Quali sono le CAUSE della PRIMA GUERRA MONDIALE?

Summary

On June 28, 1914, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo sparked a chain reaction leading to World War I. Tensions escalated as alliances formed, with Austria-Hungary blaming Serbia and mobilizing for war. Russia pledged support to Serbia, prompting Germany to declare war on both Russia and France. The Schlieffen Plan's execution and the invasion of neutral Belgium drew Britain into the conflict. Nationalism and patriotism overshadowed pacifist sentiments, as governments and socialist parties rallied behind their nations, marking the beginning of the first total war in modern European history.

Takeaways

• 🇦🇹 The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, triggered a series of events that led to World War I.
• 🔍 The Black Hand, a secret society in Serbia, orchestrated the attack with the help of the Young Bosnia, a nationalist association in the region.
• 👉 Austria-Hungary, after an initial shock, blamed Serbia for the assassination and accused it of financing the Sarajevo acts, escalating tensions that had been building for decades.
• 📜 Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia on July 3, with a threat to attack if the demands were not met, which Serbia partially rejected, especially regarding the clause involving imperial officials in the investigation of the assassination's instigators.
• 🇷🇺 Russia, a major ally of Serbia, began mobilizing its forces after Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia, showing support even at the risk of war.
• 🇩🇪 Germany, feeling encircled by the Franco-Russian alliance, declared war on Russia and France, following the Schlieffen Plan, which aimed for a quick victory by attacking France first and then Russia.
• 🇧🇪 Germany's invasion of neutral Belgium on August 4, 1914, led to Britain's declaration of war on Germany, as it violated Belgium's neutrality, which was protected by an international treaty.
• 🏰 The German Kaiser underestimated the impact of Britain's entry into the war, which was not anticipated by the Schlieffen Plan and overlooked the British public opinion's reaction to the 'rape of Belgium'.
• 🌐 The war initially saw a surge in patriotic sentiment, with governments, kings, prime ministers, emperors, and presidents rallying support under the banner of national defense.
• 🕊️ Pacifist and internationalist voices, including socialist parties, initially quieted down, with many aligning with their respective governments in support of the war effort.
• 🎶 The script concludes by highlighting the beginning of the first major European conflict of modern times, World War I, with the underlying tone of the inevitability and the scale of the conflict.

Q & A

What significant event occurred on June 28, 1914, that contributed to the start of World War I?

Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo, an event that set off a series of diplomatic crises and ultimately led to the outbreak of World War I.

Which group was responsible for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand?

The Black Hand, a secret association of Serbian nationalists, along with the Young Bosnia, a nationalist association from the region, were involved in the assassination.

What was the Austrian-Hungarian Empire's reaction to the assassination and who did they blame?

The Austrian-Hungarian government initially reacted with shock and then accused Serbia, a small Balkan state, of financing the acts in Sarajevo.

What was the 'July Ultimatum' and what did it entail?

The 'July Ultimatum' was an ultimatum sent by Austria to Serbia on July 3rd, with a list of demands that Serbia had to meet or face military action from the Austrian-Hungarian Empire.

Why did Russia decide to support Serbia after the Austrian-Hungarian Empire declared war?

Russia decided to support Serbia because of their alliance and the belief that Austria was only looking for an excuse to exert influence over Serbia.

What was the Schlieffen Plan and how did it influence the start of World War I?

The Schlieffen Plan was a German strategy designed by Alfred von Schlieffen, which aimed to quickly defeat France before turning to fight Russia in a two-front war scenario. The plan involved a rapid invasion of Belgium, which led to Britain's entry into the war.

Why did Britain declare war on Germany?

Britain declared war on Germany due to the violation of Belgium's neutrality, which was guaranteed by an international treaty that Germany had signed in 1839.

How did the public opinion and propaganda influence the decision of various governments to enter the war?

Public opinion and propaganda played a significant role in rallying support for the war. The patriotic call drowned out pacifist voices, and governments felt more secure with the support of their populations, even socialist parties, who typically held pacifist and internationalist views, supported the war effort.

What was the role of the Second International in the context of World War I?

The Second International, which was born as a symbol of solidarity among workers and was strongly pacifist, ceased to exist as it failed to prevent the war and its members aligned with their respective governments.

What was the significance of the assassination of French socialist leader Jean Jaurès?

The assassination of Jean Jaurès sent a strong and clear message that dissent was not tolerated, and it marked a turning point for French socialists to align with the government and support the war effort.

Why did the German government believe that declaring war on Russia and France was necessary?

The German government believed that declaring war was necessary due to their loyalty to Austria and the encirclement complex they suffered from, especially with the Franco-Russian alliance. Additionally, they had the Schlieffen Plan, which was designed to manage a war on two fronts.