Territorial disputes caused the war between Serbia and Austria-Hungary to erupt into World War I. Franz Ferdinand, the Archduke of Austria, was killed toward the end of June 1914 while traveling on formal business to Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This was an Austria-Hungarian province with a large Serb population that sought regional autonomy through Serbian rebels who killed the Archduke. The Serbian government was solely held responsible for the murder. Austria-Hungary's rulers made the decision to attack the nation. However, Austria-Hungary believed that Russia would defend Serbia because of the strong political, religious, and ethnic ties that existed between Serbia and that nation, which also had a sizable force. The leaders saw that Russia could pose a formidable threat to its plan even though its army was poorly armed and trained.
Cognizant of this threat, Austria-Hungary halted its attack plans and sought assistance from Germany its ally which was well-armed. Kaiser Wilhelm II the German emperor thought that Russia was not ready for war, thus it would not react militarily. He also thought that things would be solved diplomatically since he had close personal ties with Tsar Nicholas II. However, through the commonly known "Blank Check" emperor guaranteed that Germany would help fight off Russian army, in case they attack Austria-Hungary. With this guarantee, Austrian council of ministers wrote ten demands contained in an ultimatum to Serbia. Among other humiliating and unacceptable demands was to allow Austria-Hungary take part in the investigation of the assassination and have a direct participation in the judicial process against the suspects. Despite the Serbia agreeing to most of the demands with exceptional to a few conditions, Austria-Hungary closed its embassy in Serbia immediately after receiving the Serbia's responses. War on Serbia was declared and on July 29, 1914, Austria-Hungary attacked Belgrade capital city of Serbia.
On July 30, 1914, Russia ordered overall deployment of its army, a move that Germany interpreted as an ultimate resolution by Russia to engage in war. This made Germany to order the mobilization of its army and 1st August, Russia was handed note of declaration of war by Germany ambassador in the country. In line with the Schlieffen Plan, it declared war on France and violated its own treaty in regard to neutral countries by crossing Belgium so as to reach the least fortified border of France. Consequently, Britain which had tried to diplomatically intervene, declared war on Germany as it had a defense treaty with the Belgium. World War I took shape pitting the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey) against Allied powers (France, Britain, and Russia). Most of the nations engaged in this war enjoyed cordial relations, shared strong economic interdependences and trade blocks. Despite the existence of defense treaties between various countries, they did not force individual states to engage in war. Countries had to make individual decisions driven by certain motives.
Since Russia had been actively involved in European affairs, thereby expanding and modernizing its military worried Germans more than the problems Austria had with Serbia. In order for it to retain its supremacy in Europe, Germany military leaders sensed that war was inevitable with Russia. Hence they contemplated that rather than waiting until it poses a greater threat, it is viable to fight it now when its troops are poorly trained and armed. These leaders believed that France would fully commit to war despite its treaty with Russia and assumed Britain would remain neutral. This wishful thinking motivated Germany that war was winnable. Britain had a large collection of colonies and had a greatest naval base. When Germany attempted to match Britain, Britain perceived this as a dangerous threat to the balance of power in the continent. Thus, Britain joined the war so as to unsettle Germany.
France had been bitter for sometimes after it lost its Lorraine and Alsace territories to Germany in 1871. While it feared full German invasion, it was encouraged by the threat posed to Germany by the Russia and Britain. As such, French contemplated that if Germans are distracted by the war, it will provide an opportunity to France to seize back Lorraine and Alsace. Tsar Nicholas II was doubtful about joining the war, but he felt that military victory would enhance his political career. Hence, settle the political instability that occurred before the war. Also, close political, religious and ethnic relations could not have let the Russian turn a blind eye to afflictions of its neighbor. These reasons coupled with the optimism of Russia military leaders who had strong nationalistic leanings ensured that Tsar flip-flopped about ordering mobilization.
After the declaration of war, Germany armies instigated the first move as each side positioned itself. Germans first targeted France and had to cross Belgium who through civilian snipers from hidden positions, posing a resistance that Germans had not anticipated. They responded by executing civilians and burning villages and towns. However, the substantial fighting occurred around the fortress at Liege in Brussels which fell on 20th August. Another portion of Germany troops was gathering at the eastern borders of France. Focused on France, Russian had advanced to the Kaliningrad in Germany to a point that Gen. Prittwitz had tried to retreat before he was replaced by Gen. Hindenburg who recalled some troops from the west. Battles at the Masurian Lakes and Tannenberg under the leadership of Gen Rennenkampf and Gen. Samsonov respectively, greatly weakened Russian army whereby up to 300,000 soldiers were killed.
Germans completed the occupation of Belgium in 20th August 1914 and immediately moved to France. German and French armies fought in the Lorraine-Alsace region, but the first joint French-British encounter with the Germans happened on 23rd August 1914 near the town of Mons. They were quickly forced to retreat as they found themselves under heavy fire from long-range German artilleries. As they retreated, they allowed Germans to advance up to outskirts of Paris near the river Marne. The retreat by Allies halted on 4th September and a decisive battle which lasted for five days began on 5th of September. Allies' armies which were constantly replenished by fresh troops and French reservists managed to split the German troops and they never regrouped. Germans were pushed back to the river Aisne where they held their position and formed a Western Front.
According to Schlieffen plan, Germans hoped to outrightly conquer France before Russia could mobilize its troops and attack Germany. Now the plan had failed during the first month of war it had entered with so much confidence and military leaders are unable to cope with the new situation by failing to adapt their strategy. The plan failed mainly because of unanticipated early attack from Russians forcing the Germans to divert some soldiers to fight back at home. Secondly, Germans did not expect Britain to change its neutrality policy and when Britain entered the war, Germany did not alter its plan to accommodate new realities. Lastly, the plan failed due to Germans' overconfidence such that they advanced too far interior with limited soldiers, thereby hindering troop rotation and overstretching their line of supply.
In 1915, a war of attrition in Europe took shape with neutral countries opting to join the side from which they deemed to reap greatest benefits. In exchange for a list of territories under the Austrian control, Italy offered its alliance to Austria-Hungary in April 1915. When Austria declined to those demands, Italy switched its alliances to Allied powers. Later London Pact was signed where Italy stood to benefit greatly and it consequently declared war on Austria-Hungary on 23rd may, 1915. In disastrous battle of Caporetto in October 1917 Italians were defeated and retreated from the area after two and a half years of battles. During this stalemate, the longest single battle of the World War I was taking place in French town of Verdun. The battle ended in December 18th, 1916.
The war of attrition continued as many neutral countries in Europe continued to take the side of Allied Powers. Among those countries were Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania. The battle of Messines Ridge broke the stalemate that was being experienced in Europe. Britain launches a series of simultaneous explosions in the Messines Ridge in France on 7th June 1917, ripping apart German soldiers with those who survived being taken in as prisoners. Close to their objective, British began another offensive movement in mid-September 1917 and on 12th October they reached Passchendaele. The battle of Passchendaele was the last great battle of attrition in the western front and it was fought on impenetrable mud due to heavy rains. Modernized deadly chemical weapons, as well as the use of mustard gas, were used leaving behind a trail of deaths and casualties from both sides.
Germany announced that beginning from 1st February 1917; it would lift all restrictions on submarine warfare thereby authorizing German U-boat commanders to sink any ship that is perceived to provide any kind of help to Allies. On 3rd February 1917, Housatonic, an American cargo ship was sunk by German U-boat. This, compounded by intercepted Zimmermann (German foreign minister) telegram which promised financial aid to Mexico if it would align itself with Germans against America shifted the U.S neutrality to enter the war leaning on the side of Allies. On request of President Wilson, the U.S Congress declared war on Germany on 6th April 1917. Under the leadership of Gen. Pershing American troops arrived in Britain through the system of convoys and were publicly display on 4th of July 1917 in Paris. The first involvement of the United States troops occurred at Bathelemont in France, on 2nd and 3rd of November 1917.
In an attempt to restore peace and order in Europe, President Wilson delivered a speech to the U.S Congress on what is popularly known as the "Wilson's Fourteen Points". Some points were a long-term vision of preventing future conflicts and basic steps to end hostilities. He also suggested about equality of trading conditions whereby nations should eliminate all economic barriers. His final point called for world states to establish a general association with equal representation irrespective of a nation's strength and size. Even though his plan was considerably adjusted, it remained the foundation for armistice negotiations that occurred 10 months later. The U.S participated in the war technically independent only fighting Germans and it never formally joined the Allies.
On 8th March 1917, riots broke out in Petrograd, Russia which developed into a revolution leading to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II on March 15. Vladimir Lenin became the leader of the country immediately announcing that Russia is at peace. However, sporadic fighting and antiwar riots under Petrograd Soviet continued until a call for ending hostilities on all fronts was made on November 26 by Bolsheviks. Ceasefire in Russia was declared on December 15, 1917, thereby leading Russia to exit from war losing huge tracts of territories and dealing a big blow to Allied powers. This action, together with the outbreak of influenza during the summer of 1918 contributed greatly to end of the World War I.
In conclusion, mass mutiny in the army of Austria-Hungary and revolution in Germany which led to Kaiser Wilhelm II to relinquish power to parliament on October 3rd culminated in the collapse of central powers. Many states including Poland, Ukraine, and Hungary, in Eastern Europe, declared themselves independent during this time. A series of armistices were signed but the one that defined Germany's existence was signed on June 28, 1919, at Versailles. Germany was forced to accept total responsibility for the whole war and it was bewilderingly slapped with harsh terms by the Treaty of Versailles which laid the ground for World War II.
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