How did nationalism cause the first world war to start?
A couple of years before WWI (1912-1913), a war was fought with Turkey and an alliance of Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia wanted to take Macedonia off the Ottomon Empire [ie The Turks]). Turkey lost! The Serbs wanted a sea port so they captured one in Albania/Bosnia (Durazzo). The Austrians deprived them of it by diplomatic pressure. Obviously the Serbs were upset! Before that – Austria-Hungary had annexed Bosnia to stop the Serbs doing the same. 2 years later the heir to the Austro/Hungarian throne (Archduke Ferdinand) was visiting Serbia and got shot (along with his wife) by a Serbian fanatic who didn’t agree with Austria ruling Bosnia. Austria/Hungary declared war on Serbia then the Russians declared war on A/H as they were allied to the Serbs, then Germany declared war on Russia as they were allied with A/H! so Britain and France declared war on Germany as they were allies with Russia! PHEW! Germany, Austria, Hungary and Italy were all allies and France, Russia and Britain were allies!
