Ww1 Causes

Even though ‘The Great War’ ended over 100 years ago, people are still arguing about how it all started. Beginning in 1914, and involving over 30 countries, World War One was the first major war to impact the world. Nations such as Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Serbia could all be considered factors into the start of war. Before the start of the war, countries faced many internal and external conflicts, leading to rising tensions and concern across Europe, and later the world. Out of many nations who participated in the war, Austria-Hungary and Germany seem to have contributed the most to the start of World War One. Whether it was an assassination, irrational demands, or inane ideas, Austria-Hungary and Germany were conflicting with

The Austro-Hungarians issued an ultimatum to Serbia in the wake of Franz Ferdinand’s assassination, which attempted to settle some of these conflicts. However, the ultimatum was far more beneficial to Austria-Hungary than Serbia. The Ultimatum stated that Serbia must “suppress every publication which shall incite to hatred and contempt of the Monarchy” and “proceed at once to the dissolution of the Narodna Odbrana”(Berchtold). This shows how Austria-Hungary wants to suppress the Serbian people, making sure that they stay under Austro-Hungarian control. By making the Serbians to subdue their hatred for Austria-Hungary, they were surrendering to them and by demanding they disband the Narodna Odbrana, the Austro-Hungarians were trying end all hope the Serbian people have of joining with Serbia. The Austro-Hungarians required that the Serbians “inform the Imperial and Royal Government without delay of the execution of the measures comprised in the foregoing points”(Berchtold). The Austro-Hungarians required that the Serbians comply with the demands, or else war would break out. Because the demands were so outrageous, the Serbians had no other option than to reject them and accept the war. If they accepted the demands, Serbia would be surrendering, similar to if they lost the war. Also, by issuing the Ultimatum to Serbia,

The blank check Germany gave to Austria-Hungary stated that “His Majesty… is not blind to the dangers which threatens Austria-Hungary”(Bethmann-Hollweg) . Even though Germany sees that Russia could get involved in the war, they support Austria-Hungary. If Germany had not supported Austria-Hungary, or encouraged them to take a less militaristic route, German might have been able to prevent the war from even breaking out. Even though Germany claimed that they understood the consequences of going into a war, they actually were pushed by other motives into the war, preventing them from seeing the consequences. First off, Germany was falling behind Russia, and Germany believed the war would be a good opportunity to try and catch up. Kurt Riezler, a German diplomat, stated that the “future belongs to Russia, which grows and grows into an ever greater weight pressing down on our chest”(“WW1: Month of Madness”). This shows that Germany feels pressure from Russia. Because of the pressure, Germany enters the war, thinking it will lift the pressure and become superior to Russia because Russia is not ready for