Alternate Causes of WWI?

What other possible scenarios could lead to WWI before 1914? What other nations would enter the war in these scenarios?
 
The Fashoda incident could turn into a World War, with different leadership in Britain and France. Either of the Moroccan Crisis could turn into a World War.

Maybe the Balkan Wars could be expanded?

There's always the possibility of some other "damn fool thing in the Balkans".
 
This is pre-1900, but what if Germany and the US go to war in 1898? Germany wanted the Philippines, and were acting rather aggressively towards the US navy during the Spanish-American war. The US threatened to fire on the German vessels if they didn't play nice and Germany backed down. As far as I can tell, the reason was that the Germans figured the US would lose the islands to rebellion within a year or so, leaving it for them anyway. I'm not sure what the alliance systems were like at the time, but it seems like the kind of thing that could grow bigger under the right conditions.
 

archaeogeek

Banned
The Fashoda incident could turn into a World War, with different leadership in Britain and France. Either of the Moroccan Crisis could turn into a World War.

Maybe the Balkan Wars could be expanded?

There's always the possibility of some other "damn fool thing in the Balkans".

Between 1908 and 1914 there had already been 4 or 5 almost runs, any one of them could have caused the alliance system to explode like it did...
 
Albania was looking like being a complete headache by 1914

There are Russian ambitions against the Ottoman Empire that could lead to a blow-up since they are both plunged into a new naval race

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
This is pre-1900, but what if Germany and the US go to war in 1898? Germany wanted the Philippines, and were acting rather aggressively towards the US navy during the Spanish-American war. The US threatened to fire on the German vessels if they didn't play nice and Germany backed down. As far as I can tell, the reason was that the Germans figured the US would lose the islands to rebellion within a year or so, leaving it for them anyway. I'm not sure what the alliance systems were like at the time, but it seems like the kind of thing that could grow bigger under the right conditions.

Seconded. :D

France-Spain-Japan-Germany?
Britain-Russia-USA

These tandems?
 
Hell, by 1914 war could have broken out over a Frenchman farting in the Kaiser's general direction. Powderkeg, hell, more like swimming pool of nitro glycerine on an active faultline.

The hard part is finding a way to avoid some WW1.

That said the incidents others have mentioned all could have created interesting alternate scenarios.

Another possibility could be the Italo-Turkish War and/or First/Second Balkan Wars expanding if, say, Russia takes the opportunity jump on the Pashas' backs.

Balkan_troubles1.jpg
 
There are Russian ambitions against the Ottoman Empire that could lead to a blow-up since they are both plunged into a new naval race
Russia would have to be careful here not to alienate the French who were the "protectors" of the Roman Catholics in the Empire. Moreover, I would not see an naval arms race here because armies are going to win this war.

Assuming that there is a flare up, you start with Russia threatening the Ottomans. Germany steps in to protect her interests by threatening a first strike. France moves in support of Russia so the AH moves in support of Germany. Italy legitimately sits still whilst Britain joins in along side France, no causus belli being necessary as Germany declared war on a member of the Triple Entente and not as on OTL Russia declaring war on a member of the Triple Alliance.

The big question now is what does Serbia do?
 
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