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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.

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 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>

Other historians argue that the German General Staff planned the war in advance and used the assassination as a pretext. War planners were trained in a doctrine called "cult of the offensive." This doctrine instructed commanders to take advantage of any opportunity to launch an offensive. Although the doctrine was also embrassed by 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.  

To take advantage of Russia's vulnerablity during the war with Japan, Chief of Staff Alfred von Schlieffen developed a plan to invade France by way of Belgium. During the First Morroccan Crisis of 1906, the kaiser found that German public opinion and the army's lack of up-to-date artillery did not allow him to implement a plan of this type. To remedy the situation, recoiless artillery was introduced, naval buildup was accelerated, and propaganda was distributed through the Navy League that accused Britain of "encircling" Germany and denying the country its rightful "place in the sun," meaning a share of colonies.

To take advantage of Russia's vulnerablity during the war with Japan, Chief of Staff Alfred von Schlieffen developed a plan to invade France by way of Belgium. During the First Morroccan Crisis of 1906, the kaiser found that German public opinion and the army's lack of up-to-date artillery did not allow him to implement a plan of this type. To remedy the situation, recoiless artillery was introduced, naval buildup was accelerated, and propaganda was distributed through the Navy League that accused Britain of "encircling" Germany and denying the country its rightful "place in the sun," meaning a share of colonies.

The effort to influence German public opinion met with limited success until the Agadir Crisis of 1911. In this incident, France and Britain combined to opposed German colonial ambitions in Africa. Germany did not have the resources to outbuild a combined Anglo-French fleet, so a new strategy had to be developed. The Reichstag approved army expansion, required to implement the Schlieffen Plan, in July 1913.

The effort to influence German public opinion met with limited success until the Agadir Crisis of 1911. In this incident, France and Britain combined to oppose German colonial ambitions in Africa. Germany did not have the resources to outbuild a combined Anglo-French fleet, so a new strategy had to be developed. The Reichstag approved army expansion, required to implement the Schlieffen Plan, in July 1913. The logic of the cult of the offensive doctrine meant that this vote would be treated as a mandate for war.

== Historiography ==

== Historiography ==