World War I's origins were complex, rooted in nationalism, imperialism, and militarism. European powers formed alliances, engaged in colonial rivalries, and built up their militaries, creating a powder keg of tensions.

The Balkans became a flashpoint as the Ottoman Empire declined and nationalist movements grew. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 triggered a chain reaction of alliances, leading to widespread mobilization and declarations of war.

Nationalism and imperialism

• Nationalism and imperialism were two powerful forces that shaped European politics and international relations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
• These ideologies contributed to increased tensions and rivalries among European powers, setting the stage for the outbreak of World War I

Rise of European nationalism

• Nationalism is the belief in the superiority and sovereignty of one's own nation, often accompanied by a desire for independence or dominance
• In the 19th century, nationalist movements emerged across Europe, such as in Germany, Italy, and the Balkans
• Nationalist sentiments led to the unification of Germany and Italy, as well as the desire for self-determination among various ethnic groups within larger empires (Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire)
• The rise of nationalism created a sense of pride and loyalty to one's nation, but also fueled rivalries and conflicts with other nations

Imperialism and colonial rivalries

• Imperialism is the policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means
• European powers engaged in a scramble for colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, driven by economic, political, and strategic interests
• Colonial rivalries intensified as nations competed for resources, markets, and prestige
• Examples of colonial conflicts include the Fashoda Incident between Britain and France in East Africa and the Moroccan Crises between Germany and France
• Imperial ambitions and colonial rivalries heightened tensions among European powers and contributed to the formation of alliances

European alliances and diplomacy

• In the years leading up to World War I, European nations formed a complex system of alliances and engaged in diplomatic maneuvering to protect their interests and maintain the balance of power
• However, these alliances and diplomatic efforts ultimately failed to prevent the outbreak of war

Bismarck's alliance system

• German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck created a system of alliances in the late 19th century to isolate France and maintain peace in Europe
• Bismarck's alliances included:
  • The Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary (1879)
  • The Triple Alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (1882)
  • The Reinsurance Treaty between Germany and Russia (1887)
• Bismarck's alliance system was designed to prevent a two-front war against Germany and maintain a balance of power in Europe

Entangling alliances

• After Bismarck's dismissal in 1890, the alliance system became more rigid and entangling
• The Franco-Russian Alliance (1894) and the Anglo-French Entente Cordiale (1904) countered the Triple Alliance
• The alliances divided Europe into two opposing camps: the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) and the Triple Entente (France, Russia, Britain)
• These alliances created a "domino effect," where a conflict between two nations could quickly escalate into a larger war involving multiple countries

Failure of diplomacy

• In the years before World War I, diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts and maintain peace ultimately failed
• The Hague Conferences of 1899 and 1907 attempted to establish international laws and prevent war, but lacked enforcement mechanisms
• Diplomatic crises, such as the Moroccan Crises and the Bosnian Crisis, were resolved through negotiations but increased tensions and mistrust among European powers
• The July Crisis of 1914, triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, exposed the limitations of diplomacy in preventing war

Militarism and arms race

• Militarism, the belief in the supremacy of the military and the glorification of war, was prevalent in Europe in the early 20th century
• The arms race, particularly the naval rivalry between Germany and Britain, fueled military buildups and heightened tensions among European powers

Naval rivalry between Germany and Britain

• Germany, under Kaiser Wilhelm II, sought to challenge British naval supremacy by building a powerful navy
• The German Naval Laws of 1898 and 1900 initiated a significant expansion of the German navy, alarming Britain
• Britain, determined to maintain its naval dominance, responded with the construction of the Dreadnought-class battleships (1906)
• The Anglo-German naval race strained relations between the two countries and contributed to the formation of the Triple Entente

Military buildup across Europe

• In the years before World War I, European nations engaged in a general military buildup, increasing their armed forces and investing in new weapons and technologies
• Examples of military buildups include:
  • France's Three-Year Service Law (1913), which extended the length of military service
  • Russia's Great Military Program (1914), which aimed to modernize and expand the Russian army
  • Austria-Hungary's military reforms and expansion after the Bosnian Crisis (1908-1909)
• The military buildups created a sense of insecurity and heightened the risk of war, as nations felt pressure to act quickly in a crisis before their rivals could gain an advantage

Instability in the Balkans

• The Balkans, a region in southeastern Europe, was a major source of instability and conflict in the years leading up to World War I
• The decline of the Ottoman Empire, the rise of Balkan nationalism, and the interference of great powers in the region all contributed to the increasing tensions

Decline of the Ottoman Empire

• The Ottoman Empire, which had ruled much of the Balkans for centuries, was in decline by the early 20th century
• The empire faced internal challenges, such as ethnic tensions and political instability, as well as external pressures from European powers
• The Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, in which the Balkan states defeated the Ottoman Empire and expanded their territories, further weakened the empire and destabilized the region

Pan-Slavism and Balkan nationalism

• Pan-Slavism was a movement that sought to unite all Slavic peoples, including those in the Balkans, under Russian leadership
• Russia, as a Slavic nation and the protector of Orthodox Christians, supported Balkan nationalist movements and saw itself as the natural ally of Slavic states in the region
• Balkan nationalism, inspired by the successful independence movements of Serbia and Greece in the 19th century, led to the desire for self-determination among Slavic peoples in the Austro-Hungarian Empire (Bosnians, Croats, Slovenes)
• The growth of Balkan nationalism and Pan-Slavism alarmed Austria-Hungary, which feared the disintegration of its multi-ethnic empire

Annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina

• In 1908, Austria-Hungary annexed the Ottoman provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which it had been occupying and administering since 1878
• The annexation angered Serbia and Russia, who saw it as a violation of the Treaty of Berlin (1878) and a threat to their interests in the Balkans
• The Bosnian Crisis, which followed the annexation, increased tensions between Austria-Hungary and Serbia and strained international relations
• The crisis was resolved through diplomacy, but it left a legacy of bitterness and mistrust that would contribute to the outbreak of World War I

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo was the immediate catalyst for the outbreak of World War I
• The assassination and its aftermath exposed the deep-seated tensions and rivalries among European powers and led to a chain of events that culminated in the declaration of war

Gavrilo Princip and the Black Hand

• Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist and member of the Black Hand, a Serbian secret military society, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie
• Princip and his fellow conspirators were motivated by the desire for Bosnia's independence from Austria-Hungary and the creation of a Greater Serbia
• The Black Hand, also known as Union or Death, was a Serbian nationalist organization that sought to unite all Serbs in a single state, often through violent means
• The Serbian government, while not directly involved in the assassination plot, had ties to the Black Hand and supported its nationalist goals

Austria-Hungary's ultimatum to Serbia

• In response to the assassination, Austria-Hungary, with the support of Germany, issued an ultimatum to Serbia on July 23, 1914
• The ultimatum made ten demands, including the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda, the arrest of conspirators, and the participation of Austro-Hungarian officials in the investigation
• The ultimatum was designed to be unacceptable to Serbia, as Austria-Hungary sought a pretext for war to eliminate the Serbian threat to its empire

Serbia's response and international reactions

• Serbia, after consulting with Russia, its ally, agreed to most of the demands but rejected those that infringed upon its sovereignty
• Austria-Hungary, unsatisfied with Serbia's response, declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914
• The declaration of war triggered the system of alliances, as Russia mobilized in support of Serbia, and Germany, in turn, declared war on Russia and France
• The international reactions to the crisis were mixed, with some powers, such as Britain, initially seeking to localize the conflict, while others, like Germany, saw an opportunity to achieve their long-term goals
• The failure of diplomacy and the rapid escalation of the crisis demonstrated the fragility of the European balance of power and the devastating consequences of the alliance system

Mobilization and declarations of war

• Following the Austro-Hungarian declaration of war on Serbia, the system of European alliances and military plans led to a rapid escalation of the conflict into a global war
• The mobilization of armies and the declarations of war by various nations marked the beginning of World War I

Russia's mobilization

• Russia, as Serbia's ally and protector, began partial mobilization of its armed forces on July 29, 1914, in response to Austria-Hungary's declaration of war
• On July 30, Russia ordered a general mobilization of its forces, which was seen as a provocative move by Germany and Austria-Hungary
• Russia's mobilization was driven by its desire to support Serbia and its fear of losing influence in the Balkans to Austria-Hungary and Germany

Germany's war plans and ultimatums

• Germany, which had pledged support to Austria-Hungary, saw Russia's mobilization as a threat and an opportunity to execute its Schlieffen Plan
• The Schlieffen Plan was a military strategy that called for a quick defeat of France in the west followed by a shift of forces to the east to confront Russia
• On July 31, Germany issued an ultimatum to Russia, demanding that it halt its mobilization within 12 hours, and to France, inquiring about its intentions in the event of a Russo-German war
• When Russia failed to comply with the ultimatum and France indicated its support for Russia, Germany declared war on Russia on August 1 and on France on August 3

Domino effect of war declarations

• The German invasion of neutral Belgium on August 4, as part of the Schlieffen Plan, led Britain to declare war on Germany, honoring its commitment to defend Belgian neutrality
• The entry of Britain into the war brought its global empire into the conflict, escalating it into a world war
• Other nations, such as the Ottoman Empire and Italy, would soon join the war on opposing sides, driven by their own interests and alliances
• The rapid succession of war declarations and mobilizations in early August 1914 demonstrated the devastating consequences of the alliance system and the failure of diplomacy to prevent a major conflict
• The domino effect of war declarations set the stage for a prolonged and brutal conflict that would reshape the political, social, and economic landscape of Europe and the world