Causes Leading To WWI
WWI (1914-1918)
by Kim Cox
There’s a ton of information out there on the causes of WWI. Why you ask? Because there were so many reasons why this war started. Seems it had been simmering for many years before it actually took place. Two countries would have a conflict, they’d have a conference, straightening it all out, and two more countries would be in a dispute over something totally different. Europe was pretty much at each others throats from 1871 until the war started in 1914.
Dangers of war constantly increased as the political, social and economic tensions carried the seeds, leading to the adoption by the nations of Europe of domestic measures and foreign polices. During the years of 1913 and 1914 almost all the nations of Europe spent great sums preparing for war.
The major most immediate cause of the war was the assassination of the Austrian Archduke, Francis Ferdinand, heir-presumptive to the throne of Austria-Hungary. Austro-Hungarian relations with Serbia were already strained and when the assassination occurred, Austria-Hungary blamed the Greater Serbian movement and they thought the only way to stop them from disrupting the Austro-Hungarian Empire was to suppress the movement. So they sent Serbia and ultimatum with ten different demands. At the urging of Great Britain and Russia, the Serbian government agreed to all but two. Austria-Hungary declared the Serbian reply unsatisfactory. Russia threatened Austria with mobilizing against them if they marched against Serbia. Germany rejected a proposal submitted on July 26th by Sir Edward Grey, the British foreign minister that a conference of Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy be held to settle the dispute between Austria and Serbia.
Either Austria didn’t believe Russia would mobilize against them or they were prepared to take the chance in order to suppress the Greater Serbian movement, because on July 28th Austria declare war on Serbia. This led to a chain of events. Russia retaliated by partially mobilizing against Austria and Germany threatened war against Russia if they didn’t demobilize. But even though Austria agreed to discuss a possible modification of the demands to Serbia, Russia refused to disband. On August 1st Germany declared war on Russia.
On the same day, France began to mobilize, and on August 2nd German troops crossed Luxemburg and declared war on France August 3rd. But on August 2nd the German government informed Beligum that they planned to march through their country in order to attack France. Belgium refused to permit their passage, counting on signatories of the 1839 treaty that guaranteed them neutrality in case of a dispute between France, Great Britain, and Germany. On August 4th Great Britain issued an ultimatium to Germany for them to respect Belgium’s neutrality. Germany refused and declared war on Belgium the same day.
The war progressed and other countries were drawn into the conflict. Japan, in alliance with Great Britain since 1902, declared war on Germany on August 23rd. The Pact of London, signed by France, Russia and Great Britain in September of 1914 made the Allied unity stronger. Until May 23, 1915 Italy had remained neutral, but to satisfy claims against Austria they declared war against Austria, breaking with the Triple Alliance. The United States joined in the fight on April 6, 1917 by declaring war on Germany.
Here are some dates you may need to know, the crisises foreshadowing the war.
Between 1871 and 1912—Germany kept increasing its military forces
because of the urging of its land-owning and industrial
classes. The British navy stood superior to all the others.
And Germany determined to create a navy greater than that of
the British.
1871-1914—The European nations valued themselves as racial
entities and felt their national interests, ethnic,
political and economic were being threatened, sustained
large standing armies, also increasing the size of its
navies.
1879—Germany and Russia both raised tariff barriers to
exclude the commodities of the other while at the
same time demanding to sell them in the other country.
1882—Italy joined with Austria and Germany in a Triple Alliance.
1891—Russia and France joined in a Dual Alliance.
1895-1902—Great Britain and France were hostile because of a
a rivalry dispute in Africa.
1899-1907—the statesmen everywhere knew that the expense that the
nations had elaborately spent on their military would
eventually cause national bankruptcy or war. They took
several steps for world-wide disarmament. The main effort
was made through the Hague Conferences. However international rivalry had advanced too far. To them
it made good sense that while their neighbor was armed
to arm themselves as well. The nations thought that the
knowledge of all knowing that the other was armed was within
itself assurance that no nation would actually resort to war. (Sounds a little like today, doesn’t it?)
1900-1902—Because of their dispute with France, and because
France was allied with Russia, Great Britain tried to come
to an understanding with Germany, but failed.
1904—Germany and Russia signed a ten-year reciprocity agreement.
1905—though bound by no formal treaty, Great Britain, Russia and
France acted generally as a group in diplomatic matters,
becoming known as the Triple Entente.
1905—Germany stepped in to support Moroccan independence against
France.
1906—France threatened war against Germany but the crisis was
settled by an international conference.
1907—Russia and Great Britain came to an understanding over their
conflicting economic rights in Tibet, Afghanistan and Persia
which increased the Triple Alliance’s solidarity.
1908—The annexation by Austria-Hungary over Bosnia and
Herzegovina was the second crisis. The Greater Serbian
movement in Serbia—one of its objects the acquisition of
by Serbia of the southern part of Bosnia. The only reason
war was avoided was because Serbia couldn’t fight without
the help of Russia and Russia was unprepared for war.
1911—The third crisis, also in Morocco—a warship was sent to
Agadir by Germany, protesting French efforts to secure
paramountcy in Morocco. The matter was adjusted in Agadir
even though threats of war sprouted from both sides.
1911—Italy declared war on Turkey, taking advantage of the pre-
occupation of the Great Powers over Morocco. Since
Germany’s policy was to cultivate friendship with Turkey,
Italy’s attack weakened the Triple Alliance, encouraging
its enemies.
1914—Germany and Russia’s agreement was up for renewal or
modification but Germany feared that Russia, whose army had grown in size would insist on terms Germany wasn’t willing to grant.
1914—The assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, leading
Austria to declare war on Serbia. Germany declared war on
Russia, then France and Belgium. Great Britain declared war
on Germany. Japan declared war on Germany.
1915—Italy declared war on Austria.
1917—The United States declared war on Germany.
Well, mates, in my opinion, what it boils down to are all these nations because of jealousy, and rivalry for economic, social and political power spent huge sums of money to arm themselves to the hilt for protection against their neighbors who were also arming themselves. They thought it made great sense that if everyone owned powerful weapons that no one would declare war but they were wrong.
That’s familiar of today with all the Great Powers of the world generating nuclear weapons, thinking no one would be the first to push the button, thereby destroying themselves in the process. Let’s hope this time the powers that be are right.
Research material used: Universal Standard Encyclopedia, volume 25, copyright 1954 and 1955 by Wilfred Funk, Inc.
