Allied Powers and Central Powers

¶ … allied powers and central powers systems of alliance. How did this tangled and often secretive system of alliance lead to the outbreak of world war one.

Describe the creation of the Allied Powers and Central Powers systems of alliance. How did this tangled and often secretive system of alliance lead to the outbreak of World War I?

It is hard to believe that a single incident, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, in the relatively minor province of Sarajevo spawned the world-wide conflagration that became known as 'The War to End All Wars.' Ferdinand was killed by a relatively minor Serbian nationalist group, Black Hand, but his death "set in train a mindlessly mechanical series of events that culminated in the world's first global war" (Duffy 2004).

Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia which "effectively nullified Serbia's sovereignty" (Duffy 2004). Austria-Hungary made the terms of the ultimatum deliberately insulting and severe, so it would have an excuse to invade and subdue the nation, bringing it under its secure control. Serbia had an alliance with Russia. Russia promised to protect Serbia, should it be invaded. Austria-Hungary did not take this alliance seriously, although it did solicit the promise from Germany that Germany would intervene on its behalf, if Russia should declare war on Austria Hungary.

Thus, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and Russia followed suit against the Central powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary, as Germany had kept its side of the 'bargain,' declaring war on Russia and Serbia. "France, bound by treaty to Russia, found itself at war against Germany and, by extension, on Austria-Hungary following a German declaration on 3 August. Germany was swift in invading neutral Belgium so as to reach Paris by the shortest possible route" (Duffy 2004). Britain was allied with France and bound by a promise to defend neutral Belgium. Its declaration of war against the German and Austrian-Hungarian Empire also brought all of its colonies, including Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa into the fray. Japan had a similar binding military agreement with Great Britain, and only Italy reneged on its treaty to the other Central Powers, stating it had an obligation to fight for Austria-Hungary and Germany in a defensive (not an offensive) war -- it joined the war on the site of the Allies the following year.