Question

Write a note.

The immediate cause of the First World War

Answer 1

1. The Austrian Prince, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Serbia by a Serbian maniac.
2. In Austria, people believed that this whole act was maneuvered by the Serbian Kingdom. Hence, Austria called a war against Serbia.
3. Russia came in to help Serbia. Two distinct groups of European nations were formed, one group supporting Austria and another supporting Serbia.
4. Austria and Hungary were trying to suppress Serbia and Germany was on their side. Belgium had a neutral policy.
5. Even then, Germany attacked Belgium and established their supremacy there. England stood up with Belgium and called a war against Germany.
6. Now Germany, Austria, Turkey, Bulgaria (known as ‘central powers’) were on one side and England, France, Russia (known as ‘allied nations’) were on the other.
7. Later, Italy joined the allied powers. In the last stage of the war America joined in with the allied nations.
8. A naval war was fought in 1916 between Germany and England at Jutland in the North Sea and German navy was defeated. It resulted in a peace treaty in 1918, known as ‘The Treaty of Versailles’. This peace treaty put an end to the First World War.