What were the background causes of World War One and which nations were responsible for it?

"Oh, if only I knew." Even Bethmann-Hollweg had to voice his frustration in isolating a major cause of the First World War. In fact, at the beginning of the 20th Century, a place where "Europe was the centre of the universe" (Petrie), World War I resulted from a number of factors: nationalism, imperialism, militarism and he alliance system in Europe. All the European powers bear responsibility. Germany in particular, risked war, but did not plan …

…for it must lie with Russia"(Bethmann). Serbia and Austria-Hungary's responsibility lies on their aggressiveness. Russia's guilt lies with the blank cheque she gave to Serbia a blank cheque and mobilised. The attitudes of all powers, even the supposedly pacifist French and British, are to blame as they did not vigorously protest entering what they called a "jolly war", "over by Christmans".In the words of Joachim Remak: "All were sinners, all were sinned against".