Question

Discuss the main causes of the First World War.

Answer 1

The main causes of the First World War are as follows:

1. European great powers were divided into two armed camps.
2. One camp consisted of the central powers, namely Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey, which was called the Triple Alliance, formed in 1882.
3. Another camp consisted of the Allied powers, namely Britain, France and Russia, which was called the Entente Cordiale, formed in 1904.
4. The aggressive nature of German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II, who proclaimed that Germany would be the leader of the world.
5. The emergence of militant forms of nationalism like England’s Jingoism, France’s Chauvinism and Germany’s Kulthur contributed to the outbreak of the war.
6. Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany wanted to declare Morocco an International colony instead of France occupying it with the support of Britain. Thus, France was hostile to the Germans.
7. Balkan countries like Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Montenegro were succeeding each other in occupying Balkan regions from the Turks. So, to control them, the Balkan League was formed.
8. The Balkan League defeated the Turks in the First Balkan War in 1912.
9. When a dispute arose in sharing the spoils of the war with Bulgaria, the second Balkan war broke out in 1913 against it, and Bulgaria was defeated. Turks and Bulgarians approached Germany for help.
10. Austrian crown prince Ferdinand was killed by a Serbian lad of Bosnia.
11. Austria could get support from Germany, while Serbia could get support from Russia.
12. Germany, therefore, declared war on Russia on 1st August 1914.
13. The Franco-Russian Alliance forced Germany to wage war against France when Britain also supported them.
14. Thus, the First World War broke out between the Central Powers and the Allies in 1914.