On the 28th of June 1914, Gavrilo Princip, a high school student killed Franz Ferdinand and his spouse, Sophie. Ferdinand was the archduke and successor to the Austrian throne. He was shot at a short range in Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital. A bigger part of Europe was irritated by this bold, cowardly act of terrorism.  Princip was a keen support of self rule and independence of Bosnia. He had associations with the Black Hand, a Serbian group that was sympathetic to independent Serbia. The Austro-Hungarians took this as a good enough reason to resolve previous territorial disagreements they have had with Serbia. They retaliated to the brutal killing (Heyman, 1997).

In late July of 1914, the Austro-Hungarians declared war on the Serbians with support from their German allies. The Russians came to the support of the Serbs and mobilized its military in hope of creating a pan-Slavic Empire. At the same time, Germany activated a stubborn Military strategy that required it to move to war without delay. Their understanding was that the assembling of armed forces by the Russians would invoke similar activities by the French forces and the ultimately the British military (Heyman, 1997). Previously the French, the Russians and the British had formed alliances to avert a future war from taking place. In the first week of August the year 1914, Germans sent a war declaration to the Russians and the French. In the following weeks the Germany military build a defensive border against the Russian and radically invaded France. This was against the Belgian impartiality, and aroused the British to join escalating disagreement.

The German advancements in France were halted at the Marne battle in September 1914 by allied military. Both sides dug a series of trenches covering the northern and Eastern parts of France. This was followed by four years of unmatched butchery of humans never known before. Very few people could have anticipated what the emotional shooting act that provoked the war could ultimately lead to. Majority of people understood that whatever would happen would be quick, simple and with negligible damage.

Great military giants that participated in war in France and many other areas of the world had stock piled killing technologies. The newly industrialized nations had been developing new ammunitions for years. These new warfare equipments had not at all been used in war of such magnitude and scale. It is conservatively estimated that close to ten million people were killed, as well as tens of thousands of civilians, with possibly an additional twenty million or so wounded (Keene, 2006). One thing led to another as demonstrated by the events that took place between July and early August 1914, fueled by the treaties and alliances that had been formed previously by the industrialized nations of Europe caused World War 1.

According to Keene (2006), the major immediate effect of this war was World War II. World War II is known for creating a new world order during the Cold war era. This subsequently shaped the modern world and influenced the entire twentieth and the twenty first century as it is known today. Military and medicinal technologies exploded.  In World War I the battle-dead were more than deaths from diseases. This was attributed to better and superior medicinal technologies and far more sophisticated weaponry. A new world order was at dawn, four monarchies were destroyed. Europe in general was in ruins with almost 16 million war deceased and thousands of thousands of mentally and bodily scarred soldiers who had given up every hope in humankind through the war (Keene, 2006). The destruction that the World War 1 brought to Europe was a clear warning to the powers of Western Europe of a great European War. Their nation’s economies collapsed into severe depression which was partly caused by the war. World War I in addition established the US as one of the leading super-powers in the new world.

Reference

Keene, J. D. (2006). World War I.Westport: Greenwood Press.

Heyman, N. M. (1997). World War I. Westport: Greenwood Press.

While many novels contain profound truths, often these truth are not accepted, either when the novel is written or at a later date.  This often results in a novel being published, only to be banned by one government or another at a later date, or to find its way into the halls of fame years or even decades after its publication.  All Quiet on the Western Front, written by Erich Maria Remarque in the 1920s, is an excellent example.  The novel follows the experiences of a young German man, Paul Bäumer, from the time he and several friends join the German army voluntarily during World War I.

Inspired by the patriotic speeches of a teacher, Paul and his friends voluntarily enlist in the German army during World War I.  Paul and his friends undergo ten weeks of brutal training, tormented by Corporal Himmelstoss.  Transitioning from this to the brutality of war sours the dream of glory and honor, revealing the concept of patriotism as mere words used to inspire young men, but meaning nothing when confronted with the reality of war.

Over the weeks and months that follow, Paul begins to realize that the soldiers they are fighting are no different than he and his friends.  Talk begins between the friends.  One speculates that if the officers were forced to eat the same food and were paid the same as the other soldiers, wars would end more quickly.  Another argues that leaders should fight it out with clubs.  All agree that those who come into power become arrogant during war, never having to risk injury themselves by sending young men such as Paul and his friends to fight in their stead.

The Nazi’s at the beginning of World War II banned this novel and its sequel, The Road Back.  With the truths the novels revealed about the nature of war, it is easy to understand why the Nazis wouldn’t want them being read.  The banning of books doesn’t just happen for political reasons, but for alleged community morality standards.  Essays on the reasons for such banning and the effects novels like this have on society and the decisions we make can be challenging to write.  Fortunately our staff of professional writers loves such challenges.  Students can take advantage of this fact by placing a simple order through our privacy protecting Internet system.  We look forward to your order.