I’m not a history buff, and all I know is that his death set off a Rube Goldberg machine of Politics that led to everyone fighting everyone else. Can someone simplify it for me?
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Germany were allied with Austria-Hungary. When the Archduke was shot, Austria-Hungary (and Germany) declared war on Serbia over the assassination.
Russia was an ally of Serbia and declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary. As France was allied to Russia, they also declared war.
Britain was friendly to Russia and France (more accurately, Britain was trying to stop the German navy from becoming powerful enough to rival its own) but was recently emerging from “Splendid Isolation” i.e. looking after its empire and leaving the rest of Europe to its own devices. Again, this emergence was due to an increasingly powerful German navy. So Britain really wanted to sit this one out, but had promised to support Belgian neutrality. Germany invaded Belgium in order to create an extra passageway into France, so Britain declared war on Germany, bringing in its empire (countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Indian Subcontinent).
The United States was staying well out of it, in part due to its population’s historic links to both Britain and Germany. Britain, however, intercepted German communiques to Mexico that were encouraging Mexico to attack the US; the Americans responded by declaring war on Germany and getting involved.
Imagine two gunfighters facing each other in the street, pistols in their holster. Neither one may want bloodshed, but if anyone makes any sudden movements, shooting will break out. Because once you even THINK you see the other guy reach for his gun, you HAVE reach for your and shoot him before he can shoot you.
Germany was outnumbered and surrounded. Their only chance is to mobilize FASTER than their enemies. Before Ferdinand is shot, the German generals know that if there’s going to be a war, they have to go to FULL and TOTAL war instantly. If they drag their feet and let their enemies take their time in getting to the front, they’re gonna lose.
So when the Balkan conflict breaks out, they don’t have a plan b. There’s one button to push and only one button. So they push it, and pray that the war will be quick and decisive… it isn’t.
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