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World War 1 was one of the worst wars ever fought in history. Many called it the “Great
War” and the “war to end all wars.” World War I resulted in the death of millions of people.
Multiple factors that led multiple countries to go to war with one another. The conflict escalated
when on 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were gunned down by an
assassin a part of the Serbian terrorist group called the Black Hand. Ferdinand was next in line to
take the Austrian-Hungary throne. This resulted in Austria-Hungary accusing Serbia of backing
the terrorist group and wanted to go to war against them. Germany and the Ottoman Empire
joined Austria-Hungary as part of their old Triple Alliance. There are multiple elements when
looking at the origins of World War I. There are the leadership roles, aggressive actions, and
responses to consider when interpreting the history of World War I. Germany instigated World
War I.
Germany jumped to Austria-Hungary’s defense after the assassination of Ferdinand.
Germany initiated their original pact called the Triple Alliance. The pact was initiated after the
“Bosnian crises of 1908-09 and the Moroccan tension of 1911.”1 Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman
Empire, and Germany joined the Triple Alliance before World War I. Before the Great War,
Germany and Austria-Hungary were close allies since the late 1800s. They created the Triple
Alliance for Italy’s support when they were trying to colonize the northern region of Africa.
France bullied the Italians out of North Africa by colonizing first. Their ambitious actions caused
Italy to join in on the Triple Alliance. The reason they agreed to the alliance was that if Italy had
endured conflict with France than Austria-Hungary and Germany were obliged to protect their
new ally if the French attacked Italy.
1Williamson, Samuel R. “The Origins of World War I.” The Journal of Interdisciplinary History 18, no. 4
(1988): 795–818. https://doi.org/10.2307/204825.
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The race for colonization in Africa was during the late 1800s after the Great Depression.
Africa was a breeding ground for colonization due to the high demand for valuable trading
goods.2 Africa along with Asia “remained important partly as recipients of European exports but
above all as suppliers of raw materials at artificially low prices that the metropolitan industries
turned into finished and high-value goods for the well-to-do classes but increasingly also for
mass consumption.”3 Belgium, Britain, France, and especially Germany colonized Africa.
Germany colonizing Africa was the beginning of Germany showing their expansionist and
greedy mindsets. They conquered South-West Africa and killed thousands of the natives who
lived there. The natives were called the Herero. They became victims of Germany’s quest for
domination. Several thousand died as a result. Many were treated like animals, women were
raped, and several families were exiled out of their land. The atrocities of Africa would
eventually reflect on how Germany intended on conquering Europe through death and
destruction during World War I.
When Germany heard that Austria-Hungary was about to go to war with Serbia, Germany
saw its opportune moment to go to war with their allies and expand their power throughout
Europe. Germany responded to Austria-Hungary with a blank check to initiate their alliance,
which unleashed a wave of chaos in Europe.4 The Ottoman Empire joined shortly after. It was a
chain reaction of many countries jumping to each other’s aid against the Central Powers of
Austria-Hungary, Germany, and the Ottoman Empire. Russia established a treaty with Serbia.
Because Austria-Hungary wanted to go to war with Serbia Russia had to jump to Serbia’s
2 Hobsbawm, E. J. (Eric J.). The Age of Empire, 1875-1914. First American edition. New York: Pantheon
Books, 1987.
3 Berghahn, Volker R. (Volker Rolf).EEurope in the Era of Two World Wars: from Militarism and Genocide
to Civil Society, 1900-1950. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 2006.
4 McMeekin, Sean.EJuly 1914 : Countdown to War. New York: Basic Books, 2013.
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defense. Britain and France got involved as well to defend their countries from Germany’s
oppression. Germany had a “white pitch of hatred first against Russia and England and later
against the United States.”5 They hated Britain and Russia at the beginning of World War I
because they wanted to be recognized as a world power. The only way Germany was going to
achieve that goal was to get rid of their competition. This meant killing millions and losing
millions of their people. Many Germans showed strong signs of nationalism towards their
country and blindly followed their incompetent leader, Kaiser Wilhelm II into a war they could
not win.
In 1888, Kaiser Wilhelm II came to the throne. He was a young and prominent leader
who succeeded his father shortly after his death. The Kaiser immediately started to implement
changes regarding their relationships with other countries. He had a specific framework he was
trying to establish. He coveted expansion. Norman Stone stated:
His model was England. She was vastly rich and had an enormous overseas empire.
England was conservative as regards institutions, which had long historical roots, but she
was also go-ahead, and her industries accounted for a large part of the world’s trade. Her
overall position was guaranteed by an enormous navy. Why should not Germany acquire
an overseas empire to match? Under Wilhelm II, German power and the blundering
expression of it became the European problem.6
Foreign policy was not the Kaiser’s strong suit. He wanted to create a colonial power. As a
result, his navy and army doubled in size and strength. By the early 1900s, Germany’s
5 Gerard, James W. (James Watson).EMy Four Years in Germany. New York: George H. Doran Company,
1917.
6 Stone, Norman.EWorld War One : a Short History. New York: Basic Books, 2009.
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antagonistic actions towards becoming a world power resulted in other countries to form their
alliances and triggered World War I.
The Kaiser’s lack of wisdom with handling foreign policy was poor and resulted in the
formation of the early Allies. This pact was called the Triple Entente. This alliance included
Russia, Britain, and France. The alliance was created in response to Germany’s army expansion.
The people of Britain were not fans of Germany before and especially during the First World
War. Rudyard Kipling said, “There are only two divisions in the world today—human beings
and Germans.”7 The French, Russians, and British all banded together in case there was going to
be war. Soon enough, Germany brought war to Europe. The Kaiser ignored neutrality and did not
want peace. The German policy that was in place was atrocious and what Otto Von Bismarck
called it “the nightmare of coalitions.”8 Bismarck was a part of the old regime of Germany and
was quickly cycled out and seen as irrelevant to the Kaiser’s vision. Bismarck knew that because
there was a young and arrogant leader who craved power and military expansion, he knew that
the Kaiser was going to be the downfall of Germany.9 Unfortunately, for Germany, Bismarck
was right. All hell broke loose as Germany’s aggressive military pushes, jumping to defend
Austria Hungary immediately without any hesitation, and triggered a chain reaction throughout
Europe and the entirety of the world felt the ripple effects of Germany as everyone was forced
protect one another from the Central Powers.
The Christian response towards Germany’s belligerent quest if I were a country
experiencing Germany’s oppression, I would try to turn the other cheek and forgive them for
7 Freedman, Russell.EThe War to End All Wars: World War I. Boston [Mass: Clarion Books, 2010.
8 Strachan, Hew. World War I: A History. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
9 Marshall, S. L. A. (Samuel Lyman Atwood).EWorld War I. New York: American Heritage, 1985.
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their atrocities. Matthew 5:38-39 says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a
tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on
the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”10 It also says in Luke 6:27-29, “But I say to you who
hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for
those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one
who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.”11 The Bible has clear guidelines
regarding taking revenge. It will be in God’s hands if Germany were to attack my country or do
something to affect the country negatively. The Christian response is clear. Christians are
supposed to turn the other cheek and not retaliate with violence. Luke 6:37 states, “Do not judge
and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you
will be forgiven.”12 If the Allied Powers had taken Christian response, perhaps there could have
been a different outcome. God gave men wisdom and common sense. If a country is coming to
slaughter everyone, they will bear arms and protect their families and home as the Israelites did
when they went to war with other hostile nations rebelling against God. God wants Christians to
be peacemakers and not warmongers. If a Christian call out Jesus’ name and has faith, then He
will protect them. Everything is a part of God’s plan. Wars will always be around. They are a
product of Man’s sin towards God. Those who instigate wars will be punished swiftly. Germany
in this sense was severely punished after causing the deaths of millions of people. They had to
sign the Treaty of Versailles, which stated they had to pay reparations for all the destruction,
lives lost, and they had to cut their military for fear of a second onslaught by Germany. Because
of greed and the coveting of Britain’s empire, Kaiser Wilhelm’s leadership and lack of control
10 NIV Topical Study Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, Mich., U.S.A: Zondervan Bible
Publishers, 1989.
11 Ibid.
12 Ibid.
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over his military generals resulted in Germany’s defeat in World War I. God protected Europe
and still has a plan for the countries of Europe. When the world goes dark and turns violent, God
will be there. Psalm 23:4-6 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare
a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup
overflows. Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in
the house of the Lord forever.”13
13 Ibid.
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Bibliography
Berghahn, Volker R. Europe in the Era of Two World Wars: From Militarism and Genocide to
Civil Society, 1900-1950. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2006.
Freedman, Russell. The War to End All Wars: World War I. Boston: The Horn Book Guide,
2010.
Gerard, James W. My Four Years in Germany. New York: George H. Doran C., 1917
Hobsbawm, Eric. The Age of Empire. New York: Pantheon Books, 1987.
Marshall, Samuel Lyman Atwood. World War I. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1987.
McMeekin Sean. July 1914: Countdown to War. Basic Books, 2013.
NIV Topical Study Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006.
Strachan, Hew. World War I: A History. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Stone, Norman. World War One: A Short History. New York: Basic Books, 2009.
Williamson, Samuel R. “The Origins of World War I.” The Journal of Interdisciplinary History
18, no. 4 (1988): 795–818. https://doi.org/10.2307/204825.
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