Causes of The Great WarCauses of The Great War

““isms” gone awryisms” gone awry

NationalismNationalism

ImperialismImperialism

MilitarismMilitarism

In January 1871 German In January 1871 German unification took place unification took place under the leadership of under the leadership of Chancellor Otto Von Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck and Kaiser Bismarck and Kaiser

William I.William I.

Europe was never the Europe was never the same again.same again.

Secret alliances in Secret alliances in

Europe were made and Europe were made and changed, sides shifted, changed, sides shifted, but in the end there but in the end there were two major treaties.were two major treaties.

By 1895, Europe was By 1895, Europe was divided into two divided into two alliances: The Dual alliances: The Dual Entente and the Triple Entente and the Triple AllianceAlliance

Britain prided herself on Britain prided herself on her policy of 'Splendid her policy of 'Splendid Isolation'.Isolation'.

This policy meant that This policy meant that she would only get she would only get involved with British involved with British Empire matters and didn't Empire matters and didn't wish to tied up in any wish to tied up in any continental alliance continental alliance

However, Britain became worried about losing However, Britain became worried about losing control of the seas and foreign intervention in her control of the seas and foreign intervention in her colonies.colonies.

With the entrance of Britain the Dual With the entrance of Britain the Dual Entente became the Triple EntenteEntente became the Triple Entente

There were other, There were other, smaller alliances too - smaller alliances too - such as Russia's pledge such as Russia's pledge to protect Serbia, and to protect Serbia, and Britain's agreement to Britain's agreement to defend Belgian defend Belgian neutrality.neutrality.

Not to mention the fact Not to mention the fact that most of the heads of that most of the heads of state of Europe were state of Europe were related. Queen Victoria related. Queen Victoria of England had 9 of England had 9 childrenchildren

Who married into almost Who married into almost every royal family in every royal family in Europe.Europe.

Princess Victoria at the time of her wedding in 1858

Making the King of Making the King of England, the Tsarina of England, the Tsarina of Russia, and Kaiser Russia, and Kaiser Wilhelm all first Wilhelm all first cousins.cousins.

There were a number of There were a number of 'minor' conflicts that 'minor' conflicts that helped to stir emotions helped to stir emotions in the years immediately in the years immediately preceding 1914.preceding 1914.

The Russo-Japanese War The Russo-Japanese War in 1902 - the Japanese in 1902 - the Japanese astonished the western astonished the western powers by destroying powers by destroying the entire Russian fleet the entire Russian fleet at the Battle of at the Battle of Tsushima. Tsushima.

Germany took note of Germany took note of the fallacy of the myth the fallacy of the myth of Russian of Russian "invincibility". "invincibility".

A shaken Tsar, Nicholas A shaken Tsar, Nicholas II, was determined to II, was determined to restore Russian prestige restore Russian prestige and what better way to and what better way to achieve this than achieve this than through military through military conquest?conquest?

Strife in the Balkans was Strife in the Balkans was nothing new.  In 1912 it nothing new.  In 1912 it continued with war continued with war between Italy and between Italy and Turkey, over the latter's Turkey, over the latter's African possessions.  African possessions. 

Peter of SerbiaPeter of Serbia

    Having concluded peace Having concluded peace with the Italians, Turkey with the Italians, Turkey found itself engulfed in found itself engulfed in war with four small war with four small nations over the nations over the possession of Balkan possession of Balkan territories: Greece, territories: Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria - Serbia and Bulgaria - and later Montenegro.and later Montenegro.

Later in the 1913, Later in the 1913, conflict erupted again in conflict erupted again in the Balkans, as the Balkans, as Bulgaria, unsatisfied Bulgaria, unsatisfied with its earlier spoils, with its earlier spoils, fought with its recent fought with its recent allies in an attempt to allies in an attempt to control a greater part of control a greater part of Macedonia Macedonia

Despite an end to the Despite an end to the fighting in 1913, fighting in 1913, nothing had really been nothing had really been settled and tensions settled and tensions remained high. remained high. 

The numerous small The numerous small nations that had found nations that had found themselves under themselves under Turkish or Austro-Turkish or Austro-Hungarian rule for Hungarian rule for many years stirred many years stirred themselves in themselves in nationalistic fervor. nationalistic fervor.

By 1914, trouble was not By 1914, trouble was not restricted to the smaller restricted to the smaller nations.  The Austro-nations.  The Austro-Hungarian empire was Hungarian empire was affected by the Balkans and, affected by the Balkans and, under the ageing Emperor under the ageing Emperor Franz Josef, was trying to Franz Josef, was trying to control the opposed ethnic control the opposed ethnic groups in the empire.groups in the empire.

The assassination of The assassination of Franz Ferdinand by the Franz Ferdinand by the Serbian nationalist Serbian nationalist secret society, the Black secret society, the Black Hand, provided the Hand, provided the Austro-Hungarian Austro-Hungarian government with the government with the opportunity to stamp its opportunity to stamp its authority over the authority over the region. region.

Russia, ally of the Slavs - Russia, ally of the Slavs - and therefore of Serbia - and therefore of Serbia - had been struggling to hold had been struggling to hold back full-scale revolution back full-scale revolution ever since the Japanese ever since the Japanese military disaster of 1905. military disaster of 1905. 

In 1914, the Tsar’s government saw war with In 1914, the Tsar’s government saw war with Austria-Hungary as an opportunity to restore Austria-Hungary as an opportunity to restore social order - which indeed it did, at least social order - which indeed it did, at least until the continuation of repeated Russian until the continuation of repeated Russian military setbacks, military setbacks,

Rasputin's intrigue at Rasputin's intrigue at courtcourt

RasputinRasputin There lived a certain man in Russia long There lived a certain man in Russia long

agoagoHe was big and strong, in his eyes a He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glowflaming glowMost people looked at him with terror Most people looked at him with terror and with fearand with fearBut to Moscow chicks he was such a But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dearlovely dearHe could preach the bible like a preacherHe could preach the bible like a preacherFull of ecstacy and fireFull of ecstacy and fireBut he also was the kind of teacherBut he also was the kind of teacherWomen would desireWomen would desire

RA RA RASPUTINRA RA RASPUTINLover of the Russian queenLover of the Russian queenThere was a cat that really was goneThere was a cat that really was goneRA RA RASPUTINRA RA RASPUTINRussia's greatest love machineRussia's greatest love machineIt was a shame how he carried onIt was a shame how he carried on

He ruled the Russian land and never He ruled the Russian land and never mind the Czarmind the CzarBut the kasachok he danced really But the kasachok he danced really wunderbarwunderbarIn all affairs of state he was the man to In all affairs of state he was the man to pleasepleaseBut he was real great when he had a girl But he was real great when he had a girl to squeezeto squeezeFor the queen he was no wheeler dealerFor the queen he was no wheeler dealerThough she'd heard the things he'd doneThough she'd heard the things he'd doneShe believed he was a holy healerShe believed he was a holy healerWho would heal her sonWho would heal her son

RA RA RASPUTINRA RA RASPUTINLover of the Russian queenLover of the Russian queenThere was a cat that really was goneThere was a cat that really was goneRA RA RASPUTINRA RA RASPUTINRussia's greatest love machineRussia's greatest love machineIt was a shame how he carried onIt was a shame how he carried on

But when his drinking and lusting and his But when his drinking and lusting and his hungerhungerfor power became known to more and more for power became known to more and more people,people,the demands to do something about this the demands to do something about this outrageousoutrageousman became louder and louder.man became louder and louder.

"This man's just got to go!" declared his "This man's just got to go!" declared his enemiesenemiesBut the ladies begged "Don't you try to do it, But the ladies begged "Don't you try to do it, please"please"No doubt this Rasputin had lots of hidden No doubt this Rasputin had lots of hidden charmscharmsThough he was a brute they just fell into his Though he was a brute they just fell into his armsarmsThen one night some men of higher standingThen one night some men of higher standingSet a trap, they're not to blameSet a trap, they're not to blame"Come to visit us" they kept demanding"Come to visit us" they kept demandingAnd he really cameAnd he really came

RA RA RASPUTINRA RA RASPUTINLover of the Russian queenLover of the Russian queenThey put some poison into his wineThey put some poison into his wineRA RA RASPUTINRA RA RASPUTINRussia's greatest love machineRussia's greatest love machineHe drank it all and he said "I feel He drank it all and he said "I feel fine"fine"

RA RA RASPUTINRA RA RASPUTINLover of the Russian queenLover of the Russian queenThey didn't quit, they wanted his They didn't quit, they wanted his headheadRA RA RASPUTINRA RA RASPUTINRussia's greatest love machineRussia's greatest love machineAnd so they shot him till he was And so they shot him till he was deaddead

(Spoken:) Oh, those Russians...(Spoken:) Oh, those Russians...

and food shortages combined to bring about the and food shortages combined to bring about the long-threatened total revolution, which, long-threatened total revolution, which, encouraged by Germany, brought about encouraged by Germany, brought about Russia's withdrawal from the war in 1917. Russia's withdrawal from the war in 1917.

Following her defeat by Following her defeat by Prussia in the Franco-Prussia in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-Prussian War of 1870-71, together with the 71, together with the annexation by Germany annexation by Germany of French territories, of French territories, Alsace and Lorraine, the Alsace and Lorraine, the French government and French government and military alike were military alike were united in thirsting for united in thirsting for revenge. revenge.

Germany's military Germany's military unsettlement arose as unsettlement arose as Kaiser Wilhelm II was Kaiser Wilhelm II was finding himself largely finding himself largely frustrated in his desire frustrated in his desire to carve out a grand to carve out a grand imperial role for imperial role for Germany. Germany. 

He found that most of He found that most of the good areas had been the good areas had been already snapped up by already snapped up by the other colonial the other colonial powers.powers.

Not that Wilhelm II was Not that Wilhelm II was keen upon a grand war.  keen upon a grand war.  Rather, he failed to Rather, he failed to foresee the foresee the consequences of his consequences of his military posturingmilitary posturing

and his determination to and his determination to construct both land and construct both land and naval forces the naval forces the equivalent - and better - equivalent - and better - than those of Britain than those of Britain and France.and France.

What about the fact that Germany would What about the fact that Germany would have to fight a war on two fronts, if they have to fight a war on two fronts, if they fought France and her ally, Russia?fought France and her ally, Russia?

The Schlieffen Plan, had The Schlieffen Plan, had been crafted to deal with been crafted to deal with a two-front war a two-front war scenario.  The plan, scenario.  The plan, which very nearly which very nearly succeeded, was to succeeded, was to conquer France, to knock conquer France, to knock her out of the war, on a her out of the war, on a 'Western Front', within 'Western Front', within five weeks -five weeks -

before, the Germans calculated, Russia could before, the Germans calculated, Russia could effectively mobilize for war on the 'Eastern effectively mobilize for war on the 'Eastern Front' (which they estimated would take six Front' (which they estimated would take six weeks).weeks).

The German plan took The German plan took no real account of no real account of Britain's entry into the Britain's entry into the war. war. 

The German government The German government gave no credence to the gave no credence to the possibility that Britain possibility that Britain would uphold her would uphold her ancient treaty to defend ancient treaty to defend Belgian neutrality, Belgian neutrality, instead of following her instead of following her own self-interest and own self-interest and stay out of the fighting.stay out of the fighting.

So, Austro-Hungarian So, Austro-Hungarian determination to impose determination to impose its will upon the its will upon the Balkans; Balkans;

a German desire for a German desire for greater power and greater power and international influence, international influence,

which sparked a naval which sparked a naval arms race with Britain, arms race with Britain, who responded by who responded by building new and building new and greater warships, the greater warships, the DreadnoughtDreadnought; ;

a French desire for a French desire for revenge against revenge against Germany following Germany following disastrous defeat in disastrous defeat in 1871; 1871;

Russia's anxiety to Russia's anxiety to restore some restore some semblance of national semblance of national prestige after almost a prestige after almost a decade of civil strife decade of civil strife and a battering at the and a battering at the hands of the Japanese hands of the Japanese military in 1905;military in 1905;

these things were the causes of The Great War.these things were the causes of The Great War.