"There was no general drift to war in 1914 rather there was the determination of one power (Germany) to exploit the Balkan crisis to change the international status quo in its favour". Critically evaluate this statement.

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“There was no general drift to war in 1914 rather there was the determination of one power (Germany) to exploit the Balkan crisis to change the international status quo in its favour”. Critically evaluate this statement.

            I agree completely with the above statement. This statement is accurate for a huge number of reasons. For example Germanys policy in the Balkans, and Germanys tactical alliance with Austria-Hungary. Once Germany felt the uneasiness in the feelings of Europe it used this uneasiness to its advantage. For a long time Germany waited in the wings so to speak for the chance to gain ground over Britain. When the Balkan crisis happened Germany viewed this as their chance to “change the international status quo in its favour”.

           

            In Europe during the late eighteen hundreds, late nineteen hundreds there existed an alliance system. On one side you had a triple alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy and on the other you had a triple entente of France, Russia and Britain. The coming together of these countries marked an important stage in the process whereby Europe divided itself into two armed camps. This system of alliances, backed by military arrangements was an important factor in ensuring that once war came it should very rapidly become a general war. This alliance system came into full force during the Balkan crisis of nineteen twelve and nineteen thirteen. These inter-relationships meant that potentially the crisis might escalate into a European war.

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            During the years before the Balkan crisis, Germany knew what was to be gained in that part of Europe. Russia with her revived interests in Balkan affairs and her newly aroused alarm at the growth of Austro-German influence at Constantinople, put herself in the matter of the pig-war behind Serbia and encouraged her resistance to Austrian demands, while Russia’s associates France and Great Britain, stood by as silent aiders and abettors. Germanys support for Vienna was a crucial influence on the outcome of the Balkan crisis, for without the backing of Berlin, Vienna ...

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