Why did the First World War happen?
The reasons for the "Great War, as it is still known, are compleX and continue being debated even to this day. In fact, the story behind this conflict goes back long before 1914. Since the late nineteenth century, there had been an ongoing struggle and increasing tension between the main European powers. Arms races an fierce competition in trade and in the rush to gain new colonies around the world, had led to hostility and suspicion between many countries . Two of the greast powers of the time, Austria-Hungary and Russia, were clashing with each other for influence in the Balkan states of south-eastern Europe. Germany was challenging the supremacy of the British Navy, the most powerful fleet in the world at that time. And Germany's ruler, Kaiser Wilhelm II, was pursuing an aggressive foreign policy, which created suspicion and mistrust in the rest of Europe.
In this tense atmosphere European countries loodked to each other to make strategic alliances that would help them become more powerful. In the esarly part of the century, many treaties and agreements were made between teh various powers, with the result taht by the 1914, europe was divided into two mighty military alliances.
In: Forgotten VOICES of the great war - In association with the imperial war museum - Max Arthur, Ebury Press, London, 2006.
To read also: works by twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Barbara W. Tuchman. As "Among contemporary historians... Barbara Tuchman stands supreme." The Times.
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Tuchman
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