Was Germany to Be Blamed for World War 1 (WWI)? Argumentative Essay

 The Question of who is to Blame For WWI has been argued for many years, but who is truly to blame? June 28, 1914, Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria- Hungria, and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassinated by the Black Hand, a terrorist group originating in Serbia. After the Assignation, Austria-Hungary and Serbia had lots of tensions. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for not warning Austria about this terrorist group. Austria also blamed Serbia for not stepping in and helping after the Assignation of Franz Ferdinand. After all of these events, the German military supported the idea of an Austria-Hungary attack against Serbia. Germany believed that this was the best way of starting a general war. The last step to getting a war was the Austria-Hungary Ultimatum. Germany pressured Austria-Hungary into writing very harsh terms on an Ultimatum that they knew Serbia would reject. With all the information, Germany is solely to blame for WWI. First, Germany Pressured Austria-Hungary into writing the Ultimatum that started the war. Secondly, the immense sense of nationalism in Germany during the War. Lastly, Germany and its militaristic views. Kaiser envied Britain and their strong Navy forces, starting a rivalry between Germany and Britain. 

After the assignation of Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Austria-Hungary and Serbia were not happy with each other. Germany saw the tensions between these two countries and took control. Germany knew that they could get the fight they wanted by helping Austria. Germany told Austria-Hungria to write an Ultimatum, but they had to make it so that Serbia would reject it. After German and Austria-Hungary agreed to write the Ultimatum, Germany pressured them to make it harsh so Serbia would not accept it. After Serbia received the Ultimatum, they read it over and refused to meet all ten demands. July 28, 1914, the start of WWI Austria Hungary wages war on Serbia. "Germany demanded that the Ultimatum to Serbia should be drawn up in those sharp Terms .“(Fritz Fisher). Germany decided that the Ultimatum would be drafted harshly because they knew they would reject this and end up in a war. Little did Germany and Austria see what they got themselves in. Coming into the war would be Russia to help Serbia, along with Russia allies Britain and France started to look at the outbreak of the war. Altogether, if Germany never pressured Austria-Hungary to write such a harsh ultimatum, Austria-Hungary and Serbia might have gotten past the assassination, and a World War might never have broken out. 

Secondly, Germany's nationalistic views. Germany and its strong sense of nationalism played a large part in the uprising of WWI.  Because of their strong belief in nationalism, they put themself in a war in which they were not well prepared. The German people all believed that they would win WWI, so when they came in to help Austria-Hungary, it was a wake-up call for the military. People were cheering and clapping as they announced that Germany would be entering WWI. "Germans plotted war; Wilhelm II, the Europe greeted the war, a fact that in the last analysis may go farther to unhappy German monarch, was depicted in the Allied countries as a mon explained its coming then all the details of diplomacy." ( Stromberg). This quote represents that Kaiser Whilhelm II was not scared to go in battle, nor was he nervous about possible failure. Through the whole beginning of this war, Germany was overconfident and narcissistic. They believed that this war would be a walk in the park for them and Austria-Hungary, but little did they know alliances were being formed, and now they are in a war that they were severely unprepared for. 

Lastly, I believe that another reason Germany is to blame for the starting of WWI is German militarism. Germany envied and was jealous of the British navy. Kaiser Wilhelm wanted to be as big or even bigger than Britain's navy, but he also wanted the German navy to be stronger as well. When Britain got wind that Germany/ Kaiser was trying to build up their military, Britain felt threatened. Eventually, Britain thought it would be safest to start putting the army all around their different colonies so that they would be protected. While Germany was trying to build up their Navy to the standards of the British Navy, Germany never looked at their army. So while Germany and Britain were trying to rival between their navies Russia and France were working to build up their armies. While this was a problem because Germany was working neither with France or Russia, these 3 countries all neighbored each other. Germany started all of this, the naval arms race, the scares it sent to all the European countries, and the way they handled this war. Germany had many other options which would have most likely prevented this war from happening. 

In conclusion, Germany is solely to blame. Germany pressured Austria-Hungary into writing harsh terms on the Ultimatum after the assignation of  Franz Ferdinand and his wife, which caused Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia. This was just the start of a chain reaction of countries to follow. Then Germany and their Nationalistic views. They went into this war believing they were the best. Lastly Germany’s militaristic views. Germany wanted to be the strongest country, but while doing that they crossed lines with other countries. Germany started the Naval Arms Race which leads to France getting involved to help Britain. Overall, looking at everything Germany is solely responsible for WWI. If Germany never pressured Austria-Hungary to write harsh terms, walked into WWI so cheerfully, or started a Naval Arms Race, WWI might have never begun. 

Citation (Bibliography)

Fisher, Fritz. "Germanys Aims in the First World War." Google Drive, pp. 4-6. 

Stromberg, Roland N. Europe in the Twentieth Century. Englewood Cliff, prentice hall Inc, 1980.