History of World War I - Part 1 | Countryballs

World War I was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history — but how did Europe end up tearing itself apart? In this video, we explore the events that led to the First World War, from the rise of the German Empire and the decline of the Ottoman Empire to the growing tensions in the Balkans and the formation of the Triple Alliance and Triple Entente. Then everything explodes. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand sets off a chain reaction that pulls Austria-Hungary, Serbia, Germany, Russia, France, Britain and other powers into a massive European conflict. Germany activates the Schlieffen Plan, invades Belgium, and attempts to knock France out of the war before turning east toward Russia. But the plan quickly falls apart. Instead of a short war, Europe gets a gigantic system of trenches stretching across the continent. Soldiers dig in, defenses prove incredibly difficult to break, and the conflict turns into four years of brutal warfare and unimaginable casualties. How did Europe get here? Why did the major powers believe they could win so quickly? And how did the war become the massive trench conflict we remember today? Let's find out. If you enjoy history, animated maps, Countryballs and military history, subscribe to the channel for more!