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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.

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 General Staff planned the war in advance and used the assassination as a pretext. The doctrine of "cult of offensive" instructed officers to take advantage of any oportunity to launch an offensive. Although this doctrine was taught to officers in various countries, German war planners played a greater role in policymaking and even sat on cabinet meetings.

Other historians argue that the German General Staff planned the war in advance and used the assassination as a pretext. These war planners were trained in a doctrine called "cult of offensive." This doctrine, based instructed commanders to take advantage of any opportunity to launch an offensive. Although this doctrine was also taught to officers in France and other countries, German war planners played a greater role in policymaking and even sat on cabinet meetings.<ref>Van Evera, Stephen, "[https://www.jstor.org/stable/2538636 The Cult of the Offensive and Origins of the First World War]," ''International Security'', Summer 1984.</ref>

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.  

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.