The Road to World War I: Schlieffen Plan and July Crisis

Posted on Oct 13, 2025 in History

World War I: Origins and the Road to Conflict

World War I, also known as the First World War or the Great War, was a global conflict originating in Europe that lasted from July 28, 1914, to November 11, 1918. More than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilized in one of the largest wars in history. Over 9 million combatants and 7 million civilians died as a result of the war (including the victims of a number of genocides), a casualty rate exacerbated by the belligerents’ technological and industrial sophistication and the tactical stalemate caused by grueling trench warfare. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history and paved the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many of the nations involved.

The Balkan Wars: A Prelude to Global Conflict

The Balkan Wars (Turkish: Balkan Savaşları, literally “the Balkan Wars” or Balkan Faciası, meaning “the Balkan Tragedy”) consisted of two conflicts that took place in the Balkan Peninsula in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913. Four Balkan states defeated the Ottoman Empire in the first war; one of the four, Bulgaria, suffered defeat in the second war. The Ottoman Empire lost the bulk of its territory in Europe. Austria-Hungary, although not a combatant, became relatively weaker as a much enlarged Serbia pushed for the union of the South Slavic peoples. The war set the stage for the Balkan crisis of 1914 and thus served as a “prelude to the First World War.”

The Schlieffen Plan: Germany’s War Strategy

The Schlieffen Plan was the operational plan for a designated attack on France, created by General Count Alfred von Schlieffen in December 1905. This plan was intended to be executed once Russia, in response to international tension, had started to mobilize her forces near the German border. The execution of the Schlieffen Plan ultimately led to Britain declaring war on Germany on August 4, 1914.

The July Crisis of 1914

The July Crisis was a diplomatic crisis among the major powers of Europe in the summer of 1914 that led directly to World War I. Immediately after Gavrilo Princip, a Yugoslav nationalist, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, in Sarajevo, a series of diplomatic maneuverings led to an ultimatum from Austria-Hungary to the Kingdom of Serbia, and ultimately to war.

Actions of the Major Powers

The following actions by the major European powers contributed significantly to the escalation of the July Crisis:

  • Germany:
    1. Kaiser Wilhelm II encouraged Austria-Hungary (A-H) to use the opportunity to attack Serbia with the July 5th ‘blank cheque’ assurance.
    2. Germany initially believed that the Serbian response to the A-H ultimatum removed the need for war.
    3. However, Germany’s actions risked drawing other superpowers into the conflict.
  • Austria-Hungary (A-H):
    1. Saw an opportunity to ‘eliminate Serbia as a political factor in the Balkans.’
    2. Exaggerated the potential threat of Serbia and declared war.
    3. Contributed to the July Crisis with a delayed response following the assassination.
    4. Declared war on Serbia on July 28th.
    5. Refused to stop military actions even though negotiations with Russia were scheduled for July 30th.
  • Russia:
    1. Did not try to stop Serbian nationalism, even though it was certain to lead to instability in the Balkans.
    2. Supported Serbia, deepening the conflict and possibly causing Serbia to reject the ultimatum.
    3. Mobilized its military in preparation for a general European war.
  • France:
    1. France did not decide to go to war independently, but was drawn in because Germany declared war on the country after its ally, Russia, declared war.
    2. France assured Russia of its support before the July Crisis began.
  • Great Britain (GB):
    1. The government was divided on whether to go to war because GB’s position was ambiguous during the July Crisis.
    2. GB entered the war because Germany violated the Belgian neutrality agreement made in 1839.
    3. GB should have been clearer about its position (supporting France at the same level) during the July Crisis.
    4. Historian Lowe also claims that the naval talks between Russia and GB caused Germany to feel completely surrounded by enemies.