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WWI: A People's History of the First Global Imperialist War

IN PICTURES: As capitalists fought to divide the world amongst themselves, the workers, colonized and oppressed paid a cost of nearly 40 million lives

While the First World War is often depicted as a primarily European war, the conflict was truly global in scope, exacting a high price tag not only on combatants and working-class civilians in Europe and North America but on colonized and oppressed peoples throughout Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The war can accurately be described as the first global conflict where the belligerents were, by and large, capitalist powers fighting for purely economic interests.

Breaking out in 1914, the war was rooted in the competition of major corporations and national industries for new sources of raw materials and the attempts to re-carve the global geopolitical balance in their favor. While each of the major states cynically claimed to fight for "freedom and civilization" — or, in the case of the Allies, the need to confront "German militarism" — all of the powers sought to gain the upper-hand on one another in terms of economic advantage, seized colonies, and the subjugation of native populations.

However, the war resulted in a loss of nearly 40 million lives and the destruction of several major population centers, making it the bloodiest war Europe had ever seen up to that point. By 1918, several monarchies and empires had collapsed — among them those of Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. The lasting effects of the war resulted in socialist and anti-colonial revolutions in poor regions across the globe, with the tip of the spear provided by the October 1917 Socialist Revolution in Russia which ushered in the creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or USSR.

The period following World War I was marked by numerous conflicts, truces, revolutions, intractable feuds and aspirations toward regional hegemony and global empire, which ultimately resulted in the Second World War.

teleSUR takes a look at the lesser-explored aspect of WWI — the colonized troops, the civilian victims, and the revolutionaries — those who fought for their own freedom rather than for the profits of industrialists and the rich who benefited from the so-called "Great War."

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Munitions factory in Nottinghamshire, England. As governments became increasingly connected to – and eventually beholden to – their national private industries, the advanced European powers began to look for other markets and resources across the globe. They eventually came into sharp competition with one another, which resulted in total war.
Munitions factory in Nottinghamshire, England. As governments became increasingly connected to – and eventually beholden to – their national private industries, the advanced European powers began to look for other markets and resources across the globe. They eventually came into sharp competition with one another, which resulted in total war. Photo:Archive
A 19-year-old Bosnian-Serb nationalist named Gavrilo Princip provided the spark for the war when he assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. A member of the
A 19-year-old Bosnian-Serb nationalist named Gavrilo Princip provided the spark for the war when he assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. A member of the "Black Hand" organization, Princip sought the liberation of Slavs from the Empire of Austria-Hungary and the elimination of the Hapsburg monarchs. Photo:Public Domain
A French officer stands near a cemetery with soldiers recently killed on the frontline at Saint-Jean-sur-Tourbe, eastern France, in December 1916. German novelist and then-conscript Erich Maria Remarque later wrote,
A French officer stands near a cemetery with soldiers recently killed on the frontline at Saint-Jean-sur-Tourbe, eastern France, in December 1916. German novelist and then-conscript Erich Maria Remarque later wrote, "I am young, I am twenty years old; yet I know nothing of life but despair, death, fear, and fatuous superficiality cast over an abyss of sorrow. I see how peoples are set against one another, and in silence, unknowingly, foolishly, obediently, innocently slay one another." Photo:Reuters
Chinese laborers at a roll-call in France, during World War I. The coastal towns of China and Hong Kong, where Britain still had some influence, were the main areas from which Chinese laborers were recruited. Over 320,000 were recruited for service with the Allied Forces despite the fact that China was engrossed in her own domestic turmoil.
Chinese laborers at a roll-call in France, during World War I. The coastal towns of China and Hong Kong, where Britain still had some influence, were the main areas from which Chinese laborers were recruited. Over 320,000 were recruited for service with the Allied Forces despite the fact that China was engrossed in her own domestic turmoil. Photo:National Library of Scotland
Aerial photograph of a British gas attack in progress between Carnoy and Montauban, shortly before the Somme offensive. Montauban, behind German lines, is at the top left and Carnoy, behind British lines, is at bottom right. From severe mustard gas to lethal agents such as phosgene, chemical weapons were widely used and for the very first time in World War I.
Aerial photograph of a British gas attack in progress between Carnoy and Montauban, shortly before the Somme offensive. Montauban, behind German lines, is at the top left and Carnoy, behind British lines, is at bottom right. From severe mustard gas to lethal agents such as phosgene, chemical weapons were widely used and for the very first time in World War I. Photo:Public Domain
Algerian soldiers in Europe during World War I. The First World War saw the colonial empires of France and Britain mobilized to sacrifice themselves in the European imperialist war efforts.
Algerian soldiers in Europe during World War I. The First World War saw the colonial empires of France and Britain mobilized to sacrifice themselves in the European imperialist war efforts. Photo:Library of Congress
Forced from their rich and fertile land, Indian conscripts were forced to fight thousands of miles away for British colonizers and industrialists. Meanwhile, in India, human rights were nonexistent for the native population.
Forced from their rich and fertile land, Indian conscripts were forced to fight thousands of miles away for British colonizers and industrialists. Meanwhile, in India, human rights were nonexistent for the native population. Photo:Imperial War Museum
A Japanese siege gun brought up for the bombardment of Tsingtao (Qingdao), China in 1914. One of the detachment is receiving orders by telephone from the battery commander. Tsingtao was then a German port, under attack by the British and their allies, the Japanese.
A Japanese siege gun brought up for the bombardment of Tsingtao (Qingdao), China in 1914. One of the detachment is receiving orders by telephone from the battery commander. Tsingtao was then a German port, under attack by the British and their allies, the Japanese. Photo:Illustrated War News, 1914
Vietnamese colonial troops from French Indochina disembarking at Camp Saint-Raphael. Over the course of the war, nearly 100,000 so-called
Vietnamese colonial troops from French Indochina disembarking at Camp Saint-Raphael. Over the course of the war, nearly 100,000 so-called "Annamese" troops were deployed in Europe, most as laborers, but several thousand also served in combat battalions. Photo:Bibliotheque nationale de France
Soldiers of the 15th New York National Guard Regiment, who won the Croix de Guerre for gallantry in action, 1919. While the U.S. joined the war later than the European belligerents, it profited handsomely from the weapons trade as well as from private loans extended to the European Allies. The United States finally declared war on Germany in 1917, and its banks and industries reaped major rewards from the war effort.
Soldiers of the 15th New York National Guard Regiment, who won the Croix de Guerre for gallantry in action, 1919. While the U.S. joined the war later than the European belligerents, it profited handsomely from the weapons trade as well as from private loans extended to the European Allies. The United States finally declared war on Germany in 1917, and its banks and industries reaped major rewards from the war effort. Photo:Public Domain
Meanwhile in a Serbian village, which had just been invaded by the vengeful Austro-Hungarian army, a line of Serbian civilians were attached to posts to await their execution by firing squad.
Meanwhile in a Serbian village, which had just been invaded by the vengeful Austro-Hungarian army, a line of Serbian civilians were attached to posts to await their execution by firing squad. Photo:Public Domain
British and German soldiers fraternizing at Ploegsteert, Belgium, on Christmas Day 1914. World War I was raging at the time, but front-line troops initiated the truce, which they documented in photos and letters. Commanders on both sides were furious when they learned of it.
British and German soldiers fraternizing at Ploegsteert, Belgium, on Christmas Day 1914. World War I was raging at the time, but front-line troops initiated the truce, which they documented in photos and letters. Commanders on both sides were furious when they learned of it. Photo:Imperial War Museum
In 1915, there were 2 million Armenians living in the declining Ottoman Empire. During World War I, the Turkish government systematically destroyed 1.5 million Armenians in attempts to unify the Turkish people by creating a new empire, ethnically cleansed and bound by one language and one religion.
In 1915, there were 2 million Armenians living in the declining Ottoman Empire. During World War I, the Turkish government systematically destroyed 1.5 million Armenians in attempts to unify the Turkish people by creating a new empire, ethnically cleansed and bound by one language and one religion. Photo:United to End Genocide / Public Domain
Pontian Greek armed resistance soldiers fought back against Turkish ethnic cleansing, as did other minorities – including Assyrians, Armenians, and Anatolian Greeks.
Pontian Greek armed resistance soldiers fought back against Turkish ethnic cleansing, as did other minorities – including Assyrians, Armenians, and Anatolian Greeks. Photo:Public Domain
Original caption:
Original caption: "Russian Troops in Flight. A remarkable photograph of a scene which followed the recent revolt of Russian troops on the Eastern front. The photo illustrates the first mad rush of the Slavic soldiers at a point of the line, where a cry was raises: 'The German cavalry have broken through.' With the raising of the cry the mad stampede started and not one of the runners paused for breath until he had put several miles between him and the firing line." Photo:National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Demoralized and devastated by the war, and unwilling to quell workers’ demonstrations on the streets of Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), regiment after regiment of soldiers in the city’s army garrison defected to join Bolshevik and socialist rebels on March 12, forcing the resignation of the imperial government and heralding the triumph of the February Revolution in Russia – which eventually paved the way for the October Socialist Revolution led by Marxist leader Vladimir Ilyich Lenin and the Bolshevik Party.
Demoralized and devastated by the war, and unwilling to quell workers’ demonstrations on the streets of Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), regiment after regiment of soldiers in the city’s army garrison defected to join Bolshevik and socialist rebels on March 12, forcing the resignation of the imperial government and heralding the triumph of the February Revolution in Russia – which eventually paved the way for the October Socialist Revolution led by Marxist leader Vladimir Ilyich Lenin and the Bolshevik Party. Photo:Public Domain
Lenin, analyzing World War I, said
Lenin, analyzing World War I, said "The war of 1914-18 was imperialist (that is, an annexationist, predatory, war of plunder) on the part of both sides; it was a war for the division of the world, for the partition and repartition of colonies and spheres of influence of finance capital." Soldiers loyal to workers' and soldiers' councils, or "soviets," attacking the Czar's police in the early days of the March Revolution. Photo:Public Domain
The reading of a proclamation at the Tower of David in Jerusalem, December 11, 1917 -- two days after the Ottoman Army had surrendered and handed the city over to Allied troops.
The reading of a proclamation at the Tower of David in Jerusalem, December 11, 1917 -- two days after the Ottoman Army had surrendered and handed the city over to Allied troops. Photo:Library of Congress
Within the defeated German Empire, an uprising of unorganized soldiers broke out in Berlin in November, 1918. Soon, the Spartakus League  (depicted above) – led by Independent Social-Democrats and Marxists Karl Liebknicht, Rosa Luxemburg, Leo Jogiches, and Clara Zetkin, began forming revolutionary workers' committees which armed themselves. They were eventually liquidated by right-wing militiamen led by the right-wing Social Democrats who headed the Weimar Republic, the successor government to the German Empire.
Within the defeated German Empire, an uprising of unorganized soldiers broke out in Berlin in November, 1918. Soon, the Spartakus League (depicted above) – led by Independent Social-Democrats and Marxists Karl Liebknicht, Rosa Luxemburg, Leo Jogiches, and Clara Zetkin, began forming revolutionary workers' committees which armed themselves. They were eventually liquidated by right-wing militiamen led by the right-wing Social Democrats who headed the Weimar Republic, the successor government to the German Empire. Photo:Archive
Irish republicans seeking independence launched a revolt against brutal colonial rule in the heroic Easter Rising of 1916. Here the lying in wait on a roof getting ready to fire on the occupying forces of the British Empire. Leader James Connolly, who was executed afterwards, stated shortly prior to the revolt,
Irish republicans seeking independence launched a revolt against brutal colonial rule in the heroic Easter Rising of 1916. Here the lying in wait on a roof getting ready to fire on the occupying forces of the British Empire. Leader James Connolly, who was executed afterwards, stated shortly prior to the revolt, "'Those who live by the sword shall perish by the sword' say the Scriptures, and it may well be that in the progress of events the working class of Ireland may be called upon to face the stern necessity of taking the sword (or rifle) against the capitalist class..." Photo:Public Domain
Published 28 July 2016
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