One way Germany should not be blamed for World War 1 is since Germany declared war on Russia for the sole purpose of defending themselves from the threat of the Triple Entente, consequently Germany did not instigate World War 1. Throughout World War 1 which lasted from 1914 to 1918 many nations involved in the war formed formal treaties with other nations for support encase of an attack. From 1864 to 1871 Otto Von Bismark unified Germany through force and identified France as their greatest threat (Lecture 11/28/17). The Triple Alliance consisted of a formal treaty between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Whereas the Triple Entente consisted of Great Britain, France, and Russia. Bismark longed to maintain peace in Europe and to do that he believed he needed …show more content…
During 1888, Kaiser Wilhelm II became the ruler of Germany, he then lapsed the treaty with Russia in 1890. Consequently, Russia formed a alliance with France between 1892 and 1894. Alarmed, Wilhelm wanted a robust navy to equal the British fleet and as a result the threatened Britain formed an entente with France and in 1907 with Russia (Textbook pgs 408-409). Tensions high between the nations of the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente, in 1879 Russia began to prepare its troops for war and began to receive French money and technology. On July 31, 1914 Germany aware of the situation sprawling, demanded that Russia demobilize right after Russia started mobilizing a day earlier but their request was ignored. Germany also pleaded that France declare herself neutral if war occured with Russia in the next 12 hours. Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, 1914 (World War 1 Lecture, 12/4/17). If Russia attacked Austria-Hungary than Germany would be obligated to defend for them due to their mutual alliance, demonstrating an initial war. Consequently, the Russians mobilizing their army brought profound fear upon the Germans along with the fact of French technology and money being