WORLD WAR I

World War 1 or the First world war originated from Europe. It was a global war that lasted from
28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918.
The following are the major causes of the war;
1. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
2. Rival Alliances
3. The Arms race
4. Economic Rivalry
5. Colonial Rivalry
6. Naval Rivalry
7. Collapse of the Ottoman Empire
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated on June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo , the capital of the
Austrian province Bosnia. Austria-Hungary was a dual monarchy consisting Austria and
Hungary. Franz Ferdinand was the nephew of the current aging Emperor Franz Josef, and was
set to take his place.
Gavrilo Princip was a Serbian extremist and also the person who would take the life of the
Archduke and spark the killings of many more. The Archduke assassination was under the
orders from the Chief of Intelligence of the Serbian army called the Black Hand.
The Black Hand also known as the Unity of Death, was founded in May of 1911 for the sole
purpose of making Serbia a better nation. The Black Hand has many members and their military
status, intellect, ammunition and manpower were abundant. With a goal of a better Serbia the
members of this group often resorted to violence.
The Austrian government suspected that it was an act of a state-sponsored terrorism. Austria-
Hungary had issues of the budget and the various ethnic groups were trying to tear the country
apart.
Rival Alliances
In 1890 the new emperor of Germany, Wilhelm II, began an international policy that sought to
turn his country into a world power. Germany became more powerful in economy and military
compared to other countries. The creation of unified Germany in 1871 had disturbed the old
‘balance of power’ in Europe.
In 1882, the Triple Alliance was formed between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. This
alliance ensured that each country would support the other if a war ever broke out between
one of the allies and another great power.
This however, led the other great powers feeling threatened about the strength of the Triple
Alliance.
Fear of Germany, it encouraged France, Russia and Britain to form an alliance in 1894. This
pushed Germany into closer alliance with neighbor, the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The
members of the rival power maintained mass armies through compulsory military service.
Rapid developments in military technology forced them to spend huge sums on these armies.
In 1907 the Triple Entente was formed between France, Britain and Russia and stoke German
fears from the encirclement. German nationalist viewed Britain as a barrier to their global
ambitions and German generals increasingly feared the growing military threat of Russia.
Germany had been long time rival of France. France waiting the return of the provinces of
Alsace and Lorraine. Germany was also constantly competing with Britain in a naval arms race.
Austria-Hungary and Russia both wanted control over the Balkans. Italy had some territorial
disputes with Austria-Hungary over the large Italian communities that inhabited the Austrian
empire. The invasion of France and the violation of the Belgian neutrality brought Britain into
the war. British left its policy of isolationism and became allies with Japan. . All of these conflicts
between the two allied groups would result in the World war.

The Arms race