Paper One: Theme Two
Why did the First World War break out in
1914?
Why was Franz Ferdinand assassinated?
On 28th June 1914, Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the
Austrian-Hungarian throne and his wife Sophie,
were shot by a Gavrilo Princip who was part of the
“Black Hand Gang” a group of Serbian terrorists.
The Archduke and his wife were visiting Sarajevo in
Bosnia. The day chosen was also Serbia's National
Day. Franz Ferdinand's visit was a direct insult to
the Serbs.
The gang were opposed to the expansion of the Austrian Hungarian Empire and the way it had
annexed Bosnia in 1908. It wanted Serbia to remain strong and independent.
How did the assassination of Franz Ferdinand lead to the outbreak of war?
Although there is no hard evidence that the orders for his assassination came from the Serbian
government, Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia and demanded that Serbia allow Austria-Hungary
in to investigate. Serbia could not allow this and the following chain of events led to the
outbreak of war. The events clearly show how countries worked together based on their
alliances and how Germany moved its troops based on the Schlieffen Plan.
23rd July 1914: Austria-Hungary blames Serbia and sends an ultimatum.
28th July 1914: Austria declared war on Serbia and shelled its capital, Belgrade
29th July 1914: Russia got ready to support Serbia. Germany warned Russia not to get involved
1st August 1914: Germany declared war on Russia and to move troops towards Belgium
2nd August 1914: French army prepared to fight a German invasion
3rd August 1914:Germany declared war on France and invaded Belgium. Britain ordered
Germany to withdraw
4th August 1914: Britain declared war on Germany
6th August 1914: Austria declared war on Russia
1
How far did the Schlieffen Plan contribute
to the outbreak of war?
In 1905 the German Chief of Staff, General von
Schlieffen, drew up a detailed plan for the
event of war with France and Russia. The
Germans believed they could not win a war
on two fronts so Schlieffen drew up a plan to
knock France quickly out of the war. After
France’s defeat Germany could concentrate
on dealing with the Russian army. The bulk of
Germany’s armies-1 ½ million men- were
allocated to the war in the west. The other
400,000 were ordered to hold the Russians
until reserves could be moved across after the defeat of the French.
Schlieffen had planned that the vast majority of the German army (9 tenths) in the west
should attack through Belgium and northern France while a small force should attack
along the Franco-German border. He expected the southern force to act as a decoy,
drawing the French army away from the North. He then expected the northern force to
come crashing down on the French and surround Paris.
Von Moltke altered the Schlieffen plan in 1906 to make the ratio attacking in the south
bigger. This had two effects as it weakened the Northern troops and made it harder to
breakthrough Belgium and the southern troops were not driven back by the French.
The Schlieffen Plan contributed to the war because it gave the Germans confidence in
their abilities to fight on two fronts. It could go into action quickly after the
assassination of Franz Ferdinand.
The greatest war of modern times, and
perhaps in the whole history of the
human race, was begun by Germany
using the crime of a schoolboy as an
excuse..
The Great War - the Standard History (1914)
A patriotic magazine published weekly in Britain.
2
How far were the actions of Austria-Hungary, Britain, Germany and Russia
responsible for the outbreak of the war?
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary's military leaders saw the Sarajevo assassination of the Austro-Hungarian
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife by a Bosnian Serb as an excuse to conquer and
destroy Serbia. Serbia was seen as an unstable neighbour which sought to expand beyond
its borders into Austro-Hungarian territories. Austria-Hungary over-reacted to the
assassination of the heir to the Habsburg throne.
Britain
Britain might have helped stop the war by interfering earlier. Many countries were surprised
when they joined the war to protect Belgium. In the Treaty of London of
1839, all the great powers of Europe, including Britain and Germany,
were bound to respect the neutrality of Belgium, and if necessary,
defend her from aggression. The Germans had requested that Belgium
let their troops pass, and when her government refused, Germany
invaded Belgium on August 4th, 1914. This was in defiance of the
treaty, and in response Britain declared war on Germany.
Germany
After 25 years of domination by Kaiser Wilhelm II with his militaristic
personality and his conviction that his Germanic God had predestined
him to lead his country to greatness war became almost inevitable.
Germany believed a European war would help to fulfil Germany's
ambitions for colonies and for military strength as well as political prestige in the world.In the
spring of 1914, Germany took "the leap into the dark" which they knew their support for an
Austrian attack on Serbia would almost certainly entail.
Germany had the power to halt the descent to disaster at any time in July 1914 by
withdrawing its "blank cheque" which offered support to Austria for its invasion of Serbia.
Instead German political and military figures egged on Austria-Hungary,to attack Serbia.
Germany was the first country to move its troops.
Russia
Russia probably did not want a European war in 1914 - its leaders knew that it would have
been in a far stronger position to fight two years later, having completed its rearmament
programme. However, Russia supported Serbia against Austria-Hungary making war more
likely.
Serbia
Serbia, exhausted by the two Balkan wars of 1912-13 in which it had played a major role,
possibly did not want war in 1914. On the other hand, Serbian nationalism and expansionism
were profoundly disruptive forces and Serbian backing for the Black Hand terrorists was
irresponsible
3
Assassination of Franz
Ferdinand
The Schlieffen Plan
Why did the First World War break out
in 1914?
Actions of Germany
4
Actions of AustriaHungary
5