The Central Powers vs. The Allies in World War I

In World War I, some of the world’s largest powers faced off in a grueling test of strength and will that lasted more than four years.

On June 28, 1914, a Serbian nationalist assassinated Franz Ferdinand, the Archduke of Austria and heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The event triggered a domino effect, with multiple countries declaring war based on their alliances. The conflict pitted two powerful and determined coalitions. The Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire faced off against the Allied nations of Britain, France, Italy, Russia, and the United States.

World War I Central Powers: Germany

German Kaiser Wilhelm II, 1905. Source: Wikimedia Commons/German Federal Archives, Koblenz

The German Empire led the Central Powers during World War I. However, the Germans did not directly initiate the conflict. Instead, Germany went to war through an alliance (known as the Triple Alliance, as it also included Italy) with Austria-Hungary. Germany had one of the largest militaries at the start of the war, with 4.5 million soldiers available, and it boasted a significant navy.

When the war began, Germany immediately went on the offensive. The German Empire felt itself surrounded and threatened by the alliance between Britain, France, and Russia. The first objective was to knock out archrival France rapidly.

German armies were successful in the first weeks of the war. They conquered most of Belgium and pushed into France. Closing in on Paris, a French counterattack finally stopped the advance. Fighting on the Western Front then bogged down into a war of attrition, with stagnant battle lines through trench warfare.

On the Eastern Front, Russia attacked Germany first, pushing into East Prussia in August 1914, while the bulk of German forces rushed into France in the west. Although Russian forces outnumbered the Germans, the Russians were slow and disorganized. Under General Paul von Hindenburg, the Germans surrounded and forced the surrender of one Russian army group and the retreat of another.

German infantry on the battlefield, photograph by Underwood and Underwood, c. 1917-1918. Source: Wikimedia Commons/US National Archives and Records Administration

Germany slowly advanced in the east. After the collapse of the Russian government, the new Bolshevik regime negotiated a peace treaty in 1918. The agreement gave Germany control of the Baltic, Poland, and Ukraine.

In East Africa, an expanded conflict took place between Germany and the Allies. While heavily outnumbered, German forces held off Allied attacks and continued fighting until the German surrender.

While Germany saw success in the East, it was short-lived. In June 1918, a new western German offensive reached within five miles of Paris before halting. The Allies launched a summer counteroffensive that pushed back German lines with heavy casualties, forcing total capitulation in November.

Austria-Hungary’s Role as a World War I Central Power

Franz Joseph I of Austria, 1908. Source: Wikimedia Commons/Library of Congress, Washington DC

The assassination of the Archduke of Austria set off the events of World War I, making Austria-Hungary the center of the conflict in the early days. Austria-Hungary quickly declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914. Russia then declared war on the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy, which was backed (and encouraged to start the conflict) by Germany.

Despite being a key European power, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had several major weaknesses. As a multi-ethnic nation, the people of Austria-Hungary spoke many diverse languages, making it difficult to organize a cohesive military force. When the war broke out, the military was also less prepared and developed than other powers’ forces, particularly lacking in artillery and airplanes.

The main battlefronts for Austria-Hungary were Serbia, Italy, and Russia. Heavy fighting occurred on the Serbian front in 1914, causing many casualties. However, the Serbians repelled the larger Austro-Hungarian forces. German and Bulgarian assistance to their ally helped defeat and occupy Serbia in 1915.

An early battle in 1914 between Austria-Hungary and Russia was the Battle of Galicia, which caused an Austro-Hungarian retreat. Russia captured significant territory. With Germany’s help, the Central Powers went on the offensive against Russia in 1915. Russian forces retreated from the gains they had made earlier and continued to fall back.

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