For some reason for my entire life I have always had trouble understanding the origins of World War I, especially as to how the assassination of one person could lead to a world war. Recently I was asked by my son about this, so I decided I had better finally understand it better.
I can see why Austria-Hungary might want a war with Serbia. And I can see why Germany might back up Austria-Hungary. And I can see why Russia might go to war to defend Serbia. But why would Germany at the same time want to declare war on France? What would be the ultimate goal in such a war?
Thank in advance for any helpful answers.
War with France once Germany declared war on Russia was inevitable. Germany declared war on Russia on 1 August. On the same day France began mobilising. Such an act was a clear sign to Germany that France was willing to fulfil its treaty obligations to Russia. If France entered the war on Russia’s side, Germany would be forced to fight a war on two fronts, something that Germany military planners, chiefly Schlieffen, had been fearful of and had been planning for for decades. German military planning called for the defeat of France first, before Russia was able to mobilise its vast manpower. To do this, Germany needed to preemptively declare war on France as well as seek free passage through Belgium in order to outflank the French forces which would be deployed to the frontier along the French-German border.