WWI Introduction

The growing tensions among different European nations caused them to mobilize a strong military. The nations were convinced that they needed a strong military to be considered truly great. By 1914, all of the Great Powers except Britain had large armies. The increase in military power made countries cautious of each other, increasing tensions among them. This tension caused distrust and paranoia between the countries, leading to WWI.

By the end of the 19th century, the rivalry among Europe's Great Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, and France) had begun to increase. The escalation of the rivalry can be traced back to the competition of materials and territorial disputes (Including the French's loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany in the Franco-Prussian War in 1870) Austria-Hungary and Russia both tried to take control of the Balkan Peninsula. Inside the Peninsula, the nationalism aggravated the various ethnic groups including Serbians, Bulgarians, Romanians, and others that demanded their independence. Government propaganda before the war increased feelings of nationalism.

Around the time between 1864 and 1871, Otto von Bismarck, Chancellor of the German Empire, used war to unify Germany. Bismarck saw France as a threat and thought they wanted revenge for the loss of their territory, Alsace-Lorraine. Hence, Germany became allies with Austria-Hungary. Three years later, Italy joined the alliance, making the Triple Alliance. However, in the 1890s, Kaiser Wilhelm II took control of Germany and forced Bismarck to resign. Kaiser wanted to show the world how strong and great Germany’s power was. So he first let Germany’s treaty go on a hiatus with Russia. Russia then reacted by forming defensive barriers and joining in a military alliance with France. Bismarck, however, was apprehensive about Germany fighting a war on two fronts against Russia and France. Next, Wilhelm started to raise a powerful navy that was able to rival the powerful British fleet. Britain responded by making an alliance with France and later with both France and Russia called the Triple Entente.