Yeah. Austria definitely started the war but, contrary to what the triple entente declared when they pushed heavy reparations on germany afterwards, no nation involved could claim they were not to blame. The Great War was everyone's mess.

Sorry about that typo, I meant Germany agreed to back up Austria if Russia mobilized to defend Serbia.
Also, while you could make the claim that by fucking up, Serbia should be blamed for the assassination, but by no means did they force Austria's hand. It certainly makes the war more justified in the eyes of people, but Austria's motives were more politically driven than simply seeking revenge on Ferdinand killers. They didn't want simply justice, but to use the event as a means of turning Serbia into a puppet of Austria-Hungary. World War I is such a tragic staple in European history because of the fact it was really just a bunch of world powers flexing their muscles, leading millions of soldiers to their deaths for a pitiful reason. With that in mind, Austria certainly had reason to invade, but Austria's choice to play the military game is why they're the country that's painted as the trigger.

Yeah. Austria definitely started the war but, contrary to what the triple entente declared when they pushed heavy reparations on germany afterwards, no nation involved could claim they were not to blame. The Great War was everyone's mess.

Austria declared war on Serbia, thus Russia was pulled in to defend their ally. Germany agreed to back up Serbia if the Russians got involved, France wanted to pay Germany back for their previous defeat and joined in, and the UK saw Germany as too strong a rival so they formed an alliance against them. The Ottomans joined in the war to stymy the steady decline they had been suffering, and declared for Germany due to their brotastic relations and early German victories. If Austria didn't declare war on Serbia, there would not have been a conflict.

Sorry about that typo, I meant Germany agreed to back up Austria if Russia mobilized to defend Serbia.
Also, while you could make the claim that by fucking up, Serbia should be blamed for the assassination, but by no means did they force Austria's hand. It certainly makes the war more justified in the eyes of people, but Austria's motives were more politically driven than simply seeking revenge on Ferdinand killers. They didn't want simply justice, but to use the event as a means of turning Serbia into a puppet of Austria-Hungary. World War I is such a tragic staple in European history because of the fact it was really just a bunch of world powers flexing their muscles, leading millions of soldiers to their deaths for a pitiful reason. With that in mind, Austria certainly had reason to invade, but Austria's choice to play the military game is why they're the country that's painted as the trigger.

Yeah. Austria definitely started the war but, contrary to what the triple entente declared when they pushed heavy reparations on germany afterwards, no nation involved could claim they were not to blame. The Great War was everyone's mess.