Causes of world war I
World war I was the first human conflict with the biggest massacre in the world. Never before had human race fought such a devastating and contemptible war. This terrifying war was fought between two hostile groups competing for colonialism and imperialism. The war dtsrted in 1914 AD and lasted till 1918 AD. As the main warring nations, Britain, France, Russia, the United states and Italy fought Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria. Innumerable lives and property were destroyed in the war.
Major causes of the war
Secret treaties
A main cause of World War I were the secret treaties which had begun after Franco-Germany war. Otto Van Bismarck of Germany had taken a policy of expanding his territory by destroying France, etc. immediately after he became the chancellor in 1870. Accordingly, Germany attacked France and captured Alsace and Lorraine in 1871. In order to unally and isolate France, Bismarck signed a secret treaty with Austria-Hungary in 1879 and with Italy in 1882. This is known as the Triple Alliance. Following the downfall of Bismarck, the first chancellor, France tried to rise again and signed a secret treaty with Russia in 1894 and with Britain in 1904. This is known as the Triple Entente. These treaties divided Europe into two hostile groups. Each group was suspicious of the other's motive. So, each began to strengthen their military force. Britain was anxious to see the increasing German force including the navy. So it had joined the alliance that France and Russia had made.
Otto van Bismarck
Competition for armaments
The tradition of armaments had begun from the French revolution. France started armament after it was defeated by Germany in 1870 AD. So Germany too, further strengthened its military force. For instance it had 4.2 million soldiers in 1914 AD. Apparently it was for security reason but, in fact, it was for war. Many European countries had become military camps. There was the environment of suspicion, fear and hatred. Every big country was proud of its military camps. Each country considered it and insult to surrender. This attitude was a major cause of world war I.
Extreme/fanatical nationalism
The unification of Italy was the result of nationalistic feeling. Other countries, too, were motivated by this feeling. Each wanted to surpass others in this field. It was the nationalistic feeling that caused competition between Germany and England to increase naval force. It was the same feeling that Germany took over the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine and became enemy to France. Italy, too, wanted to take the territory where Italian was spoken.
Competition for colonies
In those days, every European nation wanted ro establish their power in other countries. England, France, Russia and Germany had their vast overseas colonies. They wanted to dominate more and more part of the world. They also needed more raw materials for their growing industries and markets to sell the mass products. But, they would be more hostile and unfriendlier to each other as everyone tried to establish their colony in a single territory. They had a cutthroat competition in course of strengthening their colonialism and imperialism.
Role of Media
Sometimes, role of media deteriorates relations and cause conflicts. In the 19910s European media were used for provocation and spreading propaganda. They circulated wrong messages. This practice not only increased hatred and hostility between nations but also made leaders and their public aggressive to their enemies. Military controlled Austro-Hungarian, Serbian and Germany media in particular were very ill-motivated and prejudiced. They provoked their citizens, grow bilateral hostility and increased the possibilities of war.
Balkan crisis
There wads a large Turk-controlled empire in the Balkan region. Turkey was gradually getting weaker and was thus known as the
'Sick man of Europe'. Taking the advantage of declining Turk power, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro formed Balkan league and fought a war in 1912 AD against the mother country which was defeated. The war was known as the First Balkan War. But Bulgaria was not satisfied with the territory it got according to a treaty signed in England. Therefore, Bulgaria attacked its former allies in 1913 AD but was defeated. This is known as the Second Balkan War. Serbia later was seriously enraged by Austro-Hungarian annexation of Bosnia Herzegovina. As a result, a secret organization called Black Hand Society was formed by serb nationalists who wanted the reunification of their nation. Black Hand was guided by its motto 'Unification or death'; 'Unity or Death'; Death of Tyranny!'
Immediate cause
The immediate cause of the war lay on the enmity between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. In 1908 AD Austria had annexed Bosnia Herzegovina (a part of Serbia) into its territory. Austria was trying to destroy Serbia at any cost. On June 28, 1914 AD, the Austrian Prince Archduke Franz Ferdinand along with his wife Sophie was on tour of Bosnia Herzegovina. Gavrilo Princip, a young member (19) of the Black Hand society shot the prince and his wife to death. Austria believed that the government of Serbia had hand in the murder. This event highly provoked the Austrian people. they began to prepare for war. On July 23, 1914 AD Austria put some conditions before Serbia demanding an immediate reply.
Austria-Hungary wanted:
- Serbia to take full responsibility for the murder, though Princip was not Serbian but Bosnian. Austria claimed that the conspirators confessed to the murders being planned with Serbian approval and weapon.
- The right to police 'anti-Austrian' groups within Serbian.
- The right to prosecute these and other conspirators in Austrian courts.
The 48-hour ultimatum delivered to the Serbian foreign Ministry by the Austro-Hungarian ambassador to Serbia were very formidable (tough to deal with). However, Serbia conceded many of the conditions and was taking time for more considerations. It was consulting its allies including Russia. But Austria was not satisfied. The Austrian leaders and military officials were impatient for war. So on July 28, 1914 AD Austria attacked Serbia. This was the outbreak of the first World war because Serbia was backed (supported) by Britain and Russia.
Having fought for 4 years (1,565 days), Germany and its allies were badly defeated. German emperor William II fled to Holland leaving the country to be declared a republic.
