Historians writing about the origins of World War I have differed over the relative emphasis they place upon the factors involved. Changes in historical arguments over time are in part related to the
Poster, c. 1918 by Maurice Neumont
Causes of World War I
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Identifying the causes of World War I remains a debated issue. World War I began in the Balkans on 28 July 1914, and hostilities ended on 11 November 1918, leaving 17 million dead and 25 million wound
Historiography of the causes of World War I
…that Serbians, as Slavs, were inferior to Austrian-Hungarians and Germans, so it was legitimate to make Serbian territory part of Germanic empires. Causes of World War I Diplomatic history of World War I American entry into World War I Austro-Hungarian entry into World War I British entry into World War I French entry…
Grave implications of the assassination were immediately recognized, as in this 29 June article with subtitles "War Sequel?" and "War May Result", and stating the assassination was "engineered by persons having a more mature organizing ability than that of the youthful assassins".
American cartoon showing territorial dispute between France and Germany over Alsace-Lorraine, 1898
French troops in Morocco, 1912
The Anglo-German naval arms race became a considerable source of tension between Germany and Britain prior to World War I. Royal Navy warships pictured above in battle formation.