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The '''causes of [[World War I]]''' remain hotly contested a century after the war itself concluded. Some authors emphasize the accidental character of the war as an unplanned response to the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, in June 1914. Others argue that the German government planned the war in advance and used the assassination as a pretext.

The '''causes of [[World War I]]''' remain hotly contested a century after the war itself concluded. Some authors emphasize the accidental character of the war as an unplanned response to the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, in June 1914. Others argue that the German government planned the war in advance and used the assassination as a pretext.

Until 1904, German war planners thought in terms of a defensive response to a possible Russian attack. When Europeans thought about war, it was more likely to be an Anglo-Russian war than one that involved Germany. Germany's shift to an offensive strategy can be traced to Russia's defeat at the hands the Japanese in 1905.

Until 1904, German military planners thought in terms of a defensive response to a possible Russian attack. When Europeans thought about war, it was more likely to be an Anglo-Russian war than one that involved Germany. Germany's shift to an offensive strategy can be traced to Russia's defeat at the hands the Japanese in 1905 and the adoption of the Schlieffen Plan to invade France by way of Belgium.

Militarists wanted to take advantage of Russia's vulnerablity, especially during the First Morroccan Crisis of 1906. They found that German public opinion and the army's lack of up-to-date artillery did not permit this. To remedy the situation, the Schlieffen Plan to invade France by way of Belgium was prepared, recoiless artillery was introduced, a naval buildup was accelerated, and propaganda was distributed that accused Britain of "encircling" Germany and denying the country its rightful "place in the sun," meaning a share of colonies.

Militarists wanted to take advantage of Russia's vulnerablity, especially during the First Morroccan Crisis of 1906. They found that German public opinion and the army's lack of up-to-date artillery did not permit this. To remedy the situation, recoiless artillery was introduced, naval buildup was accelerated, and propaganda was distributed that accused Britain of "encircling" Germany and denying the country its rightful "place in the sun," meaning a share of colonies.

German public opinion became more militaristic at the time of the Agadir Crisis in 1911. In this incident, France and Britain combined to opposed German colonial ambitions in Africa. The Reichstag approved army expansion, required to carry out the Schlieffen Plan, in July 1913.

German public opinion became more militaristic at the time of the Agadir Crisis in 1911. In this incident, France and Britain combined to opposed German colonial ambitions in Africa. The Reichstag approved army expansion, required to carry out the Schlieffen Plan, in July 1913.