How did World War 1 form?

Answer 1

It was a complex set of issues, all arising from power struggles and past grievances. Predominantly, Germany and Britain were in a "competition" to have the largest navy. This led both to industrial growth, but also led to massive strains on diplomatic relations. There was also the question of empire. Although both of the main antagonists in the war had begun the slow process of dismantling their empires, the imperial mindset still remained, so more military competition was created. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo prompted the already antagonistic Austria-Hungary to declare war against Serbia, which finally allowed Britain and Germany to take sides and join battle against one another. Germany, along with Bulgaria and The Ottoman Empire of Turkey, allied itself with Austria-Hungary, and Britain joined with Serbia, along with France, Russia and eventually Italy, in the Great War of 1914 - 1918. The defeat of Germany and the Central Powers would lead directly to the anger that allowed Adolf Hitler to be appointed Chancellor of Germany in 1933, and the Second World War 21 years after the end of the first.