What caused World War One?

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Selected claim, supporting its parent

Germany, Italy, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire made an alliance to balance against Russian and French expansion.

Pros

Cons

  • Pro claim 1

    The agreements between the Alliance countries required them to go to war to defend each other. This is what underpinned Germany's support for Austria-Hungary in the July Crisis.

  • Con claim 1

    Germany's blank cheque support for Austria-Hungary was not based on alliances, but a strategic calculation that the outbreak of war would be in their interests.