Explain How Russia's Animosity That Led To World War 1

Garrett Hart

HST 355 Total War and Crisis Modernity

Due: September 28, 2015

Russia’s Animosity that Led to World War I When World War I is discussed in school the initial perception of everyone seems to be that Germany was the power hungry country that waged war upon the continent without any remorse. That the countries of France, United Kingdom and Russia were merely the alliance that was defending themselves without any instigation towards what we came to know as the Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire. The country I will be focusing on will be Russia in the years prior to the breakout of the First World War in how external and internal pressures and conflicts helped shape the mindset of those in power of the Russian

I will also be delving into how fellow countries such as Germany, Serbia versus Austria-Hungary as well as alliance commitments contributed to the sparking of a world war though what I would call a perfect storm of warring personalities and vengeful pasts. The nation of Russia was not an economic or industrial powerhouse as the other countries of Europe were progressing at a much faster pace. Russia’s government itself was lagging behind those of Europe in the sense that complete control was in the hands of the Tsar Nicholas II who seemed to switch advisors on a whim depending on the situation which would become an issue in coming crisis of 1914. One of the events that would set up animosity from Russia towards Austria-Hungary and Germany was when Austria wanted to annex the land of Bosnia-Herzegovina but in exchange would allow Russia to have naval access to strait of Constantinople. The issue came about in that Austria-Hungary declared that Russia had accepted the agreement before they were able to discuss the terms with Great Britain and France which created tension between the two parties. Germany had also stepped in on side of Austria

The country of Germany was considered still new as it had only been unified decades prior to the First World War, but the massive growth of the nation as well as victories over the neighboring hegemonic power of France bolstered its confidence that it could control Europe. “There can be no doubt on this point. The nation is made up of individuals, the State of communities. The motive which influences each member is prominent in the whole body. It is a persistent struggle for possessions, power, and sovereignty, which primarily governs the relations of one nation to another, and right is respected so far as it is compatible with advantage. So long as there are men who have human feeling and aspirations, so long as there are nations who strive for an enlarged sphere of activity, so long will conflicting interests come into being and occasions for making war arise (Williamson and Van Wyck 2003);(Friedrich Von Bernhardi, 2003, 81)(5).” This writing show how Germany saw itself as a sovereign nation that would only be carrying out the actions to dominate the continent as any other nation would do if put into the same position. The country’s war strategy itself known as the Schlieffen plan which even its enemies knew of was one that was meant for quick strikes and taking the