The Crisis in the Balkans, the assasination of the heir of the Austrian throne and the Germany's need to take "a place in the sun" were some serious facts that contributed to the First World War. These three facts showed in some way the feeling of Nationalism and ambitions for every country to become the most powerful state in the world. This created tention in Europe and thus the World War.
The rise of nationalism in the nineteenth century had made the Balkan states hungry for independence. The Ottoman Empire and the Great Powers had vested interests in the area. Russia regarded itself as a defender of the Slav people. It actually wanted to protect its own interests in the region by ensuring that its ships had clear access through the Mediterranean Straits, while access to potentially hostile powers was denied, like was Austria, which wanted to increase its own control over the region. In 1875 there were uprisings in Bosnia and Herzegovina. If the Ottomans had been forced to withdraw, Russia and Austria would have battled for power over the region. This would have put Germany into the impossible position of having to choose sides even though it needed to keep the support of both. In 1876 Austria and Russia drew up a plan to divide the Balkans in the event of a Turkish defeat. The Turks were not defeated, and Russia invaded Turkey in April1877. Germany did not supported Russia. Both Austria and Britain were alarmed at Russia’s actions and the threat of war loomed over Europe. In 1878 a congress was held in Berlin and Russia gained land which it had lost in 1856 but the other decisions were less to its liking. Austria gained control over Bosnia-Herzegovina, Britain gained control over Cyprus while Bulgaria was divided. Russia felt robbed by foreign powers which had not even fought in the recent conflict.
The assassination, in June 1914, to the heir of the Austrian Throne, who was shot in Sarajevo by a Serb extremist, nationalist, war was seen as inevitable, at least by the German military and swift action seemed the best option. Germany offered Austria a “Blank Cheque” after the assassination – a promise of support no matter what happened. Without this guarantee, Austria would have hesitated to declare war on Serbia and risk fighting Russia.
From 1890-1914 Germany continued to flourish. She became an agricultural, manufactured, industrial power in Europe. By 1914 Germany produced two-thirds of Europe’s steel and over half its coal. She also led the way in the newer industries of Electrical goods, chemicals and steel. Agricultural production was more patchy, but overall by 1914 was producing a higher yield of crops than anywhere else in the world. The population was expanding. This provided a vast labor force and also a very strong military force. The Navy’s expansion proved more popular because it symbolized German growth. The Sheer size of the German Empire also provided a substantial home market for manufactured goods, and expertise of the German Banking System which granted generous long-term loans which in turn boosted investment. People in Germany felt that they needed and deserved a “place in the sun”, by which they vaguely meant some kind of acknowledged supremacy like that of the British. Neither the British nor the French, the leaders of modern Europe since the seventeenth century, could share wholeheartedly in such German aspirations. Kaiser’s Wilhelm II ambitions to project Germany onto the world stage, as Germany was, by this time a world power in terms of her economic strength and the government wanted this to be reflected outside of Germany. Nationalism as well as the policy of Weltpolitik created tensions in Europe which certainly contributed to the First World War.
The rise of nationalism in the nineteenth century had made the Balkan states and European countries hungry for independence and created tensions in Europe which certainly contributed to the First World War.Therom 1890-1914 Germany continued to flourish. She became an agricultural, manufactured
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