How the first world war prepared base for the Russian Revolution ?
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Answer:
Russia entered World War I on July 28, 1914, when Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia's ally, Serbia. The Russian Empire sent an ultimatum to Austria-Hungary stating that if Austria-Hungary showed aggression toward its allies, Russia would meet with military action. Once Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia, the German Empire followed suit. In accordance with its war plan, Germany ignored Russia and moved first against France by declaring war on August 3 and sending its main armies through Belgium to attack Paris from the north.
The invasion of Belgium and threat to France caused Britain to declare war on Germany on August 4. The main parties were now at war. The Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers, and later, Italy joined the Allies.
Historians on the causes of World War I have emphasised the role of Germany and the Austria-Hungary. The consensus of scholars includes scant mention of Russia and only brief mentions Russia's defence of Orthodox Serbia, its pan-Slavic roles, its treaty obligations with France and its concern of protecting its status as a great power.[1]
Archduke Franz Ferdinand heir of the Austro-Hungarian throne was assassinated by Bosnian Serbs on 28 June 1914 because Austria-Hungary had taken over a largely-Slavic province. Vienna was unable to find evidence that Serbia had sponsored the assassination but a month later, it issued an ultimatum to Serbia, which it knew would be rejected and thus lead to war. Austria-Hungary felt that Serbia had to punished for the assassination. Although Russia had no treaty obligation to Serbia, it wanted to control the Balkans and had a long-term perspective of gaining a military advantage on Germany and Austria-Hungary. Russia had an incentive to wait, and most of its leaders wanted to avoid a war. However, Russia had the support of France and feared that failure to support Serbia would lead to a loss of Russian credibility and a major political defeat to its goals to control the Balkans.[2] Tsar Nicholas II mobilised Russian forces on 30 July 1914 to threaten Austria-Hungary if it invaded Serbia. Christopher Clark stated: "The Russian general mobilisation [of 30 July] was one of the most momentous decisions of the July crisis". The first general mobilisation came while the German government had not yet even declared the State of Impending War.[3]
Germany now felt threatened by Russia and responded with its own mobilisation and a declaration of war on 1 August 1914. At the opening of hostilities, the Russians took the offensive against both Germany and Austria-Hungary.[4]