World War I was a dreadful war that happened from July 28th, 1914 to November 11th, 1918. This four years war did cost a lot. Many people lost their homes, money, peacefulness and even souls. The after war effect was really influential to the countries involved and it mostly bad. Their citizens were starved, their economical condition decreased because they use all of their money and wealth to pay all the weapons and ransom they used in the war, and many other inopportune things occurred due to the war.
World War I did not happen without any reasons. The war originally arose because of the murder of Prince Franz Ferdinand and his wife, who came from Austria by one of Serbia terrorists named Gavilo Princip. This incident caused Austria to ask for help from Germany to fight against Serbia. Russia helped Serbia to face the war, and then Russia was attacked by Germany. These, subsequently, were the root to the bigger conflicts that included so many countries with many different political reasons, which later on called World War I or Great War or War of the Nations or War to End All Wars. The latest may not be true for this war actually cause bigger conflicts among many countries to appear.
World War I engaged two big allies. They were Axis and Allies. While Axis included Great Britain, Russia, United States of America, France, Canada, Italy and many other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and many other countries, Allies included Austria (at that time this country was called Austria-Hungary), Germany, Bulgaria and Ottoman Imperialism.
As abovementioned, Australia was one of countries that included in World War I. At that time, Australia had just become a federal state. It took place on January 1st, 1901 after a long journey to become united as Australia. It was due to the fact that before 1901, Australia was only an association of some states, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Northern, Western Territory and South Australia, which regarded one another as economics rivals. After a long struggle to assure the Great Britain government and their own citizens that they were strong enough to build their own country, those states united become one country called Australia. However, Australia, at that time, was still under the leadership of Great Britain government, or it may be more well-known as commonwealth of Great Britain (which is still like that up to at the moment). When the World War I was happening, Australians had an idea to support Great Britain by sending their soldiers to help Great Britain in fighting against the allies, although Australian’s navy was just structured on 1991, which may not be as strong as others’.
The support that Australians gave to their soldiers to fight and help Great Britain win the World War I may mean many things to them. As we know that at that moment Australia just became a federal state. People around the world possibly had not known the existence of this new country yet. It could be one of the reasons why Australia whole-heartedly lent Great Britain a hand to fight against the allies with its newborn navy. Australia wanted to show the world that there had been a country called Australia. Even though it was still a new country, Australia could contribute to the big occasion that was happening to the world right that moment.
Besides, to show the power the country had may be another reason for Australia to include itself into the war. As stated in the history of Australia, Australians avoided holding wars during the struggle to free itself from Great Britain because they think the wars that might happen would surely cost a lot, for example their money, peacefulness and particularly citizens’ souls. Since it was a new country that just emerged thirteen years before the war happened, the help that Australia gave to Great Britain in the World War would be very essential. Thirteen years was too short for a country to be known by the world and taken into account in anything occurred in the world. Power was one of the most essential things to have and show at that time so that other countries would not underestimate Australia.
Furthermore, every war was seen from every people in this world’s point of view. People’s point of view may be really significant to Australia. In this sense, Australia including itself to the World War I may change people’s point of view about Australia’s position compared to Great Britain, which historically was famous for its power because this country colonized many other countries. Formerly, people around the world may see that Australia’s position was under Great Britain in every way. It may be true in the term of diplomatic relation because Australia, even though had become federal state, was still under the control of Great Britain. Yet, by joining World War I to support Great Britain’s army, people’s view towards Australia was hoped to change. It may change into a view that Australia and Great Britain were actually equal. It could be proven by the fact that Great Britain virtually still needed the help from Australia, which basically under its control and relatively inferior contrasted to the superiority of Great Britain, to face the war.
From all of the things aforesaid, apart from the loss that Australia got from including itself in World War I, that previously, in the effort of having its own sovereign, evaded; I can state that World War I had big influences to Australia. World War I, however atrocious it was, played a big positive role to Australia. It was for after including itself in the war, other countries around the world began to know Australia and considered the country as one of countries that needed to be brought into play in the world. It indirectly helped the new country to show its existence to the world and also the power Australia had that it, later on, would not be underrated by other countries.
