The outbreak of the First World War

• Austria-Hungary Responsibility
• Topic sentence: The harsh ultimatum was not to make Serbia climb down, but instead, was intended to provoke Serbia’s rejection and therefore provide a pretext for an Austrian invasion.

• Assassination at Sarajevo produced two main reactions/:
• Foreign Minister and Chief wanted to settle Serbian threat from fear of increased Serbian power from Balkan wars, dependence on Russia, and moved balance of power from central powers into South-Eastern Europe.
• Feared that Serbia could destabilize Austria-Hungary by inciting rebellion in Southern provines like Bosnia, Herzegovina and Slavonia.
• This would tempt Empire’s Northern slavs into rebellion.
• 2nd reaction was negotiation and caution.
• However, majority vote was for first option, so the harsh ultimatum was administered.
• Berchtold was determined to destroy Serbian threat by military action as opposed to diplomacy.
• The tone of ultimatum antagonized most of Europe, even Ally Italy who said “Austria has plainly shown that she means to provoke a war…”

• Russia’s Responsibility
• Topic sentence: Germany may, in collusion with Austria-Hungary, have precipitated the war, but the Allied powers did little to avoid it.

• Russia and France were willing to accept the challenge.
• Russia had Austrophobia since the  Bosnian crisis of 1908
• Tsar identified Russian diplomacy with expansionism.
• According to memorandum by Sazanov, a conference held by the Tsar on 8th February produced a consensus that a general European war was likely because of collapse of Turkey and Austro-Serb conflict.
• Mobilization plans were prepared to give confidence to Russian General Staff.
• There was constant pressure from the General staff to blind civilian leadership to Russia’s military weaknesses.
• As a result, Russia was the 1st of the major powers to undergo general mobilization.

• France’s Responsibility
• Topic sentence: The main purpose of French diplomacy since 1911 had been to commit Russia to invading Germany with all possible speed in the event of war.

• Poincare observed in 1912 that “France does not want war, nevertheless she does not fear it”.
• Due to anti-German feelings, French military leadership produced a new offensive plan designed to combat German intentions.
• French were deeply concerned about the prospect of a German attack.
• Blank cheque given to Russia by Paris during 1912 Balkan Crisis
• Pressure for Russian Mobilization in July 1914, by Laguiche and Paleologue.

• British Responsibility
• Topic sentence: Britain’s effect to the causes of the war was more pertaining to how she changed the character of the war upon her arrival, as opposed to her actual responsibility for the war.

• With  Britain’s arrival on the 4th of August, it was to be a war fought at sea and in the colonies as well as in Flanders and Poland.
• This was because as an imperial power, Britain didn’t want to be involved in a continental struggle.
• By 4th August, Liberal gov. made a direct commitment to intervene.

Conclusion

• Europe showing a willingness to rush into war was for three main reasons:
• For years the powers had resentments and grievances, being accustomed to pushing claims in order to avoid diplomatic humiliation, which led them to pursue dangerous policies and a willingness to accept the risk of war.
• The alliances can’t be sufficient explanations for outbreak of war because they were defensive (i.e 1879 Dual Alliance), and the way the war broke out had little relation to treaty obligations (e.g. Russia had no contractual obligation to assist Serbia).
• However, alliances did affect international relations (colonization) and contribute to the growth of tension in Europe in the decade before 1914.
• Alliances had direct bearing on the arms race and development of military schedules.