Tensions among nations were also high as many European Countries still had imperialistic tendencies and were fighting over new and existing territories. The way that European leaders reacted to these tensions exacerbated them even more than they already were. For example, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany often acted hastily and without sense as he tried to build the German empire. When tensions reached an all time high, and Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austria-Hungary Empire was murdered, Germany was ready within days to back up its ally Austria-Hungary as it declared war on Serbia, the country they believed to have killed the heir to their empire. Of course Russia immediately backed Serbia in the cause because they had hatred for Austria- Hungary after they had annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian Crisis in 1909. One of Russia’s other allies was France, so Germany quickly attacked France, and the war had officially begun. Macmillan
Tensions among nations were also high as many European Countries still had imperialistic tendencies and were fighting over new and existing territories. The way that European leaders reacted to these tensions exacerbated them even more than they already were. For example, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany often acted hastily and without sense as he tried to build the German empire. When tensions reached an all time high, and Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austria-Hungary Empire was murdered, Germany was ready within days to back up its ally Austria-Hungary as it declared war on Serbia, the country they believed to have killed the heir to their empire. Of course Russia immediately backed Serbia in the cause because they had hatred for Austria- Hungary after they had annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian Crisis in 1909. One of Russia’s other allies was France, so Germany quickly attacked France, and the war had officially begun. Macmillan