What caused the First World War? | History for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Introduction

Satirical drawing of a game of tug of war. German and Austria are on one side, while Belgium, Britain, France, Yugoslavia, Japan, and Finland are on the other. Italy stands in the center as the judge.

World War Why?

• The First World War, a catastrophic global conflict lasting over four years, resulted in the deaths of 15 to 19 million individuals worldwide. Each casualty represented a human life, whether a soldier on the battlefield or a civilian caught in the turmoil of war. Additionally, the war inflicted severe damage on the global economy and triggered widespread disease outbreaks, claiming millions more lives. Given the immense scale of devastation, it's crucial to explore the underlying reasons for why this conflict occurred.
• Historians have approached the causes of the First World War through three main perspectives. The first theory points to a specific event—the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914—as the primary catalyst. The second perspective delves deeper into underlying global trends that had been evolving over many years, seeking to identify systemic causes. The third theory suggests that the outbreak of war was almost accidental, a result of mismanagement of the crisis triggered by Archduke Ferdinand's assassination.

One Shot: The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire may seem like a distant event, but its significance is profound. In 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had been ruled by the Habsburg family for nearly four centuries. This vast, multi-ethnic empire situated in the heart of Europe faced internal challenges due to rising nationalism among its diverse ethnic communities, many of whom sought independence. Serbia, a neighboring country that had recently gained independence from the Ottoman Empire, harbored nationalist sentiments among its Serbian population living within the Austro-Hungarian province of Bosnia.
• Serbian nationalists, backed by support from Russia and other rivals of the Habsburg Empire, plotted to undermine Habsburg rule in Bosnia. The assassination of Franz Ferdinand was part of this larger plan, with the aim of provoking Austria-Hungary into declaring war on Serbia. The plotters hoped that Russia would come to Serbia's defense, leading to the defeat of the Habsburg armies and the eventual independence of Bosnia's Serbian population.
• The assassination indeed triggered a chain of events. Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum, known as the July Ultimatum, which demanded unreasonable concessions that would violate Serbian sovereignty. Serbia rejected the ultimatum, turning to Russia for support. Russia, in turn, pledged to defend Serbia against any invasion. Diplomatic relations between Serbia and Austria-Hungary deteriorated rapidly, and within a month, the world found itself plunged into war.

Deeper trends: Help me help you help me

• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered a chain of events that ultimately led to the outbreak of World War I, but several underlying trends and factors contributed to the conflict becoming a global war.
• One significant factor was the alliance system that had developed among European powers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Triple Entente, comprising Russia, France, and later Great Britain, stood opposed to the Triple Alliance, which included Germany, Austro-Hungary, and Italy. These alliances created a web of obligations that meant if one member of an alliance went to war, it could drag its allies into the conflict as well, significantly expanding the scale of the war.
• Nationalism also played a crucial role in fueling the war. Serbian nationalism was evident in the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, but nationalism was widespread across Europe. It fueled the belief in national pride and glory, leading countries like France to seek revenge against Germany for past losses and territorial concessions.
• The concept of national sovereignty was another factor that widened the war. Britain, for example, entered the conflict to defend Belgian sovereignty after German troops invaded neutral Belgium on their way to France. Similarly, Russia entered the war to defend Serbian sovereignty.
• Imperialism further accelerated the war, as many countries had imperial objectives in mind. Russia aimed to control the Straits of Dardanelles, giving it access to the Mediterranean Sea. Britain and France sought control over parts of the Ottoman Empire, while Japan joined the war to seize German colonies in the Pacific.
• The belief in the superiority of European powers and the assumption that war would be short and easy also contributed to the escalation of the conflict. The technological advancements of industrialization, including railways for rapid troop mobilization, made war preparations inevitable and irreversible once begun.
• In summary, while the assassination of Franz Ferdinand may have been the immediate trigger for World War I, deeper trends such as alliance systems, nationalism, imperialism, and technological advancements all played crucial roles in turning a localized conflict into a global war.

Accidental war: Missed the memo, hit the target

• The theory that the inadequacy of diplomatic systems and the inability of governments to keep up with the pace of events were the primary causes of World War I is compelling to some extent. Indeed, the rapid mobilization of troops and the cascading series of declarations of war in the summer of 1914 suggest a failure of diplomatic efforts to prevent conflict.
• However, it's essential to consider that deeper underlying trends, such as alliance systems, nationalism, imperialism, and militarism, were already at play before the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. These trends created a volatile environment in which any incident, such as the assassination, could potentially spark a conflict. While better diplomacy might have delayed the outbreak of war, it's uncertain whether it could have prevented it altogether.
• Furthermore, the belief that war was inevitable due to these underlying trends is supported by the fact that many European powers had been preparing for conflict for years, with military build-ups and war plans in place. The idea of a "great war" had been looming over Europe for some time, driven by imperial rivalries, nationalist aspirations, and the belief in military strength.
• In conclusion, while diplomatic failures certainly played a role in the outbreak of World War I, it's likely that deeper underlying trends and long-standing rivalries among European powers were the primary drivers of the conflict. Diplomatic efforts may have delayed the inevitable, but the forces pushing towards war were already deeply entrenched in the geopolitical landscape of the time.