The world at the beginning of World War 1. Important dates and events of the First World War

Allies (Entente): France, Great Britain, Russia, Japan, Serbia, USA, Italy (participated in the war on the side of the Entente since 1915).

Friends of the Entente (supported the Entente in the war): Montenegro, Belgium, Greece, Brazil, China, Afghanistan, Cuba, Nicaragua, Siam, Haiti, Liberia, Panama, Honduras, Costa Rica.

Question about the causes of the First World War is one of the most discussed in world historiography since the outbreak of the war in August 1914.

The outbreak of the war was facilitated by the widespread strengthening of nationalist sentiments. France hatched plans to return the lost territories of Alsace and Lorraine. Italy, even being in an alliance with Austria-Hungary, dreamed of returning its lands to Trentino, Trieste and Fiume. The Poles saw in the war an opportunity to recreate the state destroyed by the partitions of the 18th century. Many peoples inhabiting Austria-Hungary sought national independence. Russia was convinced that it could not develop without limiting German competition, protecting the Slavs from Austria-Hungary, and expanding influence in the Balkans. In Berlin, the future was associated with the defeat of France and Great Britain and the unification of the countries Central Europe under German leadership. In London they believed that the people of Great Britain would live in peace only by crushing their main enemy - Germany.

Besides, international tension was intensified by a series of diplomatic crises - the Franco-German clash in Morocco in 1905-1906; the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Austrians in 1908-1909; Balkan wars in 1912-1913.

The immediate cause of the war was the Sarajevo Murder. June 28, 1914 Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand by nineteen-year-old Serbian student Gavrilo Princip, who was a member of the secret organization "Young Bosnia", fighting for the unification of all South Slavic peoples in one state.

July 23, 1914 Austria-Hungary, having secured the support of Germany, presented Serbia with an ultimatum and demanded that its military units be allowed into Serbian territory in order to, together with Serbian forces, suppress hostile actions.

Serbia's response to the ultimatum did not satisfy Austria-Hungary, and July 28, 1914 she declared war on Serbia. Russia, having received assurances of support from France, openly opposed Austria-Hungary and July 30, 1914 announced a general mobilization. Germany, taking advantage of this opportunity, announced August 1, 1914 war against Russia, and August 3, 1914- France. After the German invasion August 4, 1914 Great Britain declared war on Germany in Belgium.

The First World War consisted of five campaigns. During first campaign in 1914 Germany invaded Belgium and northern France but was defeated at the Battle of the Marne. Russia captured parts of East Prussia and Galicia (East Prussian Operation and Battle of Galicia), but was then defeated as a result of the German and Austro-Hungarian counteroffensive.

1915 Campaign associated with Italy’s entry into the war, the disruption of the German plan to withdraw Russia from the war, and bloody, inconclusive battles on the Western Front.

1916 campaign associated with the entry of Romania into the war and the waging of a grueling positional war on all fronts.

1917 campaign associated with the entry of the United States into the war, Russia's revolutionary exit from the war and a number of successive offensive operations on the Western Front (Nivelle's operation, operations in the Messines area, Ypres, near Verdun, and Cambrai).

1918 Campaign was characterized by a transition from positional defense to a general offensive of the Entente armed forces. From the second half of 1918, the Allies prepared and deployed retaliatory offensive operations(Amiens, Saint-Miel, Marne), during which the results of the German offensive were eliminated, and in September 1918 they launched a general offensive. By November 1, 1918, the Allies liberated the territory of Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, entered the territory of Bulgaria after the armistice and invaded the territory of Austria-Hungary. On September 29, 1918, a truce with the allies was concluded by Bulgaria, October 30, 1918 - Turkey, November 3, 1918 - Austria-Hungary, November 11, 1918 - Germany.

June 28, 1919 was signed at the Paris Peace Conference Treaty of Versailles with Germany, officially completing the first world war 1914-1918.

On September 10, 1919, the Saint-Germain Peace Treaty with Austria was signed; November 27, 1919 - Treaty of Neuilly with Bulgaria; June 4, 1920 - Treaty of Trianon with Hungary; August 20, 1920 - Treaty of Sèvres with Turkey.

In total, the First World War lasted 1,568 days. It was attended by 38 states, in which 70% of the world's population lived. The armed struggle was carried out on fronts with a total length of 2500–4000 km. The total losses of all countries at war amounted to about 9.5 million people killed and 20 million people wounded. At the same time, the losses of the Entente amounted to about 6 million people killed, the losses of the Central Powers amounted to about 4 million people killed.

During the First World War, for the first time in history, tanks, airplanes, submarines, anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns, mortars, grenade launchers, bomb throwers, flamethrowers, super-heavy artillery, hand grenades, chemical and smoke shells, and toxic substances were used. New types of artillery appeared: anti-aircraft, anti-tank, infantry escort. Aviation became an independent branch of the military, which began to be divided into reconnaissance, fighter and bomber. Arose tank troops, chemical troops, air defense troops, naval aviation. The role of engineering troops increased and the role of cavalry decreased.

The results of the First World War were the liquidation of four empires: German, Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman, the last two were divided, and Germany and Russia were reduced territorially. As a result, new independent states appeared on the map of Europe: Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Yugoslavia, Finland.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

To thoroughly understand how the First World War (1914-1918) began, you must first become familiar with the political situation that developed in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. The prehistory of the global military conflict was the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). It ended with the complete defeat of France, and the confederate union of German states was transformed into the German Empire. Wilhelm I became its head on January 18, 1871. Thus, a powerful power emerged in Europe with a population of 41 million people and an army of almost 1 million soldiers.

Political situation in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century

At first, the German Empire did not strive for political dominance in Europe, since it was economically weak. But over the course of 15 years, the country gained strength and began to claim a more worthy place in the Old World. Here it must be said that politics is always determined by the economy, and German capital had very few markets. This can be explained by the fact that Germany in its colonial expansion was hopelessly behind Great Britain, Spain, Belgium, France, and Russia.

Map of Europe by 1914. Germany and its allies are shown in brown. Entente countries are shown in green.

It is also necessary to take into account the small area of ​​the state, whose population was growing rapidly. It required food, but there was not enough of it. In a word, Germany gained strength, but the world was already divided, and no one was going to voluntarily give up the promised lands. There was only one way out - to take away the tasty morsels by force and provide a decent, prosperous life for your capital and people.

The German Empire did not hide its ambitious claims, but it could not resist England, France and Russia alone. Therefore, in 1882, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy formed a military-political bloc (Triple Alliance). Its consequences were the Moroccan crises (1905-1906, 1911) and the Italo-Turkish War (1911-1912). It was a test of strength, a rehearsal for a more serious and large-scale military conflict.

In response to increasing German aggression in 1904-1907, a military-political bloc of Cordial Concord (Entente) was formed, which included England, France and Russia. Thus, at the beginning of the 20th century, two powerful military forces emerged in Europe. One of them, led by Germany, sought to expand its living space, and another force tried to counteract these plans in order to protect its economic interests.

Germany's ally, Austria-Hungary, represented a hotbed of instability in Europe. It was a multinational country, which constantly provoked interethnic conflicts. In October 1908, Austria-Hungary annexed Herzegovina and Bosnia. This caused sharp discontent in Russia, which had the status of protector of the Slavs in the Balkans. Russia was supported by Serbia, which considered itself the unifying center of the South Slavs.

A tense political situation was observed in the Middle East. Once dominant here Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 20th century they began to call him “the sick man of Europe.” And therefore, stronger countries began to lay claim to its territory, which provoked political disagreements and local wars. All the above information gave general idea about the prerequisites for the global military conflict, and now it’s time to find out how the First World War began.

Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife

The political situation in Europe was heating up every day and by 1914 it had reached its peak. All that was needed was a small push, a pretext for unleashing a global military conflict. And soon such an opportunity presented itself. It went down in history as the Sarajevo murder, and it happened on June 28, 1914.

Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophia

On that ill-fated day, Gavrilo Princip (1894-1918), a member of the nationalist organization Mlada Bosna (Young Bosnia), killed the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand (1863-1914) and his wife Countess Sofia Chotek (1868-1914). “Mlada Bosna” advocated the liberation of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the rule of Austria-Hungary and was ready to use any methods for this, including terrorism.

The Archduke and his wife arrived in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, at the invitation of the Austro-Hungarian governor, General Oscar Potiorek (1853-1933). Everyone knew about the arrival of the crowned couple in advance, and members of Mlada Bosna decided to kill Ferdinand. For this purpose, a battle group of 6 people was created. It consisted of young people, natives of Bosnia.

Early on the morning of Sunday, June 28, 1914, the crowned couple arrived in Sarajevo by train. She was met on the platform by Oscar Potiorek, journalists and an enthusiastic crowd of loyal associates. The arrivals and high-ranking greeters were seated in 6 cars, while the Archduke and his wife found themselves in the third car with the top folded. The motorcade took off and rushed towards the military barracks.

By 10 o'clock the inspection of the barracks was completed, and all 6 cars drove along the Appel embankment to the city hall. This time the car with the crowned couple was the second in the motorcade. At 10:10 a.m. the moving cars caught up with one of the terrorists named Nedeljko Chabrinovic. This young man threw a grenade, aiming at the car with the Archduke. But the grenade hit the convertible top, flew under the third car and exploded.

Detention of Gavrilo Princip, who killed Archduke Ferdinand and his wife

The driver of the car was killed by shrapnel, passengers were injured, as well as people who were near the car at that moment. A total of 20 people were injured. The terrorist himself swallowed potassium cyanide. However, it did not give the desired effect. The man vomited, and he jumped into the river to escape the crowd. But the river in that place turned out to be very shallow. The terrorist was dragged ashore, and angry people brutally beat him. After this, the crippled conspirator was handed over to the police.

After the explosion, the motorcade increased speed and reached the city hall without incident. There, a magnificent reception awaited the crowned couple, and, despite the assassination attempt, the official part took place. At the end of the celebration, it was decided to curtail the further program due to the emergency situation. It was decided only to go to the hospital to visit the wounded there. At 10:45 a.m. the cars started moving again and drove along Franz Joseph Street.

Another terrorist, Gavrilo Princip, was waiting for the moving motorcade. He was standing outside the Moritz Schiller Delicatessen store next to the Latin Bridge. Seeing the crowned couple sitting in a convertible car, the conspirator stepped forward, caught up with the car and found himself near it at a distance of only one and a half meters. He shot twice. The first bullet hit Sophia in the stomach, and the second in Ferdinand's neck.

After shooting people, the conspirator tried to poison himself, but, like the first terrorist, he only vomited. Then Princip tried to shoot himself, but people ran up, took the gun away and began beating the 19-year-old man. He was beaten so badly that the killer's arm was amputated in the prison hospital. Subsequently, the court sentenced Gavrilo Princip to 20 years of hard labor, since according to the laws of Austria-Hungary he was a minor at the time of the crime. In prison, the young man was kept in the most difficult conditions and died of tuberculosis on April 28, 1918.

Ferdinand and Sofia, wounded by the conspirator, remained sitting in the car, which rushed to the governor’s residence. There they were going to provide medical assistance to the victims. But the couple died on the way. First, Sofia died, and 10 minutes later Ferdinand gave his soul to God. Thus ended the Sarajevo murder, which became the reason for the outbreak of the First World War.

July crisis

The July Crisis was a series of diplomatic clashes between the leading powers of Europe in the summer of 1914, provoked by the Sarajevo assassination. Of course, this political conflict could have been resolved peacefully, but the powers that be really wanted war. And this desire was based on the confidence that the war would be very short and effective. But it became protracted and claimed more than 20 million human lives.

Funeral of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Countess Sophia

After the assassination of Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary stated that Serbian state structures were behind the conspirators. At the same time, Germany publicly announced to the whole world that in the event of a military conflict in the Balkans, it would support Austria-Hungary. This statement was made on July 5, 1914, and on July 23, Austria-Hungary issued a harsh ultimatum to Serbia. In particular, in it the Austrians demanded that their police be allowed into the territory of Serbia for investigative actions and punishment of terrorist groups.

The Serbs could not do this and announced mobilization in the country. Literally two days later, on July 26, the Austrians also announced mobilization and began to gather troops to the borders of Serbia and Russia. The finishing touch to this local conflict became July 28th. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia and began shelling Belgrade. After artillery bombardment, Austrian troops crossed the Serbian border.

On July 29, Russian Emperor Nicholas II invited Germany to resolve the Austro-Serbian conflict at the Hague Conference peacefully. But Germany did not respond to this. Then, on July 31, general mobilization was announced in the Russian Empire. In response to this, Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, and war on France on August 3. Already on August 4, German troops entered Belgium, and its king Albert turned to European countries as guarantors of its neutrality.

After this, Great Britain sent a note of protest to Berlin and demanded an immediate end to the invasion of Belgium. The German government ignored the note, and Great Britain declared war on Germany. And the final touch of this general madness came on August 6th. On this day, Austria-Hungary declared war on the Russian Empire. This is how the First World War began.

Soldiers in the First World War

Officially it lasted from July 28, 1914 to November 11, 1918. Military operations took place in Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus, the Middle East, Africa, China, and Oceania. Human civilization had never known anything like this before. It was the largest military conflict that shook the state foundations of the leading countries of the planet. After the war, the world became different, but humanity did not grow wiser and by the middle of the 20th century unleashed an even larger massacre that claimed many more lives.

On June 28, 1914, the murder of the Austro-Hungarian Archduke Ferdinand and his wife was committed in Bosnia, in which Serbia was accused of involvement. And although British statesman Edward Gray called for a resolution to the conflict, offering the 4 largest powers as mediators; by doing this, he only managed to further inflame the situation and drag all of Europe, including Russia, into the war.

Almost a month later, Russia announces the mobilization of troops and conscription into the army, after Serbia turns to it for help. However, what was initially planned as a precautionary measure provoked a response from Germany with demands for an end to conscription. As a result, on August 1, 1914, Germany declared war on Russia.

Main events of the First World War.

Years of the First World War.

• When did the First World War start? The year the First World War began was 1914 (July 28).
• When did World War II end? The year the First World War ended was 1918 (November 11).

Key dates of the First World War.

During the 5 years of the war there was a lot important events and operations, but among them several stand out that played a decisive role in the war itself and its history.

• July 28 Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. Russia supports Serbia.
• On August 1, 1914, Germany declares war on Russia. Germany in general has always strived for world domination. And throughout August, everyone gives each other ultimatums and does nothing but declare war.
• In November 1914, Great Britain begins a naval blockade of Germany. Gradually, active mobilization of the population into the army begins in all countries.
• At the beginning of 1915, large-scale offensive operations were launched in Germany on its eastern front. The spring of the same year, namely April, can be associated with such a significant event as the beginning of the use of chemical weapons. Again from Germany.
• In October 1915, attacks against Serbia were unleashed fighting from Bulgaria. In response to these actions, the Entente declares war on Bulgaria.
• In 1916, the use of tank technology began, mainly by the British.
• In 1917, Nicholas II abdicated the throne in Russia and a provisional government came to power, which led to a split in the army. Active military operations continue.
• In November 1918, Germany proclaims itself a republic - the result of the revolution.
• On November 11, 1918, in the morning, Germany signed the Compiègne Armistice and from that time on, hostilities ended.

The end of the First World War.

Despite the fact that for most of the war German forces were able to inflict serious blows on the Allied army, by December 1, 1918, the Allies were able to break through to the borders of Germany and begin its occupation.

Later, on June 28, 1919, having no other choice, German representatives signed a peace treaty in Paris, which was eventually called the “Peace of Versailles,” and put an end to the First World War.

CHAPTER SEVEN

FIRST WAR WITH GERMANY

July 1914 - February 1917

Illustrations can be seen in a separate window in PDF:

1914- the beginning of the First World War, during which and, largely thanks to it, a change took place political system and the collapse of the Empire. The war did not stop with the fall of the monarchy; on the contrary, it spread from the outskirts into the interior of the country and lasted until 1920. Thus, the war, in total, went on six years.

As a result of this war, political map Europe ceased to exist THREE EMPIRES at once: Austro-Hungarian, German and Russian (see map). At the same time, a new state was created on the ruins of the Russian Empire - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

By the time the World War began, Europe had not seen large-scale military conflicts for almost a hundred years, since the end of the Napoleonic Wars. All European wars of the period 1815 - 1914. were predominantly local in nature. At the turn of the 19th – 20th centuries. the illusory thought was in the air that war would be irrevocably banished from the life of civilized countries. One of the manifestations of this was the Hague peace conference 1897. It is noteworthy that the opening took place in May 1914 in The Hague, in the presence of delegates from numerous countries. Palace of Peace.

On the other hand, at the same time, contradictions between European powers grew and deepened. Since the 1870s, military blocs have been forming in Europe, which in 1914 will oppose each other on the battlefields.

In 1879, Germany entered into a military alliance with Austria-Hungary directed against Russia and France. In 1882, Italy joined this union, and a military-political Central Bloc was formed, also called Triple Alliance.

In contrast to him in 1891 - 1893. was concluded Russian-French alliance. Great Britain entered into an agreement with France in 1904, and in 1907 with Russia. The bloc of Great Britain, France and Russia was named Heartfelt agreement, or Entente.

The immediate cause of the outbreak of war was the murder by Serbian nationalists June 15 (28), 1914 in Sarajevo, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Austria-Hungary, supported by Germany, presented Serbia with an ultimatum. Serbia accepted most of the terms of the ultimatum.

Austria-Hungary was dissatisfied with this and began military action against Serbia.

Russia supported Serbia and announced first partial and then general mobilization. Germany presented Russia with an ultimatum demanding that the mobilization be cancelled. Russia refused.

On July 19 (August 1), 1914, Germany declared war on her.

This day is considered the date of the beginning of the First World War.

The main participants in the war from the Entente were: Russia, France, Great Britain, Serbia, Montenegro, Italy, Romania, USA, Greece.

They were opposed by the countries of the Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Türkiye, Bulgaria.

Military operations took place in Western and Eastern Europe, in the Balkans and Thessaloniki, in Italy, in the Caucasus, in the Middle and Far East, in Africa.

The First World War was characterized by an unprecedented scale. At its final stage it involved 33 states (out of 59 existing then independent states) with population amounting to 87% population of the entire planet. The armies of both coalitions in January 1917 numbered 37 million people. In total, during the war, 27.5 million people were mobilized in the Entente countries, and 23 million people were mobilized in the countries of the German coalition.

Unlike previous wars, the First World War was total in nature. Most of the population of the states participating in it was involved in it in one form or another. It forced enterprises in the main industries to be transferred to military production and the entire economy of the warring countries to be serviced by it. The war, as always, gave a powerful impetus to the development of science and technology. Previously non-existent types of weapons appeared and began to be widely used: aircraft, tanks, chemical weapons etc.

The war lasted 51 months and 2 weeks. Total losses amounted to 9.5 million people killed and died from wounds and 20 million people wounded.

The First World War was of particular importance in the history of the Russian state. It became a difficult test for the country, which lost several million people on the fronts. Its tragic consequences were revolution, devastation, civil war and the death of old Russia."

PROGRESS OF COMBAT OPERATIONS

Emperor Nicholas appointed his uncle, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich Jr., as commander-in-chief on the Western Front. (1856 − 1929). From the very beginning of the war, Russia suffered two major defeats in Poland.

East Prussian operation lasted from August 3 to September 2, 1914. It ended with the encirclement of the Russian army near Tannenberg and the death of the general A.V. from infantry. Samsonova. At the same time, a defeat occurred on the Masurian Lakes.

The first successful operation was the offensive in Galicia September 5-9, 1914, as a result of which Lvov and Przemysl were taken, and the Austro-Hungarian troops were pushed back across the San River. However, already on April 19, 1915, on this section of the front the retreat began Russian army, after which Lithuania, Galicia and Poland came under the control of the German-Austrian bloc. By mid-August 1915, Lvov, Warsaw, Brest-Litovsk and Vilna were abandoned, and thus the front moved into Russian territory.

August 23, 1915 year, Emperor Nicholas II removed the leader. book Nikolai Nikolaevich from the post of commander-in-chief and assumed authority. Many military leaders considered this event fatal for the course of the war.

October 20, 1914 Nicholas II declared war on Turkey, and hostilities began in the Caucasus. Infantry General N.N. was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Caucasian Front. Yudenich (1862 − 1933, Cannes). Here in December 1915 the Sarakamysh operation began. On February 18, 1916 it was taken Turkish fortress Erzerum, and on April 5 Trebizond was taken.

May 22, 1916 year for Southwestern Front The offensive of Russian troops began under the command of cavalry general A.A. Brusilova. It was the famous " Brusilovsky breakthrough", but the neighboring commanders of neighboring fronts, Generals Evert and Kuropatkin, did not support Brusilov, and on July 31, 1916, he was forced to stop the offensive, fearing that his army would be encircled from the flanks.

This chapter uses documents and photographs from state archives and from publications (Diary of Nicholas II, Memoirs of A. Brusilov, Verbatim reports of State Duma meetings, poems by V. Mayakovsky). Using materials from the home archive (letters, postcards, photographs) you can get an idea of ​​how this war affected life ordinary people. Some fought at the front, those living in the rear took part in providing assistance to the wounded and refugees in institutions such public organizations, such as the Russian Red Cross Society, the All-Russian Zemstvo Union, the All-Russian Union of Cities.

It’s a shame, but precisely during this most interesting period, our Family Archive did not preserve anyone’s diaries, although perhaps no one led them at that time. It’s good that grandma saved it letters those years that her parents wrote from Chisinau and sister Ksenia from Moscow, as well as several postcards from Yu.A. Korobyina from the Caucasian front, which he wrote to his daughter Tanya. Unfortunately, the letters written by her have not survived - from the front in Galicia, from Moscow during the Revolution, from Tambov provinces during the Civil War.

In order to somehow make up for the lack of daily records from my relatives, I decided to look for the published diaries of other participants in the events. It turned out that the Diaries were regularly kept by Emperor Nicholas II, and they were “posted” on the Internet. Reading his diaries is boring, because day after day the same small everyday details are repeated in the entries (like got up "took a walk" received reports, had breakfast, walked again, swam, played with the children, had lunch and drank tea, and in the evening "was dealing with documents" In the evening played dominoes or dice). The Emperor describes in detail the reviews of troops, ceremonial marches and ceremonial dinners given in his honor, but speaks very sparingly about the situation at the fronts.

I would like to remind you that the authors of diaries and letters, unlike memoirists, don't know the future, and for those who read them now, their “future” has become our “past”, and we know what awaits them. This knowledge leaves a special imprint on our perception, especially because their “future” turned out to be so tragic. We see that participants and witnesses of social disasters do not think about the consequences and therefore have no idea what awaits them. Their children and grandchildren forget about the experience of their ancestors, which is easy to see by reading the diaries and letters of contemporaries of the following wars and “perestroikas.” In the world of politics, everything is also repeated with amazing monotony: after 100 years, the newspapers again write about Serbia and Albania, someone again bombs Belgrade and fights in Mesopotamia, again are coming Caucasian wars , and in the new Duma, as in the old, members are engaged in verbiage... It’s like watching remakes of old movies.

PREPARATION FOR WAR

The diary of Nicholas II serves as the background for the publication of letters from the Family Archive. The letters are printed in places where they coincide chronologically with entries from his Diary. The text of the entries is given with abbreviations. Italic highlighted daily verbs and phrases used. Subheadings and notes are provided by the compiler.

Since April 1914, the Royal Family lived in Livadia. Ambassadors, ministers and Rasputin, whom Nicholas II names in his diary, came there to visit the Tsar. Gregory. It is noticeable that Nicholas II attached special importance to meetings with him. Unlike world events, he certainly noted them in his diary. Here are some typical entries from May 1914.

NICHOLAY'S DIARYII

May 15th.I took a walk in the morning. We had breakfast Georgy Mikhailovich and several lancers, on the occasion of the regimental holiday . During the day played tennis. Read[documents] before lunch. We spent the evening with Gregory, who arrived in Yalta yesterday.

May 16th. I went for a walk quite late; it was hot. Before breakfast accepted Bulgarian military agent Sirmanov. Had a good afternoon of tennis. We drank tea in the garden. Finished all the papers. After lunch there were the usual games.

May 18th. In the morning I walked with Voeikov and examined the area of ​​the future large road. After mass there was Sunday breakfast. We played during the day. At 6 1/2 took a walk with Alexey along a horizontal path. Afternoon took a ride in the motor in Yalta. Seen Gregory.

THE TSAR'S VISIT TO ROMANIA

May 31, 1914 Nicholas II left Livadia, moved to his yacht “Standart” and, accompanied by a convoy of 6 warships, went on a visit to Ferdinand von Hohenzollern(b. 1866), who became in 1914 Romanian king. Nicholas and Koroleva were relatives along the line Saxe-Coburg-Gotha House, the very one to which it belonged, as the ruling dynasty in British Empire, and the Russian Empress (Nicholas’ wife) on her mother’s side.

Therefore he writes: "In the Queen's Pavilion had breakfast as a family». In the morning June 2 Nikolai arrived in Odessa, and in the evening got on the train and went to Chisinau.

VISITING CHISINAU

June 3rd. We arrived in Chisinau at 9 1/2 on a hot morning. We rode around the city in carriages. The order was exemplary. From the cathedral, with a procession of the cross, they went to the square, where the solemn consecration of the monument to Emperor Alexander I took place in memory of the centenary of the annexation of Bessarabia to Russia. The sun was hot. Accepted immediately all the volost elders of the province. Then let's go to the reception to the nobility; From the balcony they watched the boys and girls gymnastics. On the way to the station we visited the Zemsky Museum. At an hour 20 minutes. left Chisinau. We had breakfast in great stuffiness. Stopped at 3 o'clock in Tiraspol, Where had a viewing [hereinafter the listing of parts is omitted]. Received two delegations And got on the train when a refreshing rain began. Until evening read papers .

Note by N.M. Nina Evgenievna's father, E.A. Belyavsky, a nobleman and active state councilor, served in the Excise Department of the Bessarabian province. Together with other officials, he probably participated in the “celebrations of the consecration of the monument and in the reception of the nobility,” but my grandmother never told me about this. But at that time she lived with Tanya in Chisinau.

June 15 (28), 1914 in Serbia, and the city of Sarajevo, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne was killed by a terrorist Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Note N.M.. C 7 (20) to 10 (23) July President of the French Republic Poincaré visited Russian Empire. The President had to persuade the Emperor to enter into a war with Germany and its allies, and for this he promised help from the allies (England and France), to whom the Emperor had been in unpaid debt since 1905, when US and European bankers gave him a loan of 6 billion rubles under 6% per annum. In his Diary, Nicholas II, naturally, does not write about such unpleasant things.

Strangely, Nicholas II did not note the assassination of the Archduke in Serbia in his Diary, so when reading his diary it is not clear why Austria presented an ultimatum to this country. But he describes Poincaré's visit in detail and with obvious pleasure. Writes , how “a French squadron entered the small raid of Kronstadt”, with what honor the president was greeted, how a ceremonial dinner with speeches took place, after which he names his guest "kind president." The next day they go with Poincaré "to review the troops."

July 10 (23), Thursday, Nikolai accompanies Poincaré to Kronstadt, and in the evening of the same day.

BEGINNING OF THE WAR

1914. NICHOLAS' DIARYII.

July 12th. Thursday evening Austria presented an ultimatum to Serbia with demands, 8 of which are unacceptable for an independent state. Obviously, this is all we talk about everywhere. From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. I had a meeting with 6 ministers on the same issue and on the precautions we should take. After conversations, I went with my three older daughters to [Mariinsky] theater.

July 15 (28), 1914. Austria declared war on Serbia

July 15th.Accepted representatives of the congress of military naval clergy with his father Shavelsky at the head. Played tennis. At 5 o'clock. let's go with our daughters to Strelnitsa to Aunt Olga and drank tea with her and Mitya. At 8 1/2 accepted Sazonov, who reported that Today at noon Austria declared war on Serbia.

July 16th. In the morning accepted Goremykina [Chairman of the Council of Ministers]. During the day played tennis. But the day was unusually restless. I was constantly called to the phone by either Sazonov, or Sukhomlinov, or Yanushkevich. In addition, he was in urgent telegraph correspondence with Wilhelm. In the evening read[documents] and more accepted Tatishchev, whom I am sending to Berlin tomorrow.

July 18th. The day was grey, and so was the inner mood. At 11 o'clock A meeting of the Council of Ministers took place at the Farm. After breakfast I took German Ambassador. I took a walk with daughters. Before lunch and in the evening was studying.

July 19 (Aug. 1), 1914. Germany declared war on Russia.

July 19th. After breakfast I called Nikolasha and announced to him his appointment as supreme commander in chief until my arrival in the army. Went with Alix to the Diveyevo monastery. I walked with the children. Upon returning from there found out What Germany declared war on us. We had lunch... I arrived in the evening English Ambassador Buchanan with a telegram from Georgie. I composed for a long time with him answer.

Note by N.M. Nikolasha - uncle of the king, led. book Nikolai Nikolaevich. Georgie ― cousin of the Empress, King George of England. Start of war with cousin "Willy" caused Nicholas II to “elevate his spirit”, and, judging by the entries in his diary, he maintained this mood until the end, despite constant failures at the front. Did he remember what the war he started and lost with Japan led to? After all, after that war the first Revolution happened.

July 20th. Sunday. Nice day, especially in the sense uplifting spirit. At 11 o'clock went to mass. We had breakfast alone. Signed the manifesto declaring war. From Malakhitovaya we walked out into the Nikolaevskaya Hall, in the middle of which the manifesto was read and then a prayer service was served. The whole hall sang “Save, Lord” and “Many Years.” Said a few words. Upon returning, the ladies rushed to kiss hands and a little beat up Alix and me. Then we went out onto the balcony on Alexander Square and bowed to the huge mass of people. We returned to Peterhof at 7 1/4. The evening was spent calmly.

July 22nd. Yesterday Mom A came to Copenhagen from England via Berlin. From 9 1/2 to one o'clock continuously took. The first to arrive was Alek [Grand Duke], who returned from Hamburg with great difficulties and barely reached the border. Germany declared war on France and directs the main attack on her.

July 23rd. I found out in the morning kind[??? – comp.] news: England declared to the German warrior because the latter attacked France and most unceremoniously violated the neutrality of Luxembourg and Belgium. The campaign could not have started in a better way from the outside for us. Took it all morning and after breakfast until 4 o'clock. The last one I had French Ambassador Paleologue, who came to officially announce the break between France and Germany. I walked with the children. The evening was free[from affairs – comp.].

July 24 (Aug. 6), 1914. Austria declared war on Russia.

July 24th. Today Austria, finally, declared war on us. Now the situation is completely clear. From 11 1/2 it happened to me meeting of the Council of Ministers. Alix went into town this morning and returned with Victoria and Ella. I took a walk.

Historical meeting State Duma July 26, 1914 With. 227 − 261

TRANSCRIPT REPORT

Welcome words Emperor NicholasII

State Council and State Duma,

Word from the interim Chairman of the State Council Golubev:

“Your Imperial Majesty! The State Council brings before you, Great Sovereign, loyal feelings imbued with boundless love and all-submissive gratitude... The unity of the beloved Sovereign and the population of His Empire strengthens its power... (etc.)"

Word from the Chairman of the State Duma M.V. Rodzianko: “Your Imperial Majesty! With a deep sense of delight and pride, all of Russia listens to the words of the Russian Tsar, calling His people to complete unity... Without difference of opinions, views and beliefs, the State Duma on behalf of the Russian land calmly and firmly says to its Tsar: dare, sir, The Russian people are with you... (etc.)"

At 3:37 a.m. The State Duma meeting began.

M.V. Rodzianko exclaims: “Long live the Emperor!” (Long incessant clicks: hurray) and invites the gentlemen Members of the State Duma to listen, standing, to the Highest Manifesto of 20 July 1914(Everyone gets up).

The Supreme Manifesto

By God's Grace,

WE ARE NICHOLAS THE SECOND,

Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia,

Tsar of Poland, Grand Duke Finnish and so on, and so on, and so on.

“We announce to all Our faithful subjects:

<…>Austria hastily launched an armed attack, opening the bombing of defenseless Belgrade... Forced, due to the circumstances, to take the necessary precautions, We ordered to bring army and navy under martial law. <…>Germany, an ally of Austria, contrary to Our hopes for an age-old good neighborliness and not heeding Our assurance that the measures taken did not have hostile goals at all, began to seek their immediate cancellation and, having met with refusal, suddenly declared war on Russia.<…>In the terrible hour of trial, let internal strife be forgotten. May it strengthen even more closely unity of the King with His people…

Chairman M.V. Rodzianko: Hurray for the Emperor! (Long incessant clicks: hooray).

Explanations from the ministers about the measures taken in connection with the war follow. Speakers: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Goremykin, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sazonov, Minister of Finance Barque. Their speeches were often interrupted stormy and prolonged applause, voices and clicks: “Bravo!”

After the break M.V. Rodzianko invites the State Duma to stand and listen second manifesto of July 26, 1914

The Supreme Manifesto

“We announce to all Our faithful subjects:<…>Now Austria-Hungary has declared war on Russia, which has saved it more than once. In the upcoming war of peoples, We [that is, Nicholas II] are not alone: ​​together with Us [with Nicholas II] stood our valiant allies [Nicholas the Second], who were also forced to resort to force of arms in order to finally eliminate the eternal threat of the German powers to common peace and peace.

<…>May the Lord Almighty bless Our [Nicholas the Second] and the weapons allied to Us, and may all of Russia rise to a feat of arms with iron in his hands, with a cross in his heart…»

Chairman M.V. Rodzianko:Long live the Emperor!

(Long incessant clicks: hooray; voice: Hymn! Members of the State Duma sing folk anthem).

[AFTER 100 YEARS, MEMBERS OF THE DUMA OF THE RF ALSO PRAISE “THE GOVERNOR” AND SING THE ANTHEM!!! ]

A discussion of government explanations begins. Social Democrats speak first: from the Labor Group A.F. Kerensky(1881, Simbirsk -1970, New York) and on behalf of the RSDLP Khaustov. After them, various “Russians” (Germans, Poles, Little Russians) spoke with assurances of their loyal feelings and intentions to “sacrifice their lives and property for the unity and greatness of Russia”: Baron Felkersam and Goldman from Courland province, Yaronsky from Kletskaya, Ichas and Feldman from Kovenskaya, Lutz from Kherson. Speeches were also given by: Miliukov from St. Petersburg, Count Musin-Pushkin from the Moscow province, Markov 2nd from the Kursk province, Protopopov from the Simbirsk province. and others.

Against the backdrop of the loyal verbiage that the gentlemen Members of the State Duma were engaged in that day, the speeches of the socialists look like the exploits of the Gracchi brothers.

A.F. Kerensky (Saratov province): The labor group instructed me to issue the following statement: “<…>The responsibility of the governments of all European states, in the name of the interests of the ruling classes, who pushed their people into a fratricidal war, is irredeemable.<…>Russian citizens! Remember that you have no enemies among the working classes of the warring countries.<…>While defending to the end everything dear to us from attempts to be seized by the hostile governments of Germany and Austria, remember that this terrible war would not have happened if the great ideals of democracy - freedom, equality and fraternity - guided the activities of governments all countries».

―――――――

Poems:“You are all so chilling, // Far from ours.

Sausage cannot compare // With Russian black porridge.

Notes from a Petrograd citizen during the Russian-German war. P.V. With. 364 − 384

August 1914.“The Germans are waging this war like Huns, vandals and desperate super-scoundrels. They take out their failures on the defenseless population of the regions they occupy. The Germans mercilessly plunder the population, impose monstrous indemnities, shoot men and women, rape women and children, destroy monuments of art and architecture, and burn precious book depositories. In support, we provide a number of excerpts from correspondence and telegrams for this month.

<…>News from the Western Front is confirmed that German troops set fire to the town of Badenvilliers, shooting women and children there. One of the sons of Emperor William, having arrived in Badenvilliers, made a speech to the soldiers in which he said that the French were savages. “Exterminate them as much as you can!” - said the prince.

Belgian envoy provides irrefutable evidence that the Germans maim and burn villagers alive, kidnap young girls, and rape children. Near villages of Lensino There was a battle between the Germans and the Belgian infantry. Not a single civilian took part in this battle. However, the German units that invaded the village destroyed two farms and six houses, rounded up the entire male population, put them in a ditch and shot them.

London newspapers are full of details about the terrible atrocities of German troops in Louvain. The pogrom of the civilian population continued continuously. Moving from house to house, german soldiers indulged in robbery, violence and murder, sparing neither women, nor children, nor the elderly. The surviving members of the city council were driven into the cathedral and bayoneted there. The famous local library, containing 70,000 volumes, was burned."

It's finished. Rock with a harsh hand

Lifted the veil of time.

Before us are the faces of a new life

They worry like a wild dream.

Covering capitals and villages,

The banners rose, raging.

Through the pastures of ancient Europe

The last war is underway.

And everything about which with fruitless fervor

Centuries argued timidly.

Ready to resolve with a blow

Her iron hand.

But listen! In the hearts of the oppressed

Summoning the Enslaved Tribes

Bursts into a war cry.

Under the tramp of armies, the thunder of guns,

Under the Newports the buzzing flight,

Everything we talk about is like a miracle,

We dreamed, maybe it’s getting up.

So! we've been stuck for too long

And Belshazzar's feast continued!

Let, let from the fiery font

The world will emerge transformed!

Let him fall into a bloody hole

The building is shaky for centuries, -

In the false glimmer of glory

There will be a world to come new!

Let the old vaults crumble,

Let the pillars fall with a roar;

The beginning of peace and freedom

Let there be a terrible year of struggle!

V. MAYAKOVSKY. 1917.TO THE ANSWER!

The drum of war thunders and thunders.

Calls to stick iron into the living.

From every country for a slave a slave

they throw a bayonet onto the steel.

For what? The earth is shaking, hungry, naked.

Vaporized humanity in a bloodbath

just to someone somewhere

got hold of Albania.

The anger of human packs has grappled,

falls upon the world blow by blow

only so that the Bosphorus is free

someone's ships were passing by.

Soon the world will have no unbroken rib left.

And they will take out your soul. And they will trample A m her

just to so that someone

took Mesopotamia into his hands.

In the name of what does the creaking and rough boot trample the earth?

Who is above the sky of battles - freedom? God? Ruble!

When you stand up to your full height,

you who give your life yu them?

When do you throw the question in their face:

What are we fighting for?

Is one of the most studied battles in history, but Great War(1914–1918), which preceded it and was later called the “First World War,” laid the foundation in many ways. However, very few people have studied the First World War well enough before studying the Second World War.

Here are some interesting (and a little shocking) facts about the First World War that you probably didn't know until now.

1. About 65 million people fought in the war. Of these, 10 million soldiers died. In addition, the war claimed 12 million civilian lives

2. Nearly two-thirds of World War I era deaths occurred in combat, making it the first major war to kill more people than disease.

3. The German trenches were built to last. They contained beds, furniture, wardrobes, electric lights and even doorbells.

4. About 30 different poisonous gases were used during World War I, but after the war many countries signed treaties that banned their use in warfare from then on.

5. France was the first country to use poisonous gases against the enemy. They used tear gas grenades to weaken resistance

6. During World War I, the Turks killed about 1.5 million Armenians. This act of genocide later attracted the attention of Hitler and was partially responsible for the Holocaust

7. A Serbian group of terrorists shot and killed Franz Ferdinand, which became the reason for the start of a destructive war. Germany sided with the Austro-Hungarians, while France and Russia sided with Serbia

8. During the First World War, tanks, chemical weapons, a gas mask, anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns, and a flamethrower were used for the first time

9. The trench network of the First World War stretched for about 40,000 km

10. Mustard gas was a widely used weapon in World War I, but due to its unpredictability, no one used it in World War II.

11. German troops shot and killed civilians during the war as an intimidation tactic to prevent people in occupied cities from rising up against the troops.

12. During World War I, Russia mobilized 12 million soldiers, making it the largest army in the war. More than 3/4 were killed, wounded or missing

13. caused almost one third of all deaths during the First World War. In total, approximately 50-100 million people or 2.7-5.3% of the world's population died from the Spanish flu

14. The total cost of the First World War for all participants was more than $200 billion in terms of then dollars (that is, about 11 trillion modern dollars)

15. Machine guns were introduced to the masses during the First World War

16. Millions of soldiers suffered from a disease known as shell shock. Today it is commonly known as PTSD

17. The Germans were particularly adept at intercepting and breaking Allied codes. Subsequently, the Americans began to use radio operators from the Choctaw tribe, who used a complex Indian language, and the Germans could not decipher it

18. As a result of the war, four empires ceased to exist: Russian, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman and German