1. Nationalism and Imperialism: European countries were experiencing heightened nationalism and a desire to expand their empires. This competitiveness and rivalry created tensions and conflicts among nations.
2. System of Alliances: European countries were entangled in a complex web of alliances. When one country mobilized its military or took aggressive actions, it triggered a chain reaction of mobilizations and declarations of war among its allies and their opponents.
3. Failure of Diplomacy: Diplomatic efforts to resolve tensions and conflicts failed due to mutual distrust and a lack of willingness to compromise. Diplomatic miscalculations, such as the Austrian ultimatum to Serbia and Germany's "blank check" to Austria-Hungary, further escalated the situation.
4. General Staff Planning: Military leaders in various countries had prepared detailed war plans, which assumed quick and decisive victories. These plans were based on outdated strategies and overestimated their military capabilities, leading to miscalculations and military blunders.
5. Public Support for War: Public opinion in many European countries was supportive of war. Patriotism, a sense of national honor, and a belief in the righteousness of their cause fueled popular enthusiasm for military conflicts.
6. Lack of Understanding: European leaders and policymakers underestimated the potential consequences and magnitude of a general European war. They failed to fully comprehend the interconnectedness of the continent and the devastating effects a large-scale conflict would have on their societies and economies.
7. The Schlieffen Plan: Germany's military strategy, the Schlieffen Plan, involved a simultaneous two-front war against France and Russia. However, the plan required precise timing and flawless execution, and any delay or disruption would jeopardize its success. The invasion of Belgium (necessary for the plan's success) also violated international treaties and further escalated tensions.
These factors combined to create an environment in which it became increasingly difficult to prevent the escalation of tensions into all-out war. Once the conflict began, it was challenging to find a way to de-escalate and end the fighting.
