Modern World History
2007-10-09 17:56:48 · 4 answers · asked by ml18 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Serbia: Austria-Hungary is making unreasonable demands of me! It's not my fault their arch-duke got shot--they want to make me lose my national sovereignty. I am a humble Slavic nation--Russia, please help me.
Russia: I am run by an incompetent emperor whose wife takes advice of state from a lunatic monk. The emperor insists on taking personal control of the army himself and mobilizing his forces against both Austria-Hungary and Germany in defence of Germany. I need to attack Germany as well as Austria-Hungary, because my mobilization plans are not written up for war with one power. I'm about to be attacked anyway--the move was inevitable.
Germany: WTF, Russia is mobilizing against me. The Kaiser declares war against his cousin's husband, the czar. He also immediately declares war on France, because his mobilization plans are not written up for war with one power. We're about to be attacked anyway--the move was inevitable. We want to move into France QUICKLY. Let's go through Belgium.
France: Sacre bleu, we are being invaded by the Germans again! This is just like the Franco-Prussian war--how embarrasing. Let's declare war on Germany and Austria-Hungary too, their lackey.
Belgium: Britain, help me!
Britain: How dare you violate neutral rights, you Huns? For the sake of Belgium, to war! Let's declare Austria-Hungary our enemy too--it was inevitable, they're Germany's lackey.
Ottoman Turkey: I think...the Germans and Austro-Hungarians will win this war! I'm sure I picked the right side...who needs the Slavs or the French or the English?
Russia: Oh no--my entire structure is collapsing because of the gross incompetence of the imperial government! The communists take over, and we give up the war.
Powers of Europe: We are in a stalemate.
America: Not anymore. Germany loses. Let's rape it...
PS Thanks for the Alexandra edit, below!
2007-10-09 18:39:40 · answer #1 · answered by SPQRCLAUDIUS 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Russia: To protect Serbia. Russia considered herself the protector of the Slavs. Both Russia and Serbia were Slavic nations and Serbia was being threatened by Austria.
Germany: Better to fight Russia than later. Germany calculated that Russia's industrial and military power will exceed hers in the future and fought a pre emptive war in 1914.
Austria: Wanted to conquer Serbia. The murder of Archduke Franz was merely an excuse. Also Austria was already a declining power and could not be seen to back down. Besides, she had a 'blank cheque' support from Germany.
France: Had a treaty with Russia to declare war on Germany if she declared war on Russia
Britain: To protect Belgium. Belgian neutrality was guaranteed by the British.
Belgium: An unfortunate participant. She didn't choose to be involved but the existence of the Schliffen Plan meant that the moment war started against France, Germany was sure to attack her.
Japan: To seize Germany's Asian colonies and be recognised as a great power.
US: The German U-boat menace was becoming a threat to British shipping. Also, the Zimmerman Telegram (Germany tried to persuade Mexico to attack the US and gain Texas) angered the Americans.
Italy: Wanted to conquer parts of the Balkans
Turkey: To protect Constantinople and the Bhosphorous Straits from Russia
2007-10-09 19:17:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'll try to summarize.
Serbia : "No, you Austrians can't come into our country and arrest anyone you want looking for the men who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife."
Austria (to Serbia) : "In that case, we will attack you."
Russia : "We will help our Slavic buddies in Serbia (and maybe we will wind up getting some territory on the Mediterranean that we have wanted for years)."
Germany : "Russia is mobilizing their army. Our plans made up ten years ago call for us to attack and defeat France in six weeks and then turn east to meet the Russian threat, so we must mobilize quickly and attack France as soon as possible. Oh, and we will go through Belgium to get at France. That is General Schlieffen's plan - rest his soul."
Belgium : "Why are you attacking us? We didn't do anything."
England : "Well, we promised to safeguard Belgium. Now that Germany has invaded, we must declare war. We would rather fight France, but this time we'll fight with France - - Egad - frightful thought - we've been fighting against France for more than 850 years."
France: "Come on - we are ready for you filthy swine Huns. This won't be like 1870. Maybe we can win back Alsace and Lorraine - or at least maybe Yvette."
United States bankers (three years later in 1917): "We have loaned billions to Britain and France. If they lose, we will lose a great deal of money. We had better find a way to get Mr. Wilson to declare war to protect our business. We can say that Germany is threatening to attack us with Mexican troops like the Zimmerman telegram said. Yes, and they are sinking a few of the ships we send with supplies sold to Britain and France."
Added note "SPQR Clau" has the same idea. I like his answer too, but the Kaiser (Wilhelm II) was not the cousin of Czar Nicholas. Wilhelm was a cousin to the Czarina Alexandra - - and a cousin of the British king. God love Queen Victoria and her grandkids who ruled Europe then.
And I forgot the Ottoman Turks (Thank -you Clau). The Turks did bet on the wrong horse in this one - but it was a very near run thing.
2007-10-09 18:51:14 · answer #3 · answered by Spreedog 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
WWI wasnt called that untill WWII with the aid of fact why might you supply soemthign a extensive style once you do no longer be conscious of if there'll be a 2d one? It became called the super conflict with the aid of fact this became the 1st conflict to have that many international locations partaking in it. yet then years later, there became yet another conflict very like it and worldwide conflict II had a stronger ring than super conflict II so we've WWI and WWII.
2017-01-03 09:11:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋