Causes for the GREAT WAR
The trigger of the first world war was that on the 28th of June 1914, when the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by Yugoslav nationalist Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo. This in turn set off a political crisis when the Austrian-Hungarian empire delivered an ultimatum to the Kingdom of Serbia. The alliances created in the previous decades were invoked, within weeks of this the major super powers in the world were at war, the hostility soon spread throughout the world.
The balance of power in Europe had changed multiple times during the build up to the Great War. These changes in the balance of power go back to 1867. During these decades there had been a lot of wars between the major and unresolved territorial disputes between the Europeans.
One of the territorial problems occurred in 1870-1871, this was the Franco-German war. The Germans won a decisive victory, setting up a powerful empire. As a result France went into disarray and military decline for years. A legacy of bitterness grew between Germany and France following the German occupation of Alsace-Lorraine. The bitterness between the two countries caused the French to desire revenge. The french wanted to avenge their military and territorial losses. The French defeat cause political insecurity. eventually France recovered from the defeat, but it was insecure being neighbors with a more powerful Germany.
The Austrian-Serbian and Bosnian hostility crisis caused a lot of political disarray. It started with the assassination of Alexander 1 of Serbia in June 1903. The newly elected king Peter Karađorđević chose to rely on France and Russia instead of Austria-Hungary. The Serbian ambition to diminish itself from Austrian influence provoked the Pig War, an economic clash that Serbia came out as victor.
Austria took control over the Bosnia-Herzegovina provinces in October 1908. The take over set off an outbreak of protests and diplomatic actions that became known as the Bosnian crisis. The crisis extended until April 1909, when the annex received international resentment through reform of the Treaty of Berlin. During the crisis, the relations between Austria-Hungary, Russia and Serbia, were forever damaged.
The Balkan Wars ( 1912-1913 ) increased international stress among the Russian Empire and Austria-Hungary. This war strengthened Serbia, crippled the Ottoman Empire and impaired Bulgaria, who otherwise would have kept Serbia under restraint, hence disrupting the balance of power in Europe in benefit of Russia.
Russia initially agreed to avert territorial changes, however later in 1912 supported Serbia's appeal for an Albanian port. An international consultation was held in London 1912-1913 where itt was acknowledged to create an independent Albania, although Serbia and Montenegro refused to comply. After an International and Austrian Naval demonstration, the Austrian ministers decided to grant Montenegro one more chance to comply, otherwise they would use military action. The Montenegro's desired the ultimatum to be delayed after seeing the military strength of Austria's army. soon after they complied. After failing to get Albania the Serbian government wanted the other spoils of the First Balkan war be distributed. Russia failed to pressure Serbia into backing down. In consequence Serbia and Greece allied against Bulgaria, which responded with military action kicking off the Second Balkan war. The Bulgarian army clasped quickly after Turkey and Romania joined the war. The Balkan Wars made the German/Austro-Hungarian alliance tense. the German government was divided and unpredictable when the Austrians requested aid against Serbia. After the German Imperial War Council of 8 December 1912 it was obvious that Germany wasn't ready to aid Austria in war against Serbia and her allies.
These clashes showed that the war in the Balkans could alter the power in Europe without provoking all out war and assisted the attitude of the Austrian government.
The balance of power in Europe had changed multiple times during the build up to the Great War. These changes in the balance of power go back to 1867. During these decades there had been a lot of wars between the major and unresolved territorial disputes between the Europeans.
One of the territorial problems occurred in 1870-1871, this was the Franco-German war. The Germans won a decisive victory, setting up a powerful empire. As a result France went into disarray and military decline for years. A legacy of bitterness grew between Germany and France following the German occupation of Alsace-Lorraine. The bitterness between the two countries caused the French to desire revenge. The french wanted to avenge their military and territorial losses. The French defeat cause political insecurity. eventually France recovered from the defeat, but it was insecure being neighbors with a more powerful Germany.
The Austrian-Serbian and Bosnian hostility crisis caused a lot of political disarray. It started with the assassination of Alexander 1 of Serbia in June 1903. The newly elected king Peter Karađorđević chose to rely on France and Russia instead of Austria-Hungary. The Serbian ambition to diminish itself from Austrian influence provoked the Pig War, an economic clash that Serbia came out as victor.
Austria took control over the Bosnia-Herzegovina provinces in October 1908. The take over set off an outbreak of protests and diplomatic actions that became known as the Bosnian crisis. The crisis extended until April 1909, when the annex received international resentment through reform of the Treaty of Berlin. During the crisis, the relations between Austria-Hungary, Russia and Serbia, were forever damaged.
The Balkan Wars ( 1912-1913 ) increased international stress among the Russian Empire and Austria-Hungary. This war strengthened Serbia, crippled the Ottoman Empire and impaired Bulgaria, who otherwise would have kept Serbia under restraint, hence disrupting the balance of power in Europe in benefit of Russia.
Russia initially agreed to avert territorial changes, however later in 1912 supported Serbia's appeal for an Albanian port. An international consultation was held in London 1912-1913 where itt was acknowledged to create an independent Albania, although Serbia and Montenegro refused to comply. After an International and Austrian Naval demonstration, the Austrian ministers decided to grant Montenegro one more chance to comply, otherwise they would use military action. The Montenegro's desired the ultimatum to be delayed after seeing the military strength of Austria's army. soon after they complied. After failing to get Albania the Serbian government wanted the other spoils of the First Balkan war be distributed. Russia failed to pressure Serbia into backing down. In consequence Serbia and Greece allied against Bulgaria, which responded with military action kicking off the Second Balkan war. The Bulgarian army clasped quickly after Turkey and Romania joined the war. The Balkan Wars made the German/Austro-Hungarian alliance tense. the German government was divided and unpredictable when the Austrians requested aid against Serbia. After the German Imperial War Council of 8 December 1912 it was obvious that Germany wasn't ready to aid Austria in war against Serbia and her allies.
These clashes showed that the war in the Balkans could alter the power in Europe without provoking all out war and assisted the attitude of the Austrian government.