Prior to World War I, the European continent had a intricate web of alliances and agreements among the major powers. These tangled alliances contributed significantly to the outbreak and intensification of the conflict, as they brought various nations into direct confrontation and hostilities:
1. Franco-Prussian War:
- The Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 left a deep resentment in France towards Germany, particularly over the loss of Alsace-Lorraine.
2. Dual Alliance:
- Germany aligned with Austria-Hungary in the Dual Alliance, formed in 1879, providing mutual defense support.
3. Triple Alliance:
- The Dual Alliance was later expanded into the Triple Alliance with the addition of Italy in 1882.
4. Triple Entente:
- France and Russia formed a defensive alliance in 1894, later known as the Dual Alliance, in response to German dominance.
- In 1907, Britain joined France and Russia to form the Triple Entente, an informal understanding that brought Britain into alignment with France and Russia but without any formal mutual defense commitments.
5. Balkan Rivalries:
-Austria-Hungary's attempts to expand its influence in the Balkans, a region with complex ethnic and political dynamics, clashed with the interests of Russia and Serbia, leading to increased tensions and rivalries.
Spark and Escalation:
When Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in June 1914, it set off a chain of events that led to war:
- Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, backed by Germany, making demands that Serbia considered unacceptable.
- Russia, as an ally of Serbia, began mobilizing its military in support, causing Germany to declare war on Russia on August 1, 1914, and on France on August 3, 1914, due to their alliance with Russia.
As a result of these tangled alliances, a regional conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia quickly became a global conflict, involving major European powers and eventually drawing in countries from around the world. The web of alliances and the lack of clear mechanisms for conflict resolution contributed to the escalation and widening of the war.