WWI: What?

What was WWI, what did it affect, and what was the outcome? At first, WWI was a war of self defense, Serbia was trying to protect itself from the possibilities of Austria-Hungary retaliating for the death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Soon as more and more countries joined the war, it became a war on many fronts for many reasons. This led to a Total War; this means that all of the countries aspects were affected, its citizens, government, supplies, and its overall being of a country. For Germany this happened on two fronts, the East against Russia and the West against France. Alfred von Schlieffen, who was the German Army Chief of Staff, Proposed a war strategy were 90% of Germany's troops would attack France through Belgium; while the rest went to the East to defend against Russia. This was effective in the attack against Russia in the East but led more to be desired in the West. The outcome of WWI was in favor of France and Britain. It left Germany in ruins and Russia in internal turmoil. It also split Austria-Hungary and led to independence in many colonies of European countries.