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First Thirty Years' War
The First Thirty Years' War was a set of religious conflicts that occurred throughout much of Europe from 1618 to 1648. The conflict was between Catholic and Protestants regarding the rights of Christian minorities in Europe, especially in Central Europe. The war included four phases: Bohemian and Danish (mainly over religion), and Swedish and French (mainly over political control of parts of Europe). The war was between the Imperial, Catholic League and the Anti-imperial, Protestant Alliance. -
Treaty of Westphalia
The Treaty of Westphalia ended the First Thirty Years' War. It asserted various principles, including the right of princes in the Holy Roman Empire to determine their own religion irrespective of the Emperor's. This led to the creation of new independent states, including Switzerland and the Netherlands, and ultimately weakened the power and influence of the Habsburg dynasty over Europe, which at the time, controlled many of Europe's monarchies, but were mainly located in Austria and Spain. -
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Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a continuation of both previous conflicts in Europe regarding successions, and the control of territory in Europe and European colonies abroad, especially in North America. It was called "the First World War" by Winston Churchill, due to the fact that it involved theaters in Europe, North and South America, Africa, and India. The war was between an Anglo-Prussian Coalition and a Franco-Austrian Coalition, and also involved other European powers such as Russia. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years' War and the French and Indian War. It diminished France's influence and it recognized borders that had been drawn during the War of Austrian Succession, which mainly affected Britain, France, and Spain, who changed ownership over various colonies in North America, with France losing almost all of its North American colonies to Britain and Spain. The treaty resulted in France's loss of political influence in Europe, and it left the country in heavy debt. -
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French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars were a series of conflicts in which Revolutionary France, and the First French Empire, fought against the majority of monarchical powers in Europe. As European powers were defeated, Napoleon I brought these nations, such as the Austrian Empire and Prussia, under his sphere of influence, and was able to control trade throughout most of Europe. However, as a result of poor military decisions and fierce resistance, Napoleon lost the war. -
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna, architected by Austrian Prince Klemens von Metternich after the Napoleonic Wars, was a conference between the victors of the wars and included plans over how to revert the continent's borders and governments back to pre-Revolutionary Europe. The Congress also created a Holy Alliance between Austria, Prussia, and Russia to suppress any liberal or nationalist movements, which were seen as a threat to monarchical power. -
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Second Thirty Years' War
The Second Thirty Years' War was a periodization scheme used by General Charles de Gaulle and Prime Minister Winston Churchill, to describe World War I, World War II and the interwar period as a single conflict. The term was later adopted by some historians, drawing parallels between the conflicts and periods of relative peace between 1917 and 1945 and the First Thirty Years' War. -
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World War I
World War I was a conflict between the Allied Powers, composed of France, Britain, Italy, Russia, and other European nations, and the Central Powers, composed of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria. It encompassed almost all of Europe, as well as European colonies in Africa and Asia. Mainly due to militarism, nationalism, and colonialism, the war was triggered when a Serbian nationalist shot and killed Franz Ferdinand, causing a war of intricate alliances to begin. -
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Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a conflict between the far-left Bolshevik Red Army, and the centrist and right-wing coalition called the White Army. It involved many of the combatants of World War I, such as the Allied Powers, who supported the White Army, and the Central Powers, who supported various independence movements that were taking advantage of the internal chaos, such as Poland, the Caucus states, and Ukraine. Ultimately, the Red Army won, and the USSR was formed. -
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Soviet–Ukrainian War
The Soviet-Ukrainian War, similar to that of the Polish-Soviet War, was a conflict between an independence movement in Ukraine, supported by the Central Powers, and the Ukrainian SSR, supported by the Bolsheviks. During the Russian Civil War, like other nations, Ukraine sought to take advantage of Russia's internal chaos and declare independence. However, they would not have the same luck as the other states, with the Bolsheviks eventually winning, and splitting Ukraine with Poland. -
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Polish-Soviet War
The Polish-Soviet War was a conflict that was part of a spillover from the Russian Civil War. As many former Russian states saw an opportunity to take advantage of Russia's internal chaos, the Bolsheviks wanted to also expand the revolution to Western Europe, and recapture all territory lost during due to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. After four years of fighting, the Polish managed to defend their territory from the Soviets and proclaim an independent Poland. -
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Finnish Civil War
The Finnish Civil War was a conflict between the Red Finnish Army, supported by the Bolsheviks, and the White Finnish Army, supported by the Germans and the White Army in Russia. Unlike the Russian Civil War, the conflict was quick, with the White Army winning within half-year. As a result, Finland gained independence, and the Germans maintained control over the state until the end of World War I. -
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German Revolution of 1918-19
The German Revolution was a period of conflict in the German Empire and Weimar Republic, in which socialist revolutionaries attempted to establish a communist government in the collapsing German state, amidst the political chaos caused by the end of World War I. Fighting against the revolutionaries was the government of the transitioning German state, supported by various right-wing paramilitary groups, such as the Freikorps. The government eventually won, with major paramilitary support. -
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Turkish War of Independence
The Turkish War of Independence was a conflict between the reduced Turkish state, under the command of Mustafa Kemal, fought against the occupying Allied Forces of Greece, Italy, France, and Britain. After World War I, various Allied powers looked to expand their colonial empires into the Middle East and Turkey. General Kemal, dissatisfied with the outcome of the war, led an uprising which expelled the Allied powers, and created the modern-day Turkish state, also expelling minorities. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles ended World War I. The treaty blamed Germany for starting World War I, and punished the Germans by forcing to demilitarize, pay heavy reparations, and cede various some of their territory to new countries created by the treaty, and their colonies to Britain and France. The treaty also affirmed the right to self-determination, and led to the creation of several new countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The treaty fostered deep resentment among Germans. -
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Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War was a conflict between left-wing, Republican Spanish forces led by President Manuel Azaña, and right-wing, Nationalist forces led by General Francisco Franco. It is considered a proxy war by many historians due to the fact that both sides were directly supported militarily by European governments, with the Soviet government supporting Republican Spain, and Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy supporting Fascist Spain. Nationalist forces eventually won the war. -
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World War II
World War II was a conflict between the Allies, composed of Britain, France, and the USSR, and the Axis, composed of Germany and Italy. It encompassed all of Europe in some form, most of Africa, and large portions of Asia. Although directly caused by unchecked German expansion, specifically into Poland, the main cause, at least for the Axis, was resentment towards the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, which Germany found humiliating, and Italy did not receive promised territory. -
Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference was one of many meetings between the European allies regarding the war front and future of Europe. Although not the final peace treaty, this conference was meant to draw up the borders of post-war Europe, as well as create a treaty that was less punitive than the Treaty of Versailles. The Allies decided that an occupation of Germany was justified, based on their role in the war, while also supporting the rebuilding of the country, through programs like the Marshall Plan. -
Charles de Gaulle's Bar-le-Duc Speech
This was a speech given by then-President Charles de Gaulle on the anniversary of the start of World War I. In the speech, he described the "drama of the Thirty Years War we just won," which included World War I, the interwar period, and World War II, as one long conflict. This would be the first recorded reference to these three periods as one long war; however, other war leaders and historians would also make reference to the term in the future. -
Winston Churchill's The Gathering Storm
From 1948 to 1953, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill wrote a six-volume series, titled "The Second World War," providing an account of the period from 1918 to 1945. In his first volume, "The Gathering Storm," Churchill wrote in the preface that the series would "cover an account of another Thirty Years War." This would be the second time the term used by a European leader, and would later be explored by historians regarding the accuracy of such a characterization.