Could the First World War have been avoided?

Answer 1

Sure. All wars could have been. But the first world war was a family feud in a lot of ways. All these cousins descended from Queen Victortia, all wanting to be the ruler of the most powerful nation in Europe. The King of England, German Kaiser, and Russian Czar were all first cousins. Then you have the hanger on allied nations. Japan, Italy, Austria-Hungary, and the revial Colonial Empires which had already had minor wars themselves in ways. The fact is if all these Royal cousins had decided to work together, for one good, it would have been a lot like the Euorpean union today. And a united Europe would probably dominate the world today. Instead they were like a bunch of kids under an Christmas tree who each got a Marx Brothers war play set. Fighting back and forth and yelling who won. I got your man. He's dead. I win. I got your battleship its sunk. I got your tank, pill box, etc. The problem was these were real human beings not plastic toys. After it got going it escalated until nationalism took over. The Royals in Germany and Russia had less and less importance. Even in England they were more of a symbol. The whole world came in, one form or another. fighting for their own causes under the big one. Fighting spread everywhere. Though the Western front with its stalemate was the main focus. The Royals collapsed in Russia, Technolgy had outrun tactics. It was mass slaughter. What ended it was two things the German people were starving from the British blockade. Their own U-boat offensive had come within an inch of doing it to Great Britian. Then America declared war. And we did provide two things in numbers. Bodies, willing infantry. And ships. Both Merchant and naval especially destroyers and subchasers. Germany shot its bolt with its last offensive in spring 1918. Again they came close to winning, but it ran out of steam. and American troops were flooding in. WWI wrecked the old order in Europe, based on family marriages and alliances. It opened a flood of nationalism and idelogies. This basically led to WWII. But if all those Royal cousins had focused on building a united Europe, progress, including social progress. Working together. Not only would Europe have been better off, so would the world. the twentieth century is the most deadly in world History. And it basically all started with a bunch of cousins squabbling around a big imagianary Christmas tree for who was most important.

Answer 2

It could have been. But something would have to have been different.

For example if Prince Ferdinand had not stopped to ask directions right in front of his assassin. Or if Austria had not used his death as an excuse for invasion. If someone somewhere along the way had taken the less obvious response and tried to negotiate it could have been avoided, or at least postponed.

But realistically, the war happened because the world was the way it was and the people involved were who they were. So how much can you change to prevent something that big?

Answer 3

No! The French are still pissed off at the German for the result in the Franco-Prussia War, the serbs are pissed off at the Austria-Hungarian Empire, and Austria Hungary want the Balkan Area's resources. The Hapsburg use the assasination of the Archduke, whom the king didn't really like, as a pretext to invade the Balkan area, France to get revenge on Germany, and Russia join due to a treaty with Serbia, and Germany wanted a German Europe.

Answer 4

I no it sounds harsh but it couldn't!
Rivarlrys had been building up over a long period of time and most countries wanted war! Each country had alliances which made the war even worse because if onecountry attacked another it would be backed up by another and so on and so forth!!
Eavch country wanted the biggest empire and the most power (nationalism & imperilism) and they thought that war was the way to get it! Their plans were destoy other countries, take over their empire and claim their land to themselves! But it was harder than they thought.............

Answer 5

Good and gigantic question!
The mindset of contemporary politicians and their populaces in early 20th C were not like our's today. They thought that wars were tests of national virility. That nations should fight wars to extend their relative power.
So, the anwer is 'No, it would have happened one way or another that decade, considering that all major European states were obsessed with their relative power and their ruling classes thought that war was the solution to their external and internal problems' (Austria -Hungary is a good example in 1914)

Answer 6

If there wasnt an alliance system then yes, it would have just been a small war in europe. With the alliance system it would have been impossible to avoid

Answer 7

All wars can be avoided but then the governments wouldn't have all those lucrative contracts, war is about money and land grabbing.

Answer 8

yes and no the european countries of the time were reeling from a pride of nationalism causing one to feel superior to the other and vice versa. all wars can be avoided ....however avoiding wars is not always right..............

check this it can explain it better.

http://sdsd.essortment.com/worldwaricaus_nbk.htm

Answer 9

All wars CAN be avoided, but there are consequences for compromise and surrender.

Answer 10

Probably not. There was too much tension in Europe, especially the Balkans.