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The '''causes of [[World War I]]''' remain 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. 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 embraced 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>

The '''causes of [[World War I]]''' remain 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. Military officers of this time were taught 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 embraced by military force in various countries, the role played war planners in German policymaking was especially notable.<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, the German war planners focused on defensive responses 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, the German war planners focused on defensive responses 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.