what were the immediate causes of WWI?

Question

I know one, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and wife, Sophie on June 28, 1914 by Gavrilo Princip and the mobilization of Russia, but there are probably others which I don't know

Answer 1

The immediate causes of the war were as you stated the assassination of Ferdinand and, to a later context, the mobilization of Russia but here is a complete account:

Austria-Hungary before the assassiantion already had problems with Serbia, and that simply, gave them an excuse to impose terms Serbia would obviously not meet and give them Cassus Belli to declare war on Serbia. The Austrians did so knowing Germany had their back so to speak in case Russia defended the Serbs and declared war on Austria. So Austria acted knowing that big brother would help them if they were to face Russia too. The decision to honour alliances and the planning of military strategies based on those alliances played a great role in the debacle that followed.

At this time of warfare it took a while for troops to be mobilized, so if your adversary mobilized quickly before you did, he would have a considerable advantage. For the war plans of each country in Europe this heavily influenced their military planners in how to treat a conflcit. Germany knowing it would face a war on 2-fronts figured that they would have to focus on destroying France first before turning to Russia. This meant that if Russia mobilized, Germany would have to act have to pre-emptive strike if you will. So when Austria declared war and then the Russians mobilized, the Germans declared war on Russia and then quickly went to invade France.

The French for their part, were eager to side with Russia since they felt that with a strong ally they would be able to retake Alsace-Lorraine from the Germans.

Great Britain is actually the only country that effectively choose to join the war with no need to. Belgian neutrality to the British was as important as defending Poland was 20 years later. Violating them served as excuses rather than as defining principals for war. The British can actually be blamed for making it a global war, which they effectively mishandled with the French, and lead to dragging America in to save them.

Alliances and war plans were the causes, the assassination was just a match to ignite them. The Kaiser himself came back from his cruise to ask in the opening days of the war " How did it all happen?"

Answer 2

It was inevitable - there had been an arms race for many years before, particularly between the United Kingdom and Germany seeing which could build the bigger navy and biggest battleship - which were called 'dreadnoughts'. there were a number of smaller incidents, e.g. the Fashoda Incident, where the Great Powers (as they were called) faced each other off. However, the final catalyst was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. because of the complicated systems of treaities. linking one nation with another this lead to a kind of 'domino effect' whereby one nation after another was pulled into conflict in support of its allies. The final such was the treaty whereby the UK had promised to protect Belgium from attack. Germany invaded and the Belgians called on the British for assistance. That assistance was given and WWI started for real.

Answer 3

Archduke Franz Ferdinand who was assassinated.

Answer 4

Alliances. A lot of countries were dragged into the war by outdated alliances when they really had nothing to do with it. France and Russia for example.

Answer 5

The desire of the different powers-- German, AustroHungarian, Russian, French, British, American, for power

Of course America got in the war later. But the US was no less responsible in the end.