Could the First World War have been avoided?

Answer 1

No, there was too much momentum. If not the murder of the Archduke, another event would have started it.
The Austrian empire was losing ground, the Serbs want an access to the sea through the Empire and helped all the people in the empire agitating for independence. France had emerged from the isolation Bismark had done his best to keep her in and was allying with Russia and Britain, becoming again a dangerous adversary, despite her much smaller population. Austria and Germany had allied to counter that threat coming from both sides.
The murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne f Austia-Hungary on June 28, 1914 presented the Austrians with a perfect opportunity to punish Serbia.
The Austrians had a strong case - the heir to the throne had been murdered by terrorists who had already murdered a King of Serbia. They had been helped by Serbian officials such as Colonel Apis of Serbian Military Intelligence. Such was popular anger that there were anti Serbian riots in Bosnia.
Germany was prepared to help
The Russian government was facing serious strikes in Russian factories and mines and another revolution seemed to be imminent
The UK would not intervene in a purely Balkan matter and was deeply involved in a possible civil war in Ireland
There had been wars in the Balkans in 1912 and 1913 and these had not spread
It was now or never. To the Austrians the very future of the Empire hung in the balance. War might just save it.
An ultimatum was designed that if it was accepted then Serbian independence would be reduced, if rejected it would mean war
The Serbs accepted all but two terms which would have allowed Austrian officials into Serbia to search for suspects and punish them without any Serbian contribution. The ultimatum was delivered on the 23rd with a 48 hour time limit.
The Serbs replied on the 25th and on the 28th the Austrians declared war.

And then everything fell like dominoes... The Russians, allied to the Serbs, declared they would intervene, the Germans said they would help the Austrians, signed an alliance with the Ottoman Empire against Russia and declared war to the Russians, and the French caught by their alliance with Russia were dragged in the mess and said they would not stay neutral. Germany invaded Luxembourg, ordered Belgium to surrender and declared war to France. Great Britain declared they would protect Belgium's neutrality and when Germany invaded Belgium declared war, dragging automatically the rest of the Commonwealth (Canada, Australia, India, New Zealand, South Africa). Then Austria declared war to Russia and Serbia, France declared war to Austria, then Great Britain declared war to Austria. And then Japan declared war to Germany.

Yep. Right like that. Can you believe such a mess?

Answer 2

If Queen Victoria had lived a little longer, possibly. Most of the rulers involved were related to the royal house. When she died it was family feud time. The peace treaty that ended the war so punished germany that world war two was inevitable; mother teresa could have led germany and it would still have taken place. After a fight if you kick somebody they just have to come back after you when they get up again.

Answer 3

It might have been delayed or mollified but not avoided. Too many countries had grievances that they believed justified acts of war. In fact, their morality justified spending the lives of their countrymen on acquisition of land and other resources.
Technology accelerated the rush to war. Rulers saw new weapons and new ways of putting them to use as an opportunity to build empires. The Early 20th century brought us expanded manufacturing, transportation, medical, and agricultural wonders. It also put them to use over squabbles that have drained Europe for centuries.

Answer 4

Ya I agree, all the European nations were practically out looking to pick a fight with one another.

Answer 5

I for one, believe that if Hitler wasn't born, WW2 probably wouldn't have occured....despite grievances tagged along from WW1...seriously...it was Hitler!