first time Tanks made their first appearance thundering across battlefields throughout Europe Some historians call World War I a tragic and unnecessary conflict Could the worldwide tragedy that toppled governments and caused millions of deaths have been avoided through diplomacy After all diplomacy had settled quarrels between these very same warring nations in the recent past Why didn't diplomacy work this time What events thrust the world's leading powers to the edge of conflict and then further into the chaos of bloody combat AMBITIONS FEARS AND ALLIANCES Historians often view the year 1870 as the starting point of major hostilities between the powerful nations of Europe In that year France fearful of a unification of independent German states declared war on several of those states The better trained and larger German army quickly defeated the French France was forced to turn over to Germany its northeast provinces of Alsace and Lorraine which lay on Germany's western border Otto von Bismarck the German chancellor used the victory to establish the German Empire In the years following the war German industry boomed As Germany gained industrial power it began competing with other European nations including France for overseas trade
Russia too had dreams of expansion especially in the Balkans a large region of southeast Europe Russia viewed itself as the protector of Serbia a Slavic nation wishing to free itself completely from the influence of Austria Hungary Austria Hungary was a union of the Empire of Austria and the Kingdom of Hungary Many of its inhabitants were Slavic minorities such as Serbs who resented Austrian rule By the eve of war in 1914 Europe was THE ARMS RACE divided into two major alliances Nations in each alliance agreed to come to the aid of their partners should the parties be threatened by military aggression Germany Austria Hungary and Italy formed the Triple Alliance The United Europe's mounting tensions and rivalries led to a military buildup across the continent France increased its army from 611 000 to 850 000 between 1912 and 1913 and Germany's army grew similarly Other countries also increased military spending from 1900 until the war Fearful of war with the United Kingdom Germany began a program of building a navy to surpass the powerful British fleet The United Kingdom which had been the world's dominant naval force for 100 years responded by engaging Germany in a naval arms race Kingdom France and Russia came together to form the Triple Entente also known as the Allies Rival governments glorified their military strength and whipped up patriotic passions and distrust of other countries Europe was caught in the grip of fear national pride honor and the alliances each nation had
THE ASSASSINATION OF ARCHDUKE FERDINAND On June 28 1914 Gavrilo Princip a 20 year old Serbian man shot and killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand the heir to the throne of Austria Hungary and his wife Sophie Princip was trained in terrorism by the Black Hand a secret NEWSPAPER REPORT OF THE Serbian nationalist organization that ARCHDUKE S ASSASSINATION was dedicated to freeing Slav lands from The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand made the newspaper headlines around the Austrian rule world On June 29 1914 the New York Times Austria Hungary and its emperor Franz front page blared Heir to Austria's Throne Is Slain with His Wife by a Bosnian Youth to Joseph believed Serbia was responsible Avenge Seizure of His Country The story for the assassination On July 23 continued Two pistol shots were fired in quick succession by an individual who called himself Austria Hungary delivered demands to Gavrilo Princip The motor car in which they Serbia The ultimatum called for Serbia the Archduke and his wife were seated drove straight to the Konak Building where an army to permit Austrian agents to oversee Surgeon rendered first aid but in vain Neither an investigation into the assassination the Archduke nor the Duchess gave any sign among other demands Serbia refused of life However hoping to avoid armed conflict Serbia suggested they negotiate with the help of the Great Powers Austria Hungary refused and confident of German 10
support declared war on Serbia on July 28 From then on events unfolded like falling dominoes THE ROAD TO RUIN Upon Austria Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia the German fleet began mobilizing for armed service The next day July 29 a partial mobilization of Russian soldiers and artillery was heading toward the border with Austria That day Austrian riverboats began bombarding Belgrade Serbia Russia although considering itself Serbia's self appointed protector wanted to avoid war with Germany The Russian emperor Czar Nicholas II appealed directly to Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II The two men were third cousins and had been writing each other letters for many years To try and avoid such a calamity as a European war wrote Nicholas I beg you in the name of our old friendship to do what you can to stop your allies from going too far The czar signed his telegram Nicky I am exerting my utmost influence to induce the Austrians to deal straightly to arrive at a satisfactory understanding with you read Wilhelm's reply But it was too late When news of Russia's partial mobilization reached German military leaders the Germans mobilized their army in response On July 30 the czar ordered full mobilization of his Russian troops 11
