The Origins and Key Events of World War I (WWI)

Long-Term Causes of World War I (WWI)

1. Militarism: The build-up of armed forces and the preparation for war.

   Example: Germany significantly increased her armed forces, ostensibly to defend herself against other European countries.

2. Alliances: Agreements between countries to defend or fight together.

   Example: Many European countries made agreements or promises to help each other if a third country invaded them.

3. Imperialism: The belief of a country in building up an empire and controlling less powerful nations.

   Example: Following unification, Germany sought to expand her Empire and global influence.

4. Nationalism: Intense pride in one's country, often leading people to desire self-governance or strong national defense.

   Example: Many countries in Europe were fiercely proud and determined to defend themselves as effectively as possible.

WWI Short-Term Causes and 1914 Countdown

The Road to War: Key Events of 1914

1. June 28th: The assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian student, in Sarajevo.
2. July 23rd: Austria-Hungary issues an ultimatum to Serbia demanding compensation for the assassination.
3. July 29th: Russia mobilized her troops in favor of Serbia.
4. August 1st: Germany declares war on Russia. France decides to mobilize in response to the German warning.
5. August 3rd: Germany formally declares war on France.
6. August 4th: German troops crossed the neutral Belgian frontier near Gemmerich. Great Britain formally declares war on Germany.
7. August 6th: Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia to support Germany on the Eastern Front.
8. August 7th: Lord Kitchener calls for 100,000 men to join the British Army to defend Belgium and France.
9. August 13th: Britain declares war on Austria-Hungary.

Major Alliances and Participants of WWI

The war was primarily fought between two major blocs:

Central Powers (The Triple Alliance)

• Austro-Hungarian Empire
• Germany
• Ottoman Empire

Bulgaria joined the Central Powers later (1915).

Allied Powers (The Triple Entente)

• France
• Russian Empire (with Serbia)
• Great Britain
• United States (joined 1917)

Other Allies included Belgium, Montenegro, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Greece, and Japan.

Note: The Russian Empire left the war in 1917, and the United States joined the Allied Powers in the same year.

Key Phases of World War I

• Movement Phase (1914): The initial period during which different countries started fighting on the Western and Eastern European fronts.
• Trench Warfare (1915–1917): A period where both sides established defensive positions in trenches, resulting in a prolonged stalemate that lasted until 1917.
• World Phase (1916–1918): The conflict expanded globally, with battles taking place on various fronts—on land, air, and sea—including Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, and Asia.