Historian LCF Turner states the great powers were fighting over a trivial issue. The problem had gotten to a point where no one knew what they were fighting over.
This quote was said by David Lloyd George where he said how the Europe countries like to fight but they wouldn't a war to become this brutal.
In Issue 9 it states that "...In short, these scholars believe that a world was was virtually inevitable, given the pressures that were building up in early twentieth-century Europe." This quote means that the war couldn't be stopped even if people tried. Another statement from Hartmut Pogge von Strandum concludes that the war began as a German quest for markets, profits, prestige and international influence. Which means the war didn't even start with any of the countries using any physical force. Sidney Bradshaw Fay focuses on how the war started because of economic rivalry, nationalist ambitions, popular emotions whipped up by the press and the ill-fated alliance system. Sidney Bradshaw Fay also wrote "None of the Powers wanted a European war. Their governing rulers and ministers with very few exceptions all foresaw that it must be a frightful struggle in which the political results were not absolutely certain but in which the loss of life, suffering and economic consequences were bound to be terrible." This shows that none of the countries wanted war. They can't gain anything from this except many disadvantages for their country.
World War 1 was a tragedy that you cannot blame anyone for. Although there are many events that might have provoked the other countries to start a war, we don't have a clear reasoning to blame one specific country.
There are 3 major points that should be taken into account when discussing World War 1:
In 1914 militarism and nationalism was the norm. Everyone believed that their country was the best at everything. All the countries wanted nothing more than to have more power and better weaponry than any other country. They also wanted to be better than other countries in everything such as resources, economy, government system, etc. Plus none of the great rulers knew what they were fighting about. Furthermore at the time most countries had poor economy and they knew that if they went into war, they would be in major debt. Many people say that Germany is the one that started the war however you can't just blame one country when there were clearly other countries who were also at fault.
Many think that the ill-fated alliances were the reason the war had started. When countries took sides it built pressure in Europe, causing everyone to get as much alliances as they could. Basically if one country was afraid of another, they would make alliances with countries who they believe are stronger. What started off as a disagreement between countries became this huge problem that involved the world due to alliances. When two countries have an alliance and one of them goes to war, the other country has no choice but to help support them.
The war itself was inevitable, with all the tension and built-up paranoia it would happened sooner or later, if not then. Many scholars have said that it was because of the alliance system, the arms race, the highest stage of capitalism or the Anglo-German trade rivalry and other events had the war started. The major countries all had problems in their political and military systems which couldn't be helped and they expected a war was coming. All the leaders either hated one country or had a secret alliance with another. Due to alliances among the European countries, even in the smallest argument, almost all of Europe would get involved, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand is an example.
Trying to find someone to blame for World War 1 is tough. No matter who you think caused it and what the reasons are, there will always be someone or something to counteract what you've said. It's the perfect example to explain that nothing good ever comes from sticking your nose in other people's business. All in all you cannot blame just one country for starting a war, it's one of those things you just can't avoid.
World War 1 was a tragedy that you cannot blame anyone for. Although there are many events that might have provoked the other countries to start a war, we don't have a clear reasoning to blame one specific country.
There are 3 major points that should be taken into account when discussing World War 1:
- Militarism
- Nationalism
- Alliances
In 1914 militarism and nationalism was the norm. Everyone believed that their country was the best at everything. All the countries wanted nothing more than to have more power and better weaponry than any other country. They also wanted to be better than other countries in everything such as resources, economy, government system, etc. Plus none of the great rulers knew what they were fighting about. Furthermore at the time most countries had poor economy and they knew that if they went into war, they would be in major debt. Many people say that Germany is the one that started the war however you can't just blame one country when there were clearly other countries who were also at fault.
Many think that the ill-fated alliances were the reason the war had started. When countries took sides it built pressure in Europe, causing everyone to get as much alliances as they could. Basically if one country was afraid of another, they would make alliances with countries who they believe are stronger. What started off as a disagreement between countries became this huge problem that involved the world due to alliances. When two countries have an alliance and one of them goes to war, the other country has no choice but to help support them.
The war itself was inevitable, with all the tension and built-up paranoia it would happened sooner or later, if not then. Many scholars have said that it was because of the alliance system, the arms race, the highest stage of capitalism or the Anglo-German trade rivalry and other events had the war started. The major countries all had problems in their political and military systems which couldn't be helped and they expected a war was coming. All the leaders either hated one country or had a secret alliance with another. Due to alliances among the European countries, even in the smallest argument, almost all of Europe would get involved, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand is an example.
Trying to find someone to blame for World War 1 is tough. No matter who you think caused it and what the reasons are, there will always be someone or something to counteract what you've said. It's the perfect example to explain that nothing good ever comes from sticking your nose in other people's business. All in all you cannot blame just one country for starting a war, it's one of those things you just can't avoid.
Bethmann answered "Oh if only I knew." This further proves that know one really knew how the war started.