Registration now closed

World at War Forum

1914: Europe Goes to War

Join us as Ed Chuhna and Steve Pettyjohn describe how Europe found itself on the brink of war in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo and what brought them to this point.

In the spring of 1914, Europe had enjoyed almost a century of peace since the last general war had ended. Economic growth, including vast increases in international trade, created a prosperous and vibrant society. Europe was the world leader in science, the arts, and innovation in many areas. Five great European Empires dominated the continent and controlled the majority of the world’s population. In August, a series of events created a catastrophe that destroyed the old order and saw three of the empires collapse and eventually be replaced by totalitarian regimes that epitomized evil and subjected the world to even worse horrors. How could this happen?

Ed Chuhna, an expert on international relations, will discuss the European World Order and the diplomatic maneuvering that divided Europe and the world into competing alliances. Steve Pettyjohn will review the military preparations that resulted from the diplomatic maneuvers including the infamous Schlieffen plan and its disastrous effects in hurtling the world into war. All of the countries had clever plans to win the war and bring the boys home by Christmas. None of them accounted for Mr. Murphy and his law as it applied to clever military plans.

In response to many requests, the World At War Forum will devote more sessions to World War I over the coming months. Please join us for this discussion of how the world we live in today was formed as a result of a minor assassination in an obscure Balkan nation.

Upcoming events