World War One was not brought about by one single nation, but rather by the collective of all the nations involved. It is absurd to think that one nation, or more specifically the leaders of one nation, would be able to or want to cause such a calamity in Europe. Instead World War One was caused by the alliance system, imperial rivalry, and the technological revolution, which were all upon Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. Because of all these factors, it is easy to say that Germany became the unfortunate scapegoat of the Treaty of Versailles.
The Triple Alliance and the Entente acted as chains binding nations and causing them to drag one another into the war. It was clear that the Alliance had military ties, but one may point out that the Entente made no formal military alliances. Still, France and Great Britain had been sharing military strategies and ideas with one another for sometime.
Europe, post Treaty of Versailles. Leslie’s New ...
English: Mass demonstration in front of the Reichs...
Signing of the Treaty of Versailles in the Hall of...This eventually led to Great Britain's involvement in the war after Germany invaded Belgium to attack France. It seems awkward that a quarrel between Serbia and Austria could drag four other powers into the argument, but that is the sad result of the alliance system. If it had not been for the Franco-Russian treaty in 1894, it is conceivable that this whole war could have avoided at least Great Britain and France. The alliance between Serbia and Russia is understandable due to ethnic ties. However, the Austria "ÃÂ Germany Alliance seemed to be unnecessary especially in this war. Germany should not have given its "blank check" of assurance to Austria, just because of the alliance. In this document, signed on July 5, 1914, the Austrian ambassador to Berlin relayed that Austria "might in this case, as in all others, relay upon...