answersLogoWhite

0

Because of collective security (alliances made; i.e. Triple Alliance, Triple Entente), the 'local conflict' between Serbia and Austria-Hungary became a World War. Had it not been for this collective security, a World War could have possibly been avoided.

AnswerI don't think it could have been avoided. It was the result of a hundred little pressures all building up until eventually it just exploded. The countries of Europe all wanted a war they were pretty much itching for an excuse to fight and eventually they found one. None of them expected the war to be anything like what it became, they thought it would all be over quickly. AnswerIf Austria-Hungary had negotiated seriously with Serbia in July 1914, war could have been avoided. However, Germany egged Austria-Hungary on to be completely unreasonable ... After the assassination in Sarajevo (28 June 1914, many politicians went on holiday as planned and seem not to have assumed they were on the verge of war. A Historian's PerspectiveFrom a modern historical and political science perspective, there are two major parts to this seemingly simple question:

(a) Was some sort of general European War avoidable in the early 1900s?

(b) If the answer to (a) is "No", what form was such a conflict most likely to take?

Given the prevailing political and military atmosphere of the 1890s and 1900s, pretty much all historians are of the opinion that some form of European war was inevitable in the 1910s or 1920s. Most European nations' foreign policies were driven by brinkmanship and absolutism - compromise was seen as impinging the national honor, and the prevailing public opinions of most European countries placed a high value on national honor and prestige. Newspapers exhorted highly nationalistic ideals and foreign policies, and governments were careful to listen to public sentiment. In addition, a massive arms race had been underway for nearly 30 years, driven by the rapid industrialization of Europe and the concurrent revolution in military weapon design (magazine-fed bolt action rifles, machine-guns, submarines, the switch from coal boilers to steam turbines in ships, the advent of high-strength steel, etc.)

The general opinion of most nations at the time was that war was not only inevitable, but desirable. People thought it would be a short, massive push, followed by a quick defeat of the enemy and a return to peace, with the victor gaining some spoils. In essence, everyone was dreaming of a scenario like the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.

"If my sons did not want wars, there would be none." Gutle Schnaper Rothschild
User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Military History

Was war world II avoidable?

yes it was avoidable


What consist to avoidable cost?

Avoidable cost is loses in lives and materials which could have been avoided had a different route been taken. This also includes the procurement of equipment which may be excessively expensive for what it actually does.


What was the difference between the Conscientious Objectors in World War 1 and World War 2?

Most objectors in the 1st world war were against fighting as they saw it as pointless slaughter, whilst objectors in WW2 were probably the same as well. In WW2 for example 'Conchies' were against the fighting, but that did not preclude them from war work. In fact many of these principled, brave men were involved in bomb disposal ! I had thought that bombs that didn't explode did not do so by accident: Not at all, they are designed not to do so to tie up resources of the enemy, indeed this still goes on to this day. I think there were more objectors in WW2, mainly because, I suppose, of greater media awareness. I don't know what differences there might be between these people, surely if you are a pacifist then that's all there is to it. Personally I am not a pacifist, but I do understand their point of view. I too wish war was avoidable, but....


Was World War 1 successful?

It was successful in that Germany & Austria-Hungary were defeated, however... worthwhile or worth the cost? This is an opinion type question. Not if you consider that the war was avoidable. Popular and political setiment after the Great War was that it should have been avoided or prevented, or ended earlier. I agree. Germany & Austria-Hungary were not evil empires trying to conquer the world, however they were considered the aggressors because they struck first. Serbia and they were the most to blame.


Was the Cold War inevitable?

By 1945, Nazi Germany lay defeated and the Allies stood victorious. The Soviet Union had suffered greatly to win the war. The paranoia of another invasion pushed Stalin to seize Eastern Europe as a cushion between the USSR and capitalism and prevent Russian soil from becoming a war zone again. So by 1947, the Iron Curtain had fallen across the continent and the world was slipping towards a deep freeze. The West by now had seen the might of Soviet arms and feared Communism sweeping over Europe. The North Atlantic Charter was signed in 1949 and the West created a security pact against the Soviet Union. Stalin responded by creating the Warsaw Pact a few years later. The tensions between the Soviet Union and the West eventually led to the Cold War.