Why did specific countries have to enter WWI?

Question

Why did specific countries have to enter WWI?

Answer 1

The thing I always remember, one of the few, in fact, I ever remember about WWI was a teacher in high school said "World War I started as the world's biggest family feud'.



That is, all the royalty in Europe were either siblings, cousins, nephews, etc. The Archduke, or heir to the Austrian throne was murdered by a Serbian (Yugoslavian) rebel, who wanted his country to be free of the rule of Austria-Hungary. The Russian Czar actually was backing independence for the Serbs. Russia was thought to be part of the conspiracy. Russia was allies with England (and the Czar and King were cousins) and France, which no longer had a king; but anyway the kings were against the other cousins, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany and I forget the name of the Austrian Emperor. Despite what someone said, Austria and Germany did not go to war against each other, Germany and Austria were allied, called the Central Powers, and Britain, France, Russia and later the US were the Allies, like they were in WWI.



So at first, it was a lot of royal cousins sending their armies into battle. As time went on, Britain got more and more aid from America, and we eventually joined. That is complicated, I'd suggest you look it up. I believe, unlike WWII, Italy was on the side of the allies. There were some other countries involved, but US, after 1917, Britain and all it's colonies, France, Russia, until they dropped out due to the revolution; vs Germany and AUstria-Hungary.



One of the worst things about WWI was the use of mustard gas and other chemical weapons. ALso planes were used in warfare for the first time, as were tanks. SOme of it seems fairly primitive today, but they were very advanced for the time.

Answer 2

There were specific treaty obligations on each side. The Central Powers (German Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire) had agreed that they would respond to any attack or threat from another country. Likewise, the Allies were bound by the Triple Entente (France, Britain and Russia) which guaranteed that they would join the war if a member country was attacked. The US joined the Allies later after German submarines sank merchant shipping.



When Archduke Francis Ferdinand (heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire) and his wife were assassinated in Serbia, the demands on the Serbs by the Empire were a threat to Russia. Given the way war was fought then, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had to mobilize their army which prompted the Russians to do the same. In support of their treaty obligations, Germany then mobilized. However, German war plans called for an attack on France because that was the greater threat to Germany. France and Britain then joined the mobilization in support of Russia and in response to Germany's implied threat to France. There was also an issue with the neutrality of Belgium which the Germans intended to violate.



There's a lot more but that's the gist of it.

Answer 3

No country HAD to enter WWI. They all did it because they thought they were doing the right thing.

Answer 4

Because specific countries decided not to stand by and watch Germany and the other enemies take over the world. The allied powers had to stop them, so they did.

Answer 5

The conflict might have ended on a similar time,and for a similar reason - the lengthy term effects of the Royal army blockade. via 1918,even front line German troops have been on brief rations,and the civilian inhabitants replaced into actually ravenous to loss of existence. 760,000 German civilians died in WW1 (whilst in comparison with 500,000 in WW2).there replaced into no combating in Germany itself,and no mass bombing raids on German cities.those people died from starvation,or from in many circumstances non deadly ailments via fact they have been vulnerable from extreme malnutrition. each and all the lead roofing and metallic railings have been stripped from government homes to be utilized in conflict industries,and military helmets have been being made up of felt or maybe cardboard,so it wasn't only meals Germany replaced into working brief of in 1918. The Ludendorff Offensives of 1918 - designed to knock Britain out of the conflict and for this reason end the naval blockade - have been halted generally via British and French troops (fairly than American ones), and Ludendorff knew then Germany had lost the conflict.As early as August,German troops have been recommended to do no greater advantageous than carry their positions until an armistice might desire to be arranged. The Germany army mutinied,refusing to sail out and make a final desperate attempt to defeat the Royal army and end the blockade,and the civilian inhabitants replaced into on the factor of revolution. The contribution of the Royal army blockade to the Allied victory replaced into known whilst the Armistice replaced into signed interior the early hours of St Martin's Day 1918; the British representative replaced into Admiral Wemyss, not a militia time-honored. So,whether US had remained impartial in WW1,the conflict might have ended at relating to a similar time,and for a similar motives. In his memoirs.Ludendorff makes it very sparkling that Germany surrendered via outcomes of the naval blockade.

Answer 6

alajuneshley,



Austria-Hungary did not declare war on Germany, Germany was actually their allie they declared war on Serbia.



The person who shot the Archduke Ferdinand and his wife was not German he was from Serbia, he was a member of the Serbian nationalist group the "Blackhand" Serbia was Angry at Austria-Hungary for annexing Bosnia.

Answer 7

well germany ,france, austria hungry, russia , were the most important one ...the war started by a person from germany shot archduke frances and his wife in austria hungry and thats when austria hungry declaired war on germany! the us was tring not to get involed untill germany sunk a non millatary ship...so the us declaird war on them!

Answer 8

Alliancies, previous promises, paranoia.