GS1 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): World War 1 & 2 | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1: How far is it correct to say that the First World War was fought essentially for the preservation of balance of power? (UPSC GS1 Mains)
Answer:  
Introduction
World War I, which spanned from July 1914 to November 1918, was primarily fought between the Allied Powers and the Central Powers. Although the conflict is often attributed to efforts aimed at maintaining the balance of power in Europe, this explanation only partially captures the complex web of causes behind the war.

Body:

Balance of Power as a Contributing Factor:

1. European Alliances: 

• The formation of alliances was rooted in the desire to counterbalance emerging threats.
• The Triple Entente included France, Russia, and the United Kingdom.
• The Triple Alliance was formed by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy to uphold their influence in Europe.

2. Shifting Power Equations:

• Germany’s Rise: Germany's swift industrial growth and military buildup were perceived as destabilizing by other major powers.
• Following the war, Germany was heavily penalized—economically and territorially—while efforts were made to empower France, Germany's historic rival.
• Decline of Empires: The weakening of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires created power vacuums, contributing to regional instability.

Other Contributing Factors:

1. Imperial Rivalries:
Competition over colonies, especially in Africa and Asia, heightened tensions among European powers. The struggle for resources and markets intensified global rivalries and contributed to the outbreak of war.

2. Militarism:

• By 1914, nations such as Great Britain and Germany had significantly expanded their armies and navies.
• This military buildup promoted the belief that national strength lay in mass mobilization.
• For example, Germany’s mobilization near the Russian border was perceived as a provocation, prompting Russia to respond in kind.

3. Nationalism:

• A surge in nationalist ideologies across Europe fueled ethnic conflicts and territorial disputes.
• A notable example was the aspiration of Slavic populations in Bosnia and Herzegovina to join Serbia, challenging Austria-Hungary's control.

Conclusion:
Although the balance of power played an important role in the lead-up to World War I, it was far from the only cause. The war was also driven by a mix of aggressive nationalism, imperial ambitions, economic competition, and internal political pressures, all of which combined to push Europe into a devastating conflict.

Q2: ”There arose a serious challenge to the Democratic State System between the two World Wars.” Evaluate the statement. (UPSC GS1 Mains)
Answer: 
Introduction
The leading democratic great powers had emerged the victors in WWI. During the political reconstruction of Europe, republics had replaced many monarchies. Yet the sad truth was that by the outbreak of World War II, the majority democratic states of central and Eastern Europe were annexed by stronger neighbors.
Serious challenge to the Democratic State System between the two World Wars:

• Suspension of parliamentary sovereignty
• Militarisation of society
• Regulation and control of the economy
• Breaches of international agreements
• Pre-war authoritarian nationalists

Rise of the Democratic State System between the two World Wars:

• All the main alternatives to democracy suffered political, economic, diplomatic and military failures.
• New national states began with a democratic constitution.
• Newly formed national states took the place of the previous empires in post WW-I period

Q3: The Second World War gave a great stimulus to nationalist movements in colonies. Comment.  (UPSC GS1 Mains)
Answer: 
Introduction
Second World War had a major impact on the process of ‘decolonisation’. This gave rise to several nationalist movements. Decolonisation was the withdrawal of colonial powers from colonies and the acquisition of political or economic independence by such colonies.
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Factors behind the nationalistic movement rise following WWII were:

• Principle of national self-determination: This principle, upholds by the charter to the UN and grants the freedom to decide the best government for themselves to inhabitants of the land. The principle was given a boost by the rising the nationalistic sentiments in colonies that were inspired by the same ideologies motivating European powers to fight for their cause in WWII. 
• To contain rising communist influence: United States exhorted European colonial powers to grant independence to colonies, lest they would fall under communist influence. 
• Economic and political instability in colonial power: One of the ramifications of WWII was the ascendancy of United States and USSR as two superpowers and fall of former colonial powers who suffered heavily in WWII. They were more concerned with their national reconstruction and thus couldn’t rule in colonies at the same time. 
• National Movements in colonies Africa: The freedom struggle in African Colonies adopted different means. i.e., from gradualism or peaceful transition in Ghana under Kwame Nkrumah to violent struggle in Kenya under Jomo Kenyatta. 
• India: Indian National Congress launched the Quit India movement in 1942 and gained independence on 15th August 1947. 
• South-East Asia Vietnam: An Indo-French colony, gained independence following victory in ‘Battle of Dien Bien Phu’ (1954) Indonesia gained independence, following the surrender of Japan in August 1945. 
• Cambodia: Cambodia gained independence from French imperialism in 1953. Conclusion Post-WWII, almost everywhere, colonial exploitation was challenged by powerful nationalist movements. Hence, the war gave a great stimulus to nationalist movements in colonies.

Q4: To what extent can Germany be held responsible for causing the two World Wars? Discuss critically. (UPSC GS1 Mains)

Answer: 
Introduction
The First World War was the result of developments on political-military front which were taking place after the exit of Bismark. The new King Kaiser William II was young and impatient and his foreign policy divided Europe into two hostile blocks. 

Body
Key Points

• Formation of Alliances and Rise of Nationalism: There was an end to French isolation as new alliances were formed between France-Britain & France -Russia & also the Triple Entente. However, the immediate reasons were arms race, diplomatic humiliation of Germany during Moroccan crisis, etc. There was spread of rapid nationalism due to unfulfilled nationalistic aspirations. The fight for colonies also added fuel to the fued. 
• Balkan Crisis and Germany’s Role in Instability: Austria-Hungary wanted war to settle Serbia challenge forever. Serbia wanted a war to attract attention of big power towards Serbian cause. The interference of Germany in Ottoman empire through infrastructure development created doubt about intentions of Germany. Thus, developments in Germany only acted as a catalyst, in the equation which was already very unstable. 
• Treaty of Versailles and Economic Collapse of Germany: Germany was defeated in World War I and they were forced to pay heavy reparations to the victors. Their economy could not take the pressure and it fell apart. Severe inflation and depression followed. As a result of the Treaty of Versailles and the economic disasters that followed, the German people became very resentful towards the victors of World War I, namely France and Great Britain. Therefore, Germany started the fight against them in lieu of conquering Europe and gaining the pride back. 
• Hitler’s Aggression and Prelude to World War II: Later Hitler defied the Versailles and Locarno treaties by remilitarising the Rhineland. He encountered little opposition from other European powers. Germany and Italy formed the Rome-Berlin Axis. A month later, Germany and Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact, which Italy joined in the following year. This all led to World War II.

Q5: The birth of the League of Nations on the ruins of the First World War was welcomed. However, it could do little to prevent the Second World War. Examine. (UPSC GS 1 Mains)
Answer:
Introduction
The outbreak of the First World War during 1914-18 made the leaders of the world establish an international organisation for preventing future wars. The idea to create a world organization to maintain peace and prevent future wars was given by the American president Woodrow Wilson. His Fourteen Points underlined the creation of a general association of nations.
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Key Points

• Early Successes of the League of Nations: The league in its initial days did taste some success as it was able to avert possible confrontations between various nations by successfully mediating between them such as: The dispute between Sweden and Finland on the ownership of the Aland Islands. 
• Non-Political Achievements of the League: The frontier dispute between Turkey and Great Britain’s mandated territory of Iraq etc. The League, also did a lot of non-political work related to abolishing slavery, supervising and issuing loans for nations, establishing the health organisations, organising technical conferences. 
• Social Reforms and Humanitarian Work: It also worked for controlling trafficking in dangerous drugs, peasant reforms, suppression of trade in obscene literature etc. In spite of its efforts for two decades, the whole world was involved in war again in 1939.
• Failure to Maintain World Peace: The League failed in its main objective of maintaining peace in the world. There were multiple causes for its failure such as First and foremost, major powers like the USA and the USSR were not members of the League of Nations. This was a serious defect.
• Lack of Universality and Biased Perception: There were many states which considered the Treaty of Versailles as a treaty of revenge and were not prepared to ratify the same. By not ratifying the treaty, they refused to be members of the League. There was a feeling among the nations that the League of Nations was fully dominated by the victorious countries of World War I especially France and England. The result was that the other states began to doubt about the working of the League of Nations.
• Rise of Dictatorships and League’s Inaction: After World War I, situations arose for the rise of dictatorships in Italy, Japan and Germany. Manchurian conquest of Japan, capturing of Abyssinia by Italy and German rearmament could not be challenged by the League. The already weak international organisation was further weakened when nations like Japan, Germany and Italy left the League. Small nations lost their faith in the working of the League. 
• Perception of Powerlessness: They felt that the League of Nations had no power to control the aggressive activities of the big powers. 

Conclusion 

The birth of the League of Nations on the ruins of the First World War was welcomed. However, the member states of the League did not cooperate. As a result, the League failed in its mission, eventually resulting in the breakout of the Second World War.