What started WW 1?

[aefenglommung]

The First World War is getting a lot of attention these days, just over a century after the fact. I see people arguing that Britain should not have fought in the War. Others re-litigate who started it, who could have ended it, etc

Comments

[xxxbarnes]

You forgot the Zimmerman Telegram which was the last straw and true excuse for the U.S to declare war on Germany. The U.S. profitted financially by staying out of the war for 3 years while they sold arms to Britain (and France), nearly bankrupting Britain. Aside from the assassination of the archduke, which was the trigger, the French were spoiling for a fight against Germany to exact revenge from Germany for the French defeat by Germany in their last squabble in the late 1870's, which was the latest in an ongoing series of wars between those two countries. The Archduke (and his wife) were the side show event that provided Germany & France the excuse for another round at each other. This time they were able to draw in other powers due to their treaties, some secret and others well known. The U.S. emerged as the big power because they made money off the war and lost far fewer men. Also, the U.S. was not trampled by armies tearing up the land. Then Wilson went over to "force" a treaty without winners & a League of Nations WHICH

[aefenglommung]

The Zimmermann Telegram was inflammatory, but the US declined the bait (as did Mexico). We finally declared war on Germany after it resumed unrestricted submarine warfare, including on our merchant ships.

Yes, France and Germany were both spoiling for a fight. England and Germany were engaged in a naval arms race. War could have erupted at any time. But it erupted when it did and why it did in a particular manner. And the prime mover in starting, then widening the war was Germany.

[xxxbarnes]

Agreed. We and Mexico did not take the bait, but I believe the Zimmerman Telegram was, I think, used as part of the reason for provocation to war in Wilson's message to Congress. My info is from Tuchman but I haven't had the time to check details. Relying on memory.