Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Causes of the First
World War
- Long term rivalry between the
Great Powers of Europe
- Tensions intensified before
the first world war.
- Conflict and competition emerged
over the size of the armed forces
and an arms race developed.
- arms race between Britain & Germany over
naval armaments and Germany, France &
Russia over army size.
- Problems in the Balkans
- Conflicts and power struggles that took place in the
Balkans were a source of instability before the war
- The Ottomans had controlled
the area but their grip had
weakened
- In 1908 Austria-Hungary
annexed Bosnia, a
multi-ethnic state
containing man serbs
- The alliance system
- Formation of 2 groups of alliances
added to tensions in Europe
- France, Britain and Russia
formed the Triple Entente
- Germany, Austria-Hungary and
Italy joined together in the Triple
Alliance
- Germany feared the possibility
of fighting, against Russia and
France
- Developed the Schlieffen Plan
- The murder of Franz Fedinand
- 28th June 1914
- Killed by Gavrilo Princip
- heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne
- The murder was organised by
Serb nationalists who wanted
Bosnia to unite with Serbia
- Russia, concerned to prevent
Austria-Hungary from gaining more
territory from Serbia, mobilised their
army and the Austrians (backed by
Germany) invaded Serbia on July 19th