Purpose of this Guide
This guide is intended for undergraduate and graduate students in history who are conducting research on the origins of the First World War. It offers a curated selection of resources arranged according to potential topics of research. Each topic is introduced by a series of questions to guide your reading and prompt you to reflect on your contribution to the debate surrounding the origins of the war. The literature on this subject is vast, so the sources recommended in this guide are meant to assist you with gaining an informed perspective of the historiography and with determining your research question. If you are unsure about how to proceed in your search for additional resources, do not hesitate to browse the suggestions on how and where to look, in the “Going Further: Locating Primary and Secondary Sources” tab.
Why the Origins of the First World War ?
Why did war break out in August 1914?
This is a question which has long sparked controversy amongst historians searching to understand Europe's march towards "the war to end all wars".
On June 28th, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo, the capital of the recently annexed province of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The gradual escalation of reactions to the assassination led to the July crisis, a month of diplomatic maneuvering involving Austria-Hungary, Serbia, Russia, Germany, France, and Britain. The succession of declarations of war from August 1st to August 4th marked the failure of diplomatic proceedings and Europe's engulfement by a historic conflagration, which will later span across continents, thus becoming the first world war.
Nonetheless, the questions remain:
Why did war break out at this particular time? The Great Powers had found themselves at odds on multiple occasions in the preceding decades but the apparatus of the "old diplomacy" had always prevailed.
Why did this particular war break out? The Great War was unlike any armed conflict previously experienced, both in scale and warfare, and it marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.
Research Approaches
Possible topics to consider when developing your research question:
- The July Crisis
- 19th Century Europe, Alliances and Diplomacy
- Imperialism and Nationalism
- Militarism, Arms Races and War Plans
- Governing Elites, Domestic and Foreign Politics
HINT: It is helpful to familiarize yourself with the long debate over the origins of the war. Here are some recommended resources:
Readings Summarizing the Debate
The Origins of the First World War by ISBN: 9780582423794Publication Date: 2006-10-05Joll and Martel retrace the powder trail that was finally ignited at Sarajevo. They analyze the historical forces at work in the Europe of 1914 and the various ways in which historians have subsequently attempted to understand them. This is a concise and accessible introduction to the main themes relating to the origins of the war, and it is highly recommended if you are searching to decide how to approach the topic or if you wish to gain a broad understanding of the various themes present in the literature on the causes of the Great War.
The Origins of the First World War: Controversies and Consensus by ISBN: 1317875842Publication Date: 2013-12-02Mombauer tracks the debates over the origins of the war as they developed at critical points through the twentieth century. In contrast to the reading by Joll and Martel, this book focuses on the controversy itself, rather than the specific events leading up to the war, which makes it a useful resource in learning about notable historiographical currents on this topic.
Perspectives
- Expert opinion: Origins of the First World WarThis is a short audio recording (25 minutes) of Anika Mombauer discussing the question of the origins of the war with fellow history professors John Röhl and Christopher Clark. While Röhl argues that German decisions were fateful in the events that led to the outbreak of the war, Clark advances, on the contrary, that all countries were responsible for plunging Europe into war.
- The First World War: The DebateThis is an audio-visual recording of a debate organized by the British Library and History Today in 2014, in which leading historians debate the origins of the war and how it should be commemorated. This was part of a series of events arranged by the British Library in honor of the First World War Centenary.