Alliance System

Bismarck's diplomacy aiming to isolate France

Three Emperors' League in 1872: Germany, Russia and Austria

Treaty of San Stefano, 1878

Kaiser William II

Russia was kicked out of the league

France and Russia formed a defensive alliance.

Britain signed an alliance with Japan in 1902.

Entente Cordiale 1904

Triple Entente 1907: France, Britain, Russia

Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, with his wife Sophie, to Sarajevo

Balkan

the occupation of Bosnia by Austria

a greater Serbia

The Black Hand

Nikola Pasic 1845-1926, prime minister warned Austrian government of a possible assassination but Austrians didn't get the hint.

Gavrilo Princip 1894-1918

Aftermath of the assassination:

The Blank Check

The alliance system plunged all of Europe into war.

Austrians issued ultimatum to the serbs.

Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on 28th of July 1914.

Russia mobilized its army against Austria on 29th.

Germany declared war on Russia on August 1st.

France informed Germany that it would stand by its alliance with Russia.

British and Italians hesitated initially.

Germany invaded Belgium.

Rape of Belgium 1914

Britain joined the war to defend the principle of neutrality.

Thus the Great War had begun.

Most of Europeans welcomed the war at first.

1. Relief
2. Nationalism
3. Amnesia leading to war fever (they had no clue of a modern 20th century warfare. The last general European war ended in 1815.)
4. Malaise (Some people thought that Europeans had grown soft and decadent because of science, atheism, and social problems. They viewed war as an invigorating cure or a purging fire. )