Causes of WWII

International Baccalaureate History

Rasmus Puggaard Hansen IB History HL

2.u 9/12-2007

The Causes of World War I

Why and how did multinational problems in the Balkans develop into a European war in 1914?

Word Count: 1563

Date due: December 11th, 2007

By Rasmus Hansen

2.u

Birkerød Gymnasium

CONTENTS

Introduction ……………………………………………………3

The Triple Alliance..…………………………………………...3

The Triple Entente..……………………………………………4

Conflicts in the Balkans………………………………………..4

Balkan wars…………………………………………………….5

July Crisis and Blank Cheque…………………………………5

Conclusion………………………………………………………6

Bibliography……………………………………………………7

The causes for World War I are very complex and include a large number of factors. All the great nations of Europe became involved in a huge and global war, due to diplomatic and multinational problems occurring in the Balkans. Multinational problems led to a massive European war in 1914, due to complex cobwebs of alliances and agreements. Nations felt obliged to interfere in the matter and thereby assisting or supporting their allies which inevitably led to crisis and war.

The Ottoman Empire, along with Russia and Austria-Hungary, had great interest in the Balkans but the situation was marked by disagreements between the nations. Therefore the powerful European powers, including Britain, Germany and France intervened, which ultimately caused the situation to spiral out of control. Moreover, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, is by many historians believed to be the main reason for the world war, however, the following July crisis was a result of growing multinational problems in the Balkans.

The causes of World War I include many factors such as national politics, cultures, economics, and a complex web of alliances and counterbalances that developed between the various European powers over the course of the nineteenth century.

To fully understand and value the different alliances at the time, each alliance must be explained separately. The nations were indeed divided, and there was a clear lack of trust between them.

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To fully understand and value the different alliances at the time, each alliance must be explained separately. The nations were indeed divided, and there was a clear lack of trust between them.

The Dual Alliance is the first I want to discuss. It was a German-Austrian Alliance and it was signed in a treaty on October 7, 1879. Otto von Bismarck feared Russia, and he knew that if he allied her, relations with Austria would deteriorate, and enmity with Britain could become a possibility. He feared that France, Russia and Austria would come together and destroy Germany, so he consulted with Austria and the Dual Alliance was formed. This alliance meant that in case of a Russian attack, the nations would support and help each other. However, in case of an attack by another European power, the other partner would remain neutral and not help, unless Russia would intervene.

In 1882, Italy joined in the alliance, thus creating the Triple Alliance. This was a very powerful military alliance consisting of the in particular strong nations of Germany and Austria-Hungary, and supported by Italy. Basically, the alliance promised military support in case of an attack by two or more great powers, or in Germany and Italy’s case; an attack by France alone. Italy however, would later sign a secret alliance with France meaning that it would not support Germany and Austria-Hungary. Thus, in 1915, Italy joined on the war on the side of the Triple Entente and its allies.

The Triple Alliance was a very strong power to be trifled with in Europe.

Other European nations, such as Britain, France and Russia were worried about becoming isolated, when they witnessed how the Triple Alliance was created.

France had been diplomatically isolated since their defeat in 1870 in the Franco-Prussian war. Russia as well, were isolated and worried about the threat posed by the Triple Alliance. A series of steps led to the signing of an alliance by France and Russia in 1894 as relations gradually improved, even though the countries were so different. Russia had been provided with loans from France since 1888 which improved the relationship slowly, and ultimately led to the Franco-Russian alliance.

Then, in 1904, Britain formed an alliance with France, called the Entente cordiale (“Cordial understanding”), which marked the beginning of a strong bond between the nations. Morever, in 1907, the Triple Entente was finally formed as Britain, France and Russia came together and signed a very powerful alliance, which would become a strong counterweight to the Triple Alliance and the threats it posed to other European nations.

Conflicts in the Balkans were at a peak in the years up to World War I. In 1909, a very serious event took place called the Bosnian crisis. Bosnia-Herzegovina, which was under Turkish rule, was annexed by Austria-Hungary. This act caused increased tension among the Great Powers, and was an extremely important contributor to the Great War (WWI). Turkey and Russia disapproved of Austria-Hungary’s act, as Turkey ruled Bosnia, and Russia supported the Serbs who wanted to have Bosnia integrated in its own state. Germany lacked allies and its only real trustworthy ally was Austria-Hungary, and therefore Germany supported Austria in its cause as she felt she was obliged to aid her. Austria-Hungary was considering an attack on Serbia to crush the resistance, but she knew that this act could easily have dire consequences. She feared that Russia, who supported Serbia’s fight for independence, would intervene and aid Serbia, and therefore relied upon German assistance if necessary. Germany was asked where she stood in this matter, and Germany’s reply was to support Austria-Hungary and mobilize if necessary. Russia, who were worried about the vast power of Germany and Austria-Hungary would not risk open war because of Serbia and pulled out of the conflict, which meant great humiliation of Russia. However, it had consequences for Germany as well, as the Russians came closer to their allies, Britain and France.

Moreover, the Ottoman Empire had control of the Balkans and the countries of the Balkans (Bulgaria, Montenegro, Greece and Serbia) were developing rising nationalist feelings. The situation grew and led up to the conflict in 1912, the First Balkan War. United, the Balkan countries formed the Balkan League, and took back the soil which belonged to them and forced the Ottomans (Turks) back, thus resulting in the Treaty of London, where the new land taken was adjusted and discussed. One of the results was an independent Albania which Austria-Hungary and Italy strongly supported, while Britain and Germany remained neutral. In the Second Balkan War, Bulgaria fought its former allies Greece and Serbia, supported by the Ottoman Empire and Romania. The outcome of the war made Serbia a regional power, thus alarming Austria-Hungary and thereby indirectly providing an important cause to World War I.

The two major alliances, The Triple Entente and The Triple Alliance came into serious clashes regarding the Balkan crises. The interests of Austria-Hungary and Russia in the Balkans completely collided and led to increased tension. Both nations had many interests in the region, and they both supported various groups of people and neither side could afford the other to get an advantage in the area. Austria-Hungary and Serbia had had poor relations with each other for long times. As Russia and Austria-Hungary had these difficulties with one another, their allies, the Triple Entente and Triple Alliance, followed the situation closely offering their support as well, increasing rivalry and tension between the two major alliances

The perhaps most important event that caused World War I was the July Crisis. When Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne and his wife visited Bosnia-Herzegovina on the 28th of June, 1914, they were shot dead by Gavrilo Princip, a Yugoslav nationalist. The political objective was to break off the South-Slav provinces from Austria-Hungary so they could be made into a greater Serbia. After the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary, supported by Germany, wanted Serbia to investigate the matter, however, Gruic, speaking for Serbia announced: “Nothing had been done so far and the matter did not concern the Serbian Government." Following this statement, Austria-Hungary wanted to end the Serbian threat once and for all. They knew that they had the full support of Germany (who had given Austria a Blank Cheque stating their allegiance) in case of war. However, the process were slow and nothing were being done until weeks later. Austria-Hungary failed to realize that a quick and decisive attack on Serbia would end the threat and conflict without pulling in other nations. Austria-Hungary waited until the 23rd of July 1914, to send a harsh ultimatum to Serbia. However, Serbia could not accept these conditions and was aware of the fact that it had Russia’s full support. When Serbia did not accept the ultimatum, Austria-Hungary, followed by Germany, felt that she had no choice but to declare war on Serbia, thus involving Russia. However, this declaration of war against Russia would pull in Russia’s allies, Britain and France (The Triple Entente), making the war develop into a massive European war.

To fully appreciate and understand how WWI was caused, one must look into the many conflicts and tensions that were build up in the years before the war. The Balkan affairs were extremely important as they were what caused a background for a future war. Relations between the countries and more importantly, the alliances, were getting increasingly worse, as nations wanted to give their full support to their allies. These Balkan events build up tension, and when the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot dead by Serbs, the whole situation escalated into war.

Therefore, it is hard to say what directly caused the war. We know that the July Crisis itself set off the war, however, it would not escalate in such an extreme way if the complex events in the Balkans hadn’t taken place.