蜜芽传媒

There was intense rivalry between nations over the strength of their armies and navies leading up to World War I.

The German Kaiser wanted his forces to match the armies of France and Russia, and his navy to rival Britain. The growing potential of threat from Germany, as well as Germany's alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy, brought Britain, France and Russia into alliance. The rivalries between the countries were also stoked by competition over the size and extent of their empires. In particular, many European powers were competing for land and wealth in Africa.

Finally, the potential for conflict was growing between smaller European countries, such as those of the Balkans, which sought self rule, and the larger nations that wished to continue governing them.