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Origins of the War

By 1914, Europe was essentially divided into two factions. The Triple Alliance, formed in 1882, consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. The Triple Entente came into existence as a counterbalance to the burgeoning strength of Germany’s army in the early 20th century, bringing together Great Britain, France and Russia, three countries that were not natural allies. Meanwhile, across Europe, a wave of nationalism—the glorification of the state by its citizens—had been rising for decades, and was manifesting itself in the build-up of military strength.

It was a delicate balance, and with so many nations having intertwined interests, only the slightest incident would be required to set off war throughout Europe.

That incident would come on June 28, 1914, when Archduke Franz Ferdinand—the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary—and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo by members of the “Black Hand,” a radical Serbian group whose aim was an independent Slav nation. Austria-Hungary sought to use the assassination to crush Serbia and tame the Balkans (known as the “Powder Keg of Europe”), enlisting German support in that aim. The Germans agreed, stating that Austria-Hungary should be allowed to deal with Serbia on its own and that Germany would only get involved if another nation attempted to interfere. Austria-Hungary delivered a note outlining its demands to the Serbians, and gave Serbia just two days to respond.

This is where Russia entered the fray, attempting to intervene diplomatically on behalf of Serbia. And it’s where Europe’s allegiances brought the continent to disaster. Funeral of Archduke Ferdinand The funeral of slain Archduke Franz Ferdinand. (Photo courtesy of Great War Primary Document Archive, www.gwpda.org/photos.)The assassination of Ferdinand should not have been enough to start a Europe-wide war. But Russia’s intervention brought Germany into the conflict, and Germany’s dabbling sucked France and Great Britain into the argument.

As the New York Times reported on July 25, 1914, with Europe on the edge of war, “Such a situation, it goes without saying, is fraught with peril to the peace of Europe. Austria cannot recede from the position she has taken toward Servia [sic]. Russia, encouraged by the support of the Triple Entente, is hardly likely to abandon her policy of backing Servia. Upon Germany rests the chief responsibility for the decision.”

According to H.P. Wilmott’s book, World War I, Czar Nicholas II of Russia sent Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany—Nicholas and Wilhelm were cousins—a telegram saying, “To try to avoid such calamity as a European war, I beg you in the name of our old friendship to do what you can to stop your allies from going to far.”

The Kaiser did no such thing. The Germans refused Britain’s calls for a peace conference at the end of July. On July 29, Russia began mobilizing its armies. Germany began mobilization on July 30. On August 1, Germany declared war on Russia, and in the coming days, the Germans also declared war on France, seized Luxembourg and invaded Belgium, establishing a northern route through which to attack France. On August 7, the British began sending troops to France and a full-scale European war was underway.

On August 3, President Woodrow Wilson spoke to a gathering of newspaper correspondents and said, “So far as we are concerned, there is no cause for excitement. There is great inconvenience, for the time being, in the money market and in our exchanges, and, temporarily, in the handling of our crops, but America is absolutely prepared to meet the financial situation and to straighten everything out without any material difficulty. The only thing that can possibly prevent it is unreasonably apprehension and excitement.”

The next day, Wilson issued a statement officially declaring the United States’ neutrality.

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