to power lamps!

British families gave their  pet dogs  to the army so they could carry messages in special tubes on their collars (see above). Dogs were fast, difficult to shoot at, and they also caught rats!  Pet pigeons  were drafted in to carry messages over long distances, often carrying news from the Front Line back to Britain — Germans trained  hawks  to kill any carrier pigeons they saw.  Goldfish  did their bit too — after gas attacks, the gas masks were washed and rinsed. And if the rinsing water killed a goldfish that was placed in it, that meant the masks still had poison on them!

Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable  War Horses: WWI primary resource ? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

What was life like in Britain during World War 1?

Just because you weren’t in the battle fields didn’t mean you weren’t in the danger zone. Back on the  Home Front ,  Britain  was under attack from all sides.

It was the first time in history that Britain had come under threat from the  sky . Gigantic German airships, known as  Zeppelins  (below), carried out 52 bombing raids on Britain during the war – killing more than 500. People were terrified of them! To avoid Zeppelin attacks, no lights could be used after sunset and loud noises were banned, too. Large scale bombing raids on British cities were carried out during the day by German biplanes called Gothas.

There were threats from the sea, too. Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby were the first seaside towns to be shelled by the German navy.  Battlecruisers , ships with huge guns, launched a surprise attack on 16 December 1914 – 137 people were killed and 592 injured that night alone.

But all these attacks on ordinary people only stirred up hatred against the enemy, encouraging more British men to  volunteer  and fight for their country against “The Beast”.  At the start of the war there were just 350,000 men in the British army. But by 1917, there were 3.5 million! Mind you, in 1916, conscription came in – a rule that said ALL healthy men aged 18 – 41 had to fight.

Women during World War 1

Women weren’t allowed to join the army, but the war still completely changed their lives – in some ways, for the better!

Before the war, a woman’s role was in the  home.  But with the men away at war, help was needed in the  workplace  – and so millions of women went to work in offices, factories, shops, transport and on farms. Many men were horrified by the idea of females working and, even worse,  wearing trousers ! But the women proved that they could do the work of men, and do it just as well. Without the women of Britain growing food and making weapons, the war could not have been won.

When the war was over and the soldiers came home, women were made to leave their new jobs and go back into the home. But not all of them wanted to do that anymore! Their experiences during the war eventually led to women getting more freedoms and rights – including the  right to vote !

Children during World War 1

Did you know that  Boy Scouts  and  Girl Guides  had a vital role on the  Home Front ? Girl Guides would make basic  medical equipment  for wounded soldiers, like bandages, swabs and slings. They also worked  growing vegetables  and  delivering milk . Boy Scouts  collected eggs  for injured troops,  protected roads  and  railway lines , and  delivered messages .

Children were even paid to  collect conkers  which could be turned into explosives! They also  wrote letters  to soldiers and helped to  knit socks and scarves  for the troops in the winter months. Some boys  lied about their age  and went off to fight. The youngest of these,  Sidney Lewis , was just 12 years old when he joined the army. He was sent home at the age of 13 after fighting in the  Battle of the Somme , one of the war’s bloodiest battles.

Children were also used to carry messages for  MI5 , the  British Secret Service . The Boy Scouts, who were MI5’s first choice for this work, apparently found it hard to keep sensitive secrets, so Britain’s agents turned to the  Girl Guides , instead!

Believe it or not,  Winnie The Pooh  has his roots in World War 1 Britain. At the time, a young bear cub called  Winnie  was one of the most popular attractions at London Zoo. He was a mascot belonging to the  Canadian Army,  who had been left there for safekeeping. The bear was seen by author  A. A. Milne ‘s son  Christopher Robin , who renamed his own toy bear Winnie – and it became the inspiration for his dad’s book,  Winnie The Pooh !

Armistice Day

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 , World War 1 officially ended when an agreement (known as an armistice ) was signed by Germany and the Allies. This date is known as Armistice Day , and is still commemorated each year when people wear paper poppies to remember those who fought and died in conflicts around the world – the pretty red flowers were the only things that grew on the bloody battlefields of Western Europe.

Sadly, by the time World War 1 was over, more than 18 million people had been killed worldwide. It was hoped it would be the war to end all wars. But this wasn’t to be the case. Just 21 years later, World War 2  broke out.

Your connections to World War 1

What can you find out about  your family ’s involvement in World War 1? Ask your grandparents whether their parents, aunties or uncles ever talked about life during this time. Do you have any  postcards  or  photographs  from the war? Perhaps there are  campaign medals  belonging to a relative at home? Write in and tell us about it, we’d love to hear your family stories!

What did you make of our World War 1 facts? Let us know by leaving us a comment, below!

Leave a comment.

Your comment will be checked and approved shortly.

WELL DONE, YOUR COMMENT HAS BEEN ADDED!

I find this very interesting and I will definitly be using this website again. I love all the facts thank you vert much bye have a nice day

i really like this topic

Wow i am really interested now

that was so cool

We are actully learning about this Article, Today. In Remote Learning. Thursday 2nd of September.

That is some cool facts

Amazing facts

Amazing facts.

Wonderful facts!

Such great information and easy to understand - thank you so much!

LOL im glad i wasent there in that time.

this is so helpful because i have this assignment due tomorrow and it REALLY those help. Thanks!

SO IMFORMATIONAL CAN'T WAIT TO TEACH MY DAD

very helpful

thats horrible

My great grandpa fought in the war and he is still alive!... 97 and still going strong, he is an amazing man. Everytime i go there i see his medals on display.

I loved the World war History, thank you by Telling me

I salute my relatives

I'm loving it!

world war is interesting to learn about

i love facts about world war 1

Awesome Work

why can't so many people here spell properly :/

I salute my elders for their bravery

its good facts

These People Look so Familiar WoW thanks for sharing

This is very useful and I can understanding everything not like other website they are boring

Thank you for all the information you have given .It will really help when I go to school on Monday.

great for learning

Very interesting

These were so helpfull for my school homework

That's a very scary thing, the war. It would be terrible to have world war 3! Especially now when there's just so much more dangerous weapons!

Easy to understand. Brill thanks

very helpful for me and my students thank you

I really like history

This was very interesting to read and helped me with my homework!

This was very interesting my great grandpa Basil Weeks was in WW1

This stuff is really sad. I am going to read more this is interesting

wow this is so intresting

fantastic information

great story

WOW!!!! I love the facts and they are so interesting too!! I love the fact when they play football.

LOL HOW INTRESTING

Very Informative

lot of info for kids like me age 11

Freaken awesome

This website is absolutely amaze balls

I think its fascinating about some things in history

thanks for the info

not fun boring

that is not fun it was boring

it is so interesting this that the other pages

That is so terribly sad. Pray for all the lost souls. Amen.

Story is COOL AND AWESOME

it is totally wrong

gymnast , plus i love baby chickens

fdfdfdfdfdfd

the stroy was cool

hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

trollllllllll and on if class 6th

cool brooooooooo

hot dog hot dog hot dog hot dog pizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

this is cool even after months of learning ww1

I know many things about history and years of learning ww1 i enjoy this site. it is very cool.

hot dogs for life

sup everyone good morning red bird

trollllllllllllll and on

coooooooool!!!!!

you guy have a great website lol is so great i love it and blc miss.south said and i am so glad i did

very interesting and factual

Awesome!!!!

pathetic 18 millions died because of one man

pathetic 18 millions died because of 1 man

More info. I feel like this is hardly anything.

Really cool article.

I didnt learn about the first world war fully! But now I know much more!

Oh my cool an I the oly one who can see this!!

interesting.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

cool i love the information

I didnt know that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really helpful

didnt really help soz

I want to learn more!

MY GREAT GRANDPA FOUGHT IN WORLD WAR 1

MY GRANDDAD FOUGHT THERE

What did they play football with ?

I like the plane! I wanna fly it!

m8 this is slick

ummmmmm blah RAW MEAT? mvcxzaqwertyioplmbvzzawetuinn

love the facts helps me with my homework

i a sorry for the soldiers that fought in the first world war I hope they are remembered LEST WE FORGET

It is sooo sad that many soldiers in the trenches were living in conditions as bad as that. But I thank them very much for saving us,and for making our future as good as it is.

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was good history.It was sad that some men and fathers died

soooooo cool

it must have been horribile

Really good history. its good they stopped fighting for a little bit.

cool and cool and cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

i love history . cool

I have no clue how they could like each other for a few days and then hate each other again. I like learning about the wars

Thanks for information!

it is so cool

Ive leant a lot from this website its soooo cool

Really good. Ive always wanted to know more about world war 1

Can you believe it, they fought and then stopped for christmas by two days and then fought again!!!!!!!!!!!

good website

This is really interesting, I love how they all stopped fighting for a day or two (the truce) and decided to get along, sing together and even play football. It shows you how friendly people can be - even your enemies!

ITS NOT VERY NICE ONE BIT, ALL I CAN SAY IS IT WILL BE REMEMBERD!

The war wasn`t a very nice time to live.

Really good learning facts!

Cool facts!

Awesome, but i am learning about the celts it grosses me out. I do play minecraft with my brother also i play AJ but some times i dilike AJ because of the lag, boredism and mean people on AJ.

That did you know is very odd and interesting.

They called soccer football?

This taught me a lesson, not to be enemies.

They are all cool facts about the first world war.

i love animal jam but mine craft is good i like this website

history is good you can learn new things you did not know from a long time ago

Very intresting facts with puciation caption and fact points

Thanks for the information

it was intresting

this helped alot thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

I learnt a lot about World War 1 today, I was surprised 9 out of 10 people survived.

Why stop fighting I for a day when it can be evey day

it rearly helped my brain!

this gave me sooooo much information on world war 1

it is astonishing

my topic is ww1 and I learned new things on this website I knew a lot already someone in my family fought in ww1 and ww2

i would not like to be in the war

helped alot

I would not like to be in war

i feel sorry for the family of people who died coz they would have been real upset

Learnt about this at school but not this much! Must have been terrible

I wouldnt like to be in the war.

Cant have been nice! We should remember :)

that is about the frest would war

i would have hated it if i had to live in these conditions:(

cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These facts are AMAAAAAAAAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like the fact that actully learning about this on NG kids is fun

It was nice that they played football at Christmas and stopped fighting.

Awesome information and very informative!!!!!!!!!!

great. Got a project about world war 1so AWSOME!

very interesting i didnt know they played football on chrismas

So informative

this is great

Lovely facts

really informative i like it

CUSTOMIZE YOUR AVATAR

More like general history.

Steam ahead with Belmond British Pullman

10 facts about the Tudors!

The adventures of Captain Cook!

The life of Rosa Parks

Sign up to our newsletter

Get uplifting news, exclusive offers, inspiring stories and activities to help you and your family explore and learn delivered straight to your inbox.

You will receive our UK newsletter. Change region

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

COUNTRY * Australia Ireland New Zealand United Kingdom Other

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and will receive emails from us about news, offers, activities and partner offers.

You're all signed up! Back to subscription site

Type whatever you want to search

More Results

You’re leaving natgeokids.com to visit another website!

Ask a parent or guardian to check it out first and remember to stay safe online.

You're leaving our kids' pages to visit a page for grown-ups!

Be sure to check if your parent or guardian is okay with this first.

The Origins of World War I: why Germany Took the Lead

This essay about why Germany took a leading role in starting World War I examines multiple factors that contributed to the outbreak of the conflict. It discusses Germany’s aggressive foreign policy shift following Chancellor Otto von Bismarck’s departure, the country’s military preparations including the Schlieffen Plan, and the impact of an intricate alliance system that escalated regional tensions into a global war. The essay also highlights the influence of nationalism and economic ambitions that motivated Germany’s elite, driving the nation towards war. Additionally, it reflects on the broader implications of these causes, suggesting that understanding such historical dynamics is crucial for maintaining international peace and stability in today’s interconnected world.

How it works

Germany’s role in the events that led to World War I has frequently been the focus of intense scrutiny and discussion among historians. Was World War I started by Germany? The intricate interplay of national interests, alliances, and historical tensions that defined early 20th-century Europe is reflected in the complexity and diversity of this subject.

Germany’s path to war in 1914 can be traced back to its rapid industrial and military expansion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Under the leadership of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, the newly unified Germany sought to establish itself as a dominant power on the European continent. However, Bismarck’s departure in 1890 marked a significant shift in German foreign policy. His successors lacked his finesse and foresight, leading to a more aggressive and less diplomatic approach in international relations.

One of the critical aspects of Germany’s strategy was its militarization and the development of the Schlieffen Plan. This plan, designed to avoid a two-front war by quickly defeating France before turning to Russia, underscored a growing militaristic ethos that favored preemptive strikes over diplomatic resolution. The build-up to World War I saw Germany increasingly isolated, surrounded by potential adversaries who were alarmed by its military ambitions.

The network of alliances that had been formed in Europe by the early 20th century was another significant factor. Germany’s alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy, known as the Triple Alliance, was intended as a counterweight to the Triple Entente between France, Russia, and Great Britain. When Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated in June 1914, these alliances turned a regional conflict into a global one. Germany’s unconditional support for Austria-Hungary during the July Crisis, often referred to as the “blank check,” essentially guaranteed its involvement in any conflict that involved Vienna.

Moreover, the atmosphere in Germany at the time was marked by a rising tide of nationalism and a belief in the inevitability of a great European war. Influential groups within the military and government saw conflict as an opportunity to solidify Germany’s status as a world power and to stave off internal challenges from socialists and other political adversaries. This bellicose nationalism influenced the decision-making process, reducing the incentives for seeking peaceful solutions.

Economic factors also played a role. Germany’s industrial might had grown enormously, and with it, the need for foreign markets and resources. The prospect of securing these through dominance in Europe and beyond was a tempting strategy for many in the German elite. This economic dimension intertwined with the military and strategic imperatives, pushing Germany towards a path that made war more likely.

In reflecting on why Germany took the lead in starting World War I, it is essential to recognize the complexity of the situation. It was not solely about aggressive policies or militarism; it was also about fear and misjudgments, a rigid alliance system that left little room for maneuver, and a series of crises that were handled poorly by the key players involved. The decision for war was not made in a vacuum but in a specific historical context that made it seem like a plausible, if catastrophic, course of action.

As we look back, the importance of understanding these dynamics is not just about assigning blame but about learning from the past. The causes of World War I remind us of how interconnected and fragile international relations can be. They underscore the need for diplomacy, dialogue, and a deep understanding of other nations’ perspectives and insecurities. In studying the origins of this global conflict, we gain insights into the challenges of maintaining peace in an interconnected world, a lesson as relevant today as it was a century ago.

Cite this page

The Origins of World War I: Why Germany Took the Lead. (2024, May 12). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/the-origins-of-world-war-i-why-germany-took-the-lead/

"The Origins of World War I: Why Germany Took the Lead." PapersOwl.com , 12 May 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/the-origins-of-world-war-i-why-germany-took-the-lead/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). The Origins of World War I: Why Germany Took the Lead . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-origins-of-world-war-i-why-germany-took-the-lead/ [Accessed: 17 May. 2024]

"The Origins of World War I: Why Germany Took the Lead." PapersOwl.com, May 12, 2024. Accessed May 17, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/the-origins-of-world-war-i-why-germany-took-the-lead/

"The Origins of World War I: Why Germany Took the Lead," PapersOwl.com , 12-May-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-origins-of-world-war-i-why-germany-took-the-lead/. [Accessed: 17-May-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). The Origins of World War I: Why Germany Took the Lead . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-origins-of-world-war-i-why-germany-took-the-lead/ [Accessed: 17-May-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Weekend Edition Saturday

• Latest Show
• Scott Simon
• Corrections

Listen to the lead story from this episode.

Week in politics: Biden addresses campus protests, Democratic congressman indicted

by  Scott Simon ,  Ron Elving

India is halfway through the voting season. The ruling BJP is showing signs of worry

by  Scott Simon ,  Diaa Hadid

People visit exhibits inside the Smithsonian Hall of Human Origins, Thursday, July 20, 2023, at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption

Opinion: Ancient gastronomy from mammoths to muesli

by  Scott Simon

As closing arguments in Google's monopoly trial wrap up, other tech giants watch closely

by  Scott Simon ,  Dara Kerr

Children of sex workers rarely see doctors, global study finds

by  Gabrielle Emanuel

Remembering Paul Auster through his time as an NPR contributor

by  Jacki Lyden

Trump blames immigration for budget cuts in a Wisconsin town. City officials disagree

by  Chuck Quirmbach

Middle East

One community in israel didn't have access to rocket shelters. they say it's been deadly.

by  Geoff Brumfiel

Music Interviews

Jeff beal's new collection of solo piano work speaks to living with multiple sclerosis, witnesses in trump's hush money trial reveal a world of 'extortion'.

by  Scott Simon ,  Andrea Bernstein

Students at some campus anti-war protests are reaching agreements with universities

by  Adrian Florido

Madonna will perform at Rio's Copacabana beach to close out her tour

by  Julia Carneiro

People show their support as Maine bowling alley reopens 6 months after a mass shooting

by  Susan Sharon

FCC reinstates net neutrality policies after 6 years

Saturday sports: milwaukee bucks end their season, nhl playoffs, astronauts on the moon have a new way to stay fit, and it involves the wall of death, actor chris o'dowd on what to expect from the second season of 'the big door prize', from 'magnum, p.i.' to dancing with royalty, tom selleck shares his journey in new memoir.

by  Scott Simon ,  Ryan Benk ,  Melissa Gray

Searching for a song you heard between stories? We've retired music buttons on these pages. Learn more here.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Guest Essay

How Iran and Israel Are Unnatural Adversaries

By Karim Sadjadpour

Mr. Sadjadpour is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

“History is littered,” the British writer and politician Enoch Powell said, “with the wars which everybody knew would never happen.”

A full-blown conflict between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel once seemed implausible. But last month, the long-running shadow war between the two nations burst into the open in a series of unprecedented drone and missile strikes, raising the specter of a fight that would contain enough advanced technology, paramilitary forces and mutual acrimony to incinerate large parts of the Middle East, collapse the global economy and entangle the United States and other major powers.

Now the two sides appear to have hit pause, but for how long? As long as Iran is ruled by an Islamist government that puts its revolutionary ideology before the national interest, the two countries will never know peace, and the Middle East will never know meaningful stability.

Iran and Israel are not natural adversaries. In contrast to other modern conflicts — between Israel and Palestine, Russia and Ukraine, China and Taiwan — Iran and Israel have no bilateral land or resource disputes. Their national strengths — Iran is an energy titan and Israel is a tech innovator — are more complementary than competitive. The nations also have a historical affinity dating back over 2,500 years, when the Persian King Cyrus the Great freed the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity. Iran was the second Muslim nation, after Turkey, to recognize Israel after its founding in 1948.

Their modern animosity is best understood through the lens of ideology, not geopolitics. It began with the rise of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the dogmatic Shiite cleric who led the 1979 revolution that transformed Iran from a U.S.-allied monarchy into an anti-American theocracy. Khomeini’s 1970 treatise “ Islamic Government ,” which became the basis of the constitution that governs the Islamic Republic, is laced with tirades and threats against “wretched” and “satanic” Jews. Then, as now, antisemitism often lurked below the surface of anti-imperialism.

“We must protest and make the people aware that the Jews and their foreign backers are opposed to the very foundations of Islam and wish to establish Jewish domination throughout the world,” Khomeini wrote. “Since they are a cunning and resourceful group of people, I fear that — God forbid — they may one day achieve their goal and that the apathy shown by some of us may allow a Jew to rule over us one day.”

In the same manifesto, Khomeini casually advocates what in modern parlance is best understood as ethnic cleansing. “Islam,” he wrote, “has rooted out numerous groups that were a source of corruption and harm to human society.” He went on to cite the case of a “troublesome” Jewish tribe in Medina that he said was “eliminated” by the Prophet Muhammad.

Very few of the Iranian revolutionaries and Western progressives who backed Khomeini in 1979 — some of whom compared him with Mohandas K. Gandhi — had bothered to scrutinize his vision for Iran. Once in power, he built his newfound theocracy on three ideological pillars: death to America, death to Israel and the subjugation of women.

Over four decades later, the worldview of Iran’s current rulers has evolved little. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Khomeini’s 85-year-old successor and now one of the world’s longest-serving dictators, denounces Zionism in virtually every speech and was one of the few world leaders to publicly praise Hamas’s “epic” Oct. 7 attack on Israel. “We will support and assist any nation or any group anywhere,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in 2020, “who opposes and fights the Zionist regime.”

As Ayatollah Khamenei’s words make plain, the Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the few governments in the world more dedicated to abolishing another nation than advancing its own. “Death to Israel” is the regime’s rallying cry — not “Long live Iran.”

Ayatollah Khamenei’s regime has backed this language with action. Iran has spent tens of billions of dollars arming, training and financing proxy militias in five failing nations: Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, Iraq and Yemen. Together these groups constitute its so-called Axis of Resistance against America and Israel. These groups are elbow-deep in corruption and repression in their own societies, including illicit drug dealing and piracy , while pledging that they seek justice for Palestinians.

Hostility toward Israel is a useful tool for predominantly Shiite, Persian Iran to vie for leadership in the predominantly Sunni, Arab Middle East. But it should not be confused with concern for the well-being of Palestinians. In contrast to American, European and Arab governments that fund Palestinian human welfare initiatives, Iran has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into arming and financing Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Iran’s goal is not to build a Palestine but to demolish Israel.

And yet as much as the Islamic Republic is committed to its ideology, it is even more committed to staying in power. As the German American philosopher Hannah Arendt once put it, “The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative on the day after the revolution.” As its careful response to Israel’s recent military strikes on Iran showed, when faced with the possibility of full-blown war or existential economic pressure, Tehran tactically retreats.

After decades of living under an economically failing, socially repressive police state, Iran’s people long ago recognized that the greatest obstacle between themselves and a normal life is their own leadership, not America or Israel. In a 2021 public opinion poll conducted from Europe, only around one-fifth of Iranians approved of their government’s support of Hamas and “Death to Israel” slogan. Few nations have Iran’s combination of natural resource wealth, human capital, geographic size and ancient history. This enormous gap between Iran’s potential and its citizens’ reality is one reason the country has experienced numerous mass uprisings over the past two decades.

Iran’s Axis of Resistance has empowered right-wing Israeli politicians far more than Palestinians over the past two decades. The threat of a Holocaust-denying Iranian regime with regional and nuclear ambitions has stoked Israeli anxieties, diverted attention from Palestinian suffering and facilitated normalization agreements between Israel and Arab governments equally fearful of Iran. Indeed, Iran and its proxies were such a useful adversary that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu helped prop up Hamas’s rule in Gaza until the deadly attacks of Oct. 7.

“The dream of Israeli leaders,” a retired Israeli general, Amos Yadlin, told me recently, “is to one day restore normal relations with an Iranian government.”

The dream of Iran’s Islamist leaders, on the other hand, is to end Israel’s existence. Israel’s conflict with Iran has been a war of necessity, but Iran’s conflict with Israel has been a war of choice. It won’t be over until Iran has leaders who put Iranians’ interests over Israel’s destruction.

Karim Sadjadpour is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .