The great disillusionment referred to in the first paragraph of War World is the widespread loss of faith in human progress, democracy, and reason that followed World War I. The war had been catastrophic, resulting in the deaths of millions of people and the destruction of much of Europe. The war also led to the collapse of several empires, including the Ottoman Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Russian Empire. The war had also led to the rise of new ideologies, such as communism, that challenged traditional notions of democracy and capitalism.