why did world war one occur?

Answer 1

For a modern answer to this question, one must begin with Fritz Fischer's famous book, Griff nach der Weltmacht: Die Kriegzielpolitik des kaiserlichen Deutschland 1914-1918 (loosely translated as Bid For World Power: Imperial Germany's Aims in the First World War.
The German General Staff believed for a number of years prior that war with Russia was inevitable. Von Moltke, head of the Staff believed that Germany had a small window of time in which to wage a victorious war against Russia. He also believed that the German people would have to believe that Russian incited the war in order to gain the public's support. Once France allied with Russia, the General Staff believed that a two front war would only be possible if France could be beaten quickly, in time to shift armies to the east. The Germans counted on a slowly mobilizing Russian army and the Austro-Hungarian army to hold the east long enough to allow for the quick action in the west.
The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand was the inciting incident von Moltke and the General Staff had been waiting for and they pressed the reluctant Austro-Hungarians to give the Serbs the ultimatum and eventually declare war. Once the Russians mobilized to support the Serbs agains Austria-Hungary, the Germans mobilized, claiming the Russian mobilization instigated war against the Germans.
For the Germans, speed was ultimate. It would be necessary to defeat the Belgians and French before the British could arrive in force. The Schlieffen Plan broke down when the Belgians (aided by a fast arriving British Expeditionary Force) put up a much stronger fight than the Germans expected and ultimately the plan collapsed at the Marne.
German Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg is on record stating Germany's plans for a MittleEuropa or a United States of Europe. While these objectives were not on paper until after the war had started, there is good evidence they were in existence prior to the war.
Fischer was widely condemned in 1961 by his senior historians for alleging that Germany was responsible for the war and that it indeed had any war aims. However, Fischer's thesis is now widely accepted.
Von Moltke, head of the German General Staff was relegated to a desk job soon after the Schlieffen Plan broke down. Shortly thereafter he lamented to a fellow general that he had been removed from the action of this war that he had "prepared and initiated."

Answer 2

World War I, also known as WWI (abbreviation), the First World War, the Great War, and "The War to End All Wars," was a global military conflict that took place mostly in Europe between 1914 and 1918. It left millions dead and shaped the modern world.

The Allied Powers, led by France, Russia, the British Empire, and later, Italy and the United States, defeated the Central Powers, led by Austria-Hungary, Germany, and the Ottoman Empire.

Much of the fighting in World War I took place along the Western Front, within a system of opposing manned trenches and fortifications (separated by an unoccupied space between the trenches called "no man's land") running from the North Sea to the border of Switzerland. On the Eastern Front, the vast eastern plains and limited rail network prevented a trench warfare stalemate from developing, although the scale of the conflict was just as large. Hostilities also occurred on and under the sea and — for the first time — from the air. More than nine million soldiers died on the various battlefields, and millions of civilians perished.

The war caused the disintegration of four empires: the Austro-Hungarian, German, Ottoman, and Russian. Germany lost its overseas empire, and new states such as Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Yugoslavia were created, and in the cases of Lithuania and Poland, recreated.

World War I created a decisive break with the old world order that had emerged after the Napoleonic Wars, which was modified by the mid-19th century’s nationalistic revolutions. The outcomes of World War I would be important factors in the development of World War II 21 years later.

Answer 3

I believe World War I occured because a Serbian student assasinated an Austrian prince. Before mediation between the two countries could take place, war was declared by the Austrians on Serbia. I'm told the United States was brought into the thick of the war because German subs were sinking U.S. ships.

Answer 4

With the emergence of European colonialism, imperialism ,and development of alliances, the war to be started only needed a powderkeg to be lit. With the problems of 1913 in the Slavic regions and the animosity shown between the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and Serbia, the fuse was ready to be lit.
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian anarchist.
Germany came to the aid of the Austrians and Hungarians and the Ottoman Turks who felt threatened by the British who were allied with France and Russia through the relationship of Queen Victoria and Alexandria the wife of Czar Nicholaus II. Negotiations broke down in late July to prevent the conflict and eventually war was declared on August 1 , 1914.

Answer 5

On June 28,1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria visited Serbia, which was once controlled by Austria and the Ottoman Empire. Furthermore, he purposely visited on the day that the Empire had enslaved Serbia and the day Serbia got it's independence (in different years), as if to rub it in their faces. Naturally, Serbians were ticked off, and a man named Gavrilo Princip (hav-ree-low prin-seep) shot the Archduke and his wife. The austrian emperor, Joseph Ferdinand, issued an ultimatum to Serbia and ended up going to war. From there, a complex system of alliances drew countries into the war.

Answer 6

technically, a lot of stuff happened. Austria Hungary was really mad at Serbia for assassinating the Archduke Francis Ferdinand who was the heir to the throne. there were also issues like National Rivalries and Colonial disputes.

Answer 7

One Thing Led to Another

So then, we have the following remarkable sequence of events that led inexorably to the 'Great War' - a name that had been touted even before the coming of the conflict.

Austria-Hungary, unsatisfied with Serbia's response to her ultimatum (which in the event was almost entirely placatory: however her jibbing over a couple of minor clauses gave Austria-Hungary her sought-after cue) declared war on Serbia on 28 July 1914.


Russia, bound by treaty to Serbia, announced mobilisation of its vast army in her defence, a slow process that would take around six weeks to complete.


Germany, allied to Austria-Hungary by treaty, viewed the Russian mobilisation as an act of war against Austria-Hungary, and after scant warning declared war on Russia on 1 August.


France, bound by treaty to Russia, found itself at war against Germany and, by extension, on Austria-Hungary following a German declaration on 3 August. Germany was swift in invading neutral Belgium so as to reach Paris by the shortest possible route.


Britain, allied to France by a more loosely worded treaty which placed a "moral obligation" upon her to defend France, declared war against Germany on 4 August. Her reason for entering the conflict lay in another direction: she was obligated to defend neutral Belgium by the terms of a 75-year old treaty.

With Germany's invasion of Belgium on 4 August, and the Belgian King's appeal to Britain for assistance, Britain committed herself to Belgium's defence later that day. Like France, she was by extension also at war with Austria-Hungary.


With Britain's entry into the war, her colonies and dominions abroad variously offered military and financial assistance, and included Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa.


United States President Woodrow Wilson declared a U.S. policy of absolute neutrality, an official stance that would last until 1917 when Germany's policy of unrestricted submarine warfare - which seriously threatened America's commercial shipping (which was in any event almost entirely directed towards the Allies led by Britain and France) - forced the U.S. to finally enter the war on 6 April 1917.


Japan, honouring a military agreement with Britain, declared war on Germany on 23 August 1914. Two days later Austria-Hungary responded by declaring war on Japan.


Italy, although allied to both Germany and Austria-Hungary, was able to avoid entering the fray by citing a clause enabling it to evade its obligations to both.

In short, Italy was committed to defend Germany and Austria-Hungary only in the event of a 'defensive' war; arguing that their actions were 'offensive' she declared instead a policy of neutrality. The following year, in May 1915, she finally joined the conflict by siding with the Allies against her two former allies.

Answer 8

Wrong time to ask! I just did that lesson in history and now I just forgot about it! SOO SORRY!