Example research essay topic: Declared War On Serbia Francis Ferdinand - 728 words

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World War I was a war that took place I Eastern Europe during the years of 1914 - 1918. This war involved the countries of Austria-Hungary and Serbia. The Serbians sparked these wars. In 1912, several Balkan states attacked Turkey.

This sparked wars over these lands. Economic tension was also present. As international tensions grew, the great powers expanded their armies and navies. This gave the possibility of wars emerging at any time. Fear of war also gave military leaders great influence. British and German generals and admirals received the respect of the people and funding to build their forces.

Serbia also wanted a South Slav empire, at this they would not stop for. A terrorist group called the Black Hand planned to kill the Archduke of Hungary Francis Ferdinand who planned to visit Sarajevo. On June 28 th Gavrilo Principal assassinated Francis. Since he was under 20 years of age he was not executed. Instead he was sentenced to life in prison. He died in 1918 of tuberculosis.

This severely angered the Austrians. They issued the Serbians an ultimatum. In it Austria stated to avoid war Serbia must end all anti-Austrian agitation and punish any Serbian officials involved in the murder plot. It must even let Austria join the investigation. Serbia agreed to most of the terms in the treaty, but not all. On July 28 th Austria declared war on Serbia.

Austria might not have declared war on Serbia if not for its longtime ally, Germany. In Berlin, Kaiser William II was horrified at the assignation of Francis Ferdinand and advised Francis Joseph to take a stand against the Serbia and assured him of German support. Instead of urging restraint, Germany gave Austria a blank check. Serbia sought support from Russia.

From St. Petersburg Nicholas II telegraphed William II. The czar asked William to urge Austria to soften its demands on the ultimatum. When this plea failed, Russia began to mobilize its troops. Russia then appealed to its ally, France. In Paris, nationalists saw this as a chance to avenge Frances defeat in the Franco-Prussian War.

Italy remained neutral while Britain had to decide whether they should back their ally, France or remain neutral. Germany then decided to join the Russians and quickly defeat France in order to avoid a war on both sides of the country. This was their biggest fear. To quickly invade France, German armies had to march through Belgium, and then swing south behind French lines. However, Britain and other European powers signed a treaty guaranteeing Belgium neutrality. Outraged by the invasion, Britain declared war on Germany.

The war grew brutal with many casualties. Trench warfare became common in the western front. Underground networks of trenches connected bunkers, communication trenches, and gun emplacements. Between the opposing trenches laid no mans land. In this stretch of land laid shell casing and every tree, house and structure that was there had long been destroyed. The Germans and French each sent waves of men to each others front.

Neither side succeeded. This created a stalemate. After a staggering defeat at Tannenburg, the Russians had a difficult time recovering. Some soldiers lacked rifles and Russians even sent poorly trained peasants to war. Revolution took its part on the starving people of Russian and over threw the Russian czar. V.

I. Lenin came to power and signed a treaty withdrawing Russia from the war. With Russia taken out of the picture Germany could concentrate its forces on the western front. The U. S. joined the war when Germany sunk an American trade vessel and broke its promise of issuing warnings before attacking.

In 1918, Germany launched an all out attack that pushed the allies back 40 miles. But these efforts exhausted the German front. William II was exiled into the Netherlands and Austria-Hungary was reeling towards collapse. The new German government signed a armistice to end all fighting. By the end of the war 8. 5 million people were dead. Double that number were wounded, many handicapped for life.

Famine threatened many regions. An epidemic of Influenza at the same time severely hurt society. The governments of the Ottoman Empire, Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary soon followed. These factors played a large part in the collapse of Germany. But in time Germany would rebuild themselves to former stature and even surpass that and once again become a superpower.

Research essay sample on Declared War On Serbia Francis Ferdinand