Thoughts and Reflections on Chapter 17

     While the outbreak of global conflict may not have been an inevitability in 1914, certain factors transformed Europe into a veritable tinderbox waiting to be ignited. The alliances in place at the time (such as the triple alliance, the dual alliance, the three emporers' league, etc.) ensured that if war broke out in Europe, it would likely draw the rest of the continent into the conflict. This, combined with tensions created from geopolitical differences in Africa and Asia along with the Balkans and from the ongoing arms race in Europe, constituted an environment in which world war was possible. The outcome of the (arguably) preventable war was obviously disastrous, both in the long and short terms. While the nine million casualties which led to the lost generation were devastating, the aftermath of the war was arguably worse. The unethical violation of Germany's sovereignty outlined in the Treaty of Versailles established the conditions which were conducive to World War II. Unlike WWI however, the war which arose from the Treaty of Versailles created an environment in which global intervention was necessary as opposed to simply required by alliances.