This was a major concern for Austria-Hungary who had a large number of Slavs living within their empire. The Slavs wished to join up with Serbia, who was seen by Austria-Hungary as a threat to its power in the Balkans. .
The European alliance system was the major contributing factor which dragged the great powers into a European War. Bismarck's Germany had set about building up a web of alliances to alienate France diplomatically, and neutralize her as a threat. In 1873 Germany signed the Three Emperors League "Dreikaiserbund" with Austria-Hungary and Russia, each country promising to come to the others aid if one was attacked. Russia pulled out only five years later in 1878. In 1879 Germany allied with Austria-Hungary and three years later the treaty was expanded to include Italy and became Triple Alliance. Britain, France and Russia became increasingly concerned about the strength of the Triple Alliance. Believing Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy acting together could Introduction.
In 1914 World War One broke out in Europe. It was the single largest struggle the world had ever seen, between Europe's great powers and their allies. Prior to the outbreak of war in 1914 Europe was controlled by the five great powers Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Great Britain and Russia. There are a number of causes for the Great War, these being the over developed alliance system between the powers, Imperialism, the growth of Militarism and Nationalism. No one single factor is responsible for the Great War but a combination of them all.
Imperialism and Militarism was a source of conflict among the great powers of Europe. Britain at the time was the largest empire in the world. Germany was a relative newcomer to Imperialism and sought to secure her place in the sun, just like Britain and France had done with their extensive Asian and African colonies. Kaiser Wilhelm II was eager to establish Germany as a Colonial and European power, with the help of Admiral Tirpitz started the construction of a naval fleet.
