- Many nationalists living under the rule of the Russian or Austrian empires saw an opportunity for independence by aligning with Germany.
- Poles and other Slavic minorities within Russia and Austro-Hungary particularly perceived the war as a chance to throw off imperial control.
2. Ottoman Empire:
- The Ottoman Empire, which had been allied with Germany since 1898, joined the Central Powers in 1914. Fearful of Russia's expansionism and Britain's control over trade routes, Ottoman allegiance was secured through secret treaties promising territorial gains.