WORLD WAR I: CAUSES AND ALLIANCES
CAUSES OF THE CONFLICT
THE ALLIANCES
1914
Second Industrial Revolution
time of economic prosperity
the World War I or Great War at that time broke out
some causes triggered
An aggressive diplomacy
The arms race
Imperialist ambitions
Nationalist rivalries
France and Germany remained hostile
Prussians had defeated the French in the Franco-Prussian war
they had seized the territory of Alsace and Lorraine
there were nationalist tensions in the Balkans
different peoples fought to gain independence
the Kingdom of Serbia
supported by the Russians
and it was a rival of Austria-Hungary
the partition of colonies
Germany left with great disadvantages
France and Great Britain had more advantage
start of the 20th century
the Second German Empire
Europe's main industrial and economic power
it claimed its own colonial territories
powers tried to protect its interests with alliances
no forum for debate or international organisation was created
this period was called arms 'Armed Peace'
atmosphere of rivalry and imperialist ambitions
diplomatic initiatives to prepare for war and no to avoid it
countries started the industrial manufacturing of
more deadly weapons
launching an aggressive arms race
weaponry
most devastating military conflict
technological advances in the weapon industry contributed
aviation played a fundamental role
also contributed
the first metal aeroplane
made by the German company Junkers in 1915
machine guns, tanks, armoured vehicles
German Zeppelins and airships, letal mustard gas
The Triple Alliance (1882)
The Triple Entente(1907)
formed by
Formed by
Germnay
Austro-Hungary
Italy
Italy later abandoned the bloc
The Ottoman Empire joined it in 1914
Bulgaria joined it in 1915
France
Russia
Great Britain
Italy abandoned the Triple alliance due to Austro-Hungarian empire
they joined the triple entente once the war started
other countries participated but very unequally
Belgium, Serbia and Montenegro
The United States
Romania and Greece
Japan
invaded by Germany and Austria-Hungary
suffered greatly during the conflict
entered the war in 1917
the joined due to developments on the Balkan front
Romania joined in 1916
Greece joined in 1917
declared war to Germany in 1914
due to imperialist ambitions in Asia and the Pacific
Its goal was to seize German concessions in China and Pacific Islands
they acquired the Pacific Island from Spain in 1898
they played a decisive role
