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

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.