Origins of World War I
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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Submitted to Dr. Martin Catino
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
HIEU 590-D02
Modern Europe
by
November 21, 2021
Smith 1
World War I began on August 1, 1914 when Germany declared war on Russia. 3 days later, France was included on the declaration, and history began to be written. The Great War raged from 1914 to 1918. Militarism, political, imperialism, nationalism, and alliances are some of the origins that contributed to World War I. Although there are most who agree the before mentioned origins contributed, it is debated as to which one was the major factor in the war beginning. There certainly was an origin that began the process of conflict in Europe, however, World War I happened as a perfect storm of scenarios played out within Europe. One of the major origins of the Great War was the conflict throughout Europe that was tied to economics. Raw materials were in abundance in Asia and Africa, and everyone wanted to benefit
from them. Europe was in the practice of colonialism; therefore, it was their desire to maintain power over 3
rd
world countries for their own benefit.
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Not only were raw products important but having access to trade routes and major ports was equally important. Germany began protecting their interest by setting up trade barriers. As raw materials increased in Asia and Africa and the United States grew in power, the US began to have in interest in making sure their interests were protected when it came to who had control over those materials. The United States began to protect its own markets by exporting its own goods to France that were new and unseen before. This complicated things for Europe, and it gave the United States a reason to have interest in Europe’s influence over highly desired raw goods. Militarism came into play as an effect of the economic conflicts. In order for Europe to maintain control over raw goods and the shipment and trade of, they would need to maintain control over the sea lanes and trade routes.
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Europe wanted to have the power to move goods and supplies as needed, and that need overreached economic reasons. Logistical advantages and national power 1
Paddock, T.R.E. (2019). Contesting the Origins of the First World War: An Historiographical Argument (1st ed.)
.
2
Ibid
Smith 2
were critical to Europe’s colonialism way of benefiting from smaller countries as long as it was possible. Germany in particular, believed their military needed to be large, strong, and aggressive
so that their country and interests remained protected. Kaiser Wilhelm II possessed a difficult and confrontational personality and he believed his army must be aggressive for Germany’s own resilience.
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Wilhelm did not take the position of peace when faced with conflict. France began to recognize not only how Germany and United States were conducting economic affairs, but its protection of self as well. France decided it needed to supply their Navy and acquire and control ports, shelters, and supply points. Provisioning its military and defense of their country became priority. As a result of the economic successes of many of the nations, the industrial revolution enabled militaries to be better equipped and capable of rapid deployment. European nations had a train system that did not allow for direct placement of troops on the battlefield itself. Troops would have to travel from trains on foot to their destination of battle. Geography then took its place center stage, as countries such as Germany devised a plan to overcome the shortfalls of the train system. Germany instituted the Schlieffen Plan, which would take troops through the Great European Plain, allowing them to detour Belgium and head directly towards France.
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France began working on a plan that would be identical to Germany’s. As war raged on, Russia began mobilizing on French built roads, forcing Germany to deviate from their plan and cut through Belgium anyway. Britain then joined the war, due to the common defense alliance they had with Belgium.
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In addition to those economic conflicts and military focus, politics was playing its own hand in European conflict. The political aspect of conflict in Europe became complicated, as there were ideological, nationalist, and military aspects that played a part in the political origin. What began 3
Lafore, Laurence. The Long Fuse
. Long Grove, Illinois: Waveland Press,1997.
4
Robert Ritchie, “The Origins of World War I,” Liberty University, (Lynchburg: Liberty University, 2016).
5
Ibid
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Smith 3
as Slavic Serbians wanting freedom from Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire turned into something that would change the course of Europe and the world. It was the desire of the Serbians to gain independence and control Bosnia and Herzegovina to form a unified Serbian state. The Ottoman Empire fell and there was knowledge that Ferdinand had ongoing army maneuvers in the mountains near Sarajevo. This caused fear amongst the Serbians that incursion was imminent therefore something needed to be done. Serbian group Black Hand was aware that Archduke Franz Ferdinand would be visiting Sarajevo, and a plan of assassination was created. It was a well thought out assassination by the secret group, who decided they were going to prevent military action, bring awareness to the national concern for Serbia, and pave their way to
independence. It has been suggested that Ferdinand was assassinated due to his wife, Sofie, Duchess von Hohenberg not being a member of royalty, which was forbidden in Austria-
Hungary. Although his wife not being royalty may have been against traditions and customs, the political landscape in Serbia far outweighed his wife’s royal status. On June 28, as Ferdinand visited Sarajevo, 22 members of the Black Hand lined up along his route from the train station to
the town hall, all aimed at taking their shot at the Archduke. The initial attempt on his life was not successful, but as Ferdinand and his wife fled the city a short time later, they were both struck and killed by assassin fire. As a result, Austria-Hungary declared war against Serbia. It has been suggested that Germany encouraged Austria to declare war on Serbia, as Kaiser Wilhelm II ultimately wanted to engage in battle.
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Nations throughout Europe were bound together with joint security policies that meant if one state was attacked, their coalition country would defend them. These were common defense alliances, and they existed between Russia and
Serbia, Germany and Austria, France and Russia, and Belgium, Britain, and France. As these 6
Annika Mombauer, “Guild or Responsibility? The Hundred-Year Debate on the Origins of World War I,” Central European History
48, no. 4, (December 2015), 542-44
Smith 4
countries entered the war due to their alliances, Japan, Italy, the US entered to protect their partners. As the war began, Millenarianism came into play when it came to how and why countries participated in the conflict. Millenarianism is when it is thought that a belief of religious, social, or political activity will cause change. Germany practiced Millenarianism in their war strategy, they thought if they were united it would ultimately lead to their victory. Prior to 1914, German foreign policy was known as Weltpolitik. Germany believed they could only secure themselves by expanding their own influence outward. Other European countries shared similar thoughts, but Germany was the most thought out and out spoken.
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The crown prince of Germany once said “The German who loves his people, who believes in the greatness and the future of our homeland, and who is unwilling to see its position diminished, dare not close his eyes...by the lullabies of peace sung by the Utopians".
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The US practiced millenarianism when it came to the ideals in which they entered WWI. President Woodrow Wilson felt it was America’s holy duty to
impose democracy on the entire world. He thought America’s involvement would lead to WWI ending with democratic change. It is important to note that the people of the United States were reluctant to support the country’s participation in the war. It was evident the majority preferred the US take on a position of neutrality.
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It was not until the Zimmerman Telegram in January 1917, that the United States decided its inclusion in the war was necessary. For Britain, Foreign Prime Minister Sir Edward Grey referred to WWI as a necessary war, to continue until Prussian militarism was no longer a part of Europe.
World War I was far reaching. It encompassed different countries for different reasons. Whether the conflict surrounded a desire for independence, the need for security, the desire to secure 7
Horne, Charles F. ed. Source Records of the Great War. Vol.1. London: National Alumni,1923 8
Ibid
9
Byas, S. 2017. "William Jennings Bryan: He Really Tried to Keep Us Out of War." The New American, 33
Smith 5
increased trade, or the fulfillment of a promise to protect, it all culminated to many lost or wounded. There were many responses to the various acts of war, but a Christian response may have prevented some loss of life. During times of aggression and war, alternatives are what should be sought, if possible. Jesus said “Blessed are the Peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God.”
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There are many who feel peace should always be the answer, as long as it
is an option. Pope Pius VI once said “If you wish to be brothers, let the arms fall from your hands. Once cannot love while holding offensive arms.”
BIBLIOGRAPHY
10
Ma 5:9 (NLT)
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Smith 6
Cebula, Adam
(2020).
The Legacy and Consequences of World War I.
Journal of Military Ethics
,
19 (2),
118-120.
Hamilton, Richard F., and Holger H. Herwig.
Decisions for War, 1914-1917
. UK: Cambridge
University Press, 2004.
Horne, Charles F. ed.
Source Records of the Great War.
Vol.1. London: National Alumni,1923
Kaiser, D. E. (1983). Germany and the Origins of the First World War. The Journal of Modern History, 55(3), 442–474. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1878597
Lafore, Laurence.
The Long Fuse
. Long Grove, Illinois: Waveland Press,1997.
Mombauer, Annika, “Guild or Responsibility?
The Hundred-Year Debate on the Origins of World War I,”
Central European History
48, no. 4, (December 2015), 542-44
Paddock, T.R.E. (2019). Contesting the Origins of the First World War: An Historiographical Argument (1st ed.)
. Routledge. Retrieved November 3, 2021, from https://doi-
org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.4324/9781315142890
Robert Ritchie, “The Origins of World War I,” Liberty University, (Lynchburg: Liberty University, 2016).
Times, O. (2021, March 5). The 07 events that caused the start of World War 1
. Medium. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/the-07-events-that-
caused-the-start-of-world-war-1-cde1a7ba1778.