Assess in general terms the economic, social and political impact of the First World War on Europe

The first 200 words of this essay...

Assess in general terms the economic, social and political impact of the First World War on Europe.

At the end of the First World War in 1918, the economic, social and political state of Europe was such that the potential rebuilding of the continent seemed a distant and unrealistic vision.

The war had affected much of Western Europe, in particular France and Germany, not to mention Belgium, Italy and Austria. In addition vast regions of Eastern Europe also suffered dearly as Russia's bloody involvement in the war took its toll. Consequently over 8 million people were directly killed in fighting and many more millions were injured or unaccounted for. It's no surprise therefore that the impacts of the war were so strong and far reaching; the majority of Europeans suffered in one way or another. Geographical borders changed, industry changed, demographics changed but most importantly, politics in Europe changed forever. The rise of Hitler and Lenin, arguably the two most important political characters of the twentieth century, came as a direct result of the war. Women's lives across Europe changed forever as did the economy of the continent.

In no way can the impact of