By 1917, indirect fire with guns (as well as mortars and even machine guns) was commonplace, using new techniques for spotting and ranging, notably, aircraft and the often overlooked field telephone. To shoot down enemy planes, anti-aircraft guns and fighter aircraft were developed. The non-military diplomatic and propaganda interactions among the nations were designed to build support for the cause or to undermine support for the enemy. Fixed-wing aircraft were initially used for reconnaissance and ground attack. Strategic bombers were created, principally by the Germans and British, though the former used Zeppelins as well.

First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918) was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Central Powers. The movement of large numbers of troops and civilians during the war was a major factor in spreading the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. One of the deadliest wars in history, it resulted in an estimated 9 million soldiers dead and 23 million wounded, plus up to 8 million civilian deaths from numerous causes including genocide. Fighting took place throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Pacific, and parts of Asia – Read Significantly more – .

However, disputes between the victors sparked the 33-day Second Balkan War, when Bulgaria attacked Serbia and Greece on 16 June 1913; it was defeated, losing most of Macedonia to Serbia and Greece, and Southern Dobruja to Romania. In the summer of 1914, the sovereigns of Europe were woven together by treaties, alliances, as well as secret agreements. This complex mix of resentment, nationalism and insecurity helps explain why the pre-1914 Balkans became known as the “powder keg of Europe”. The result was that even countries which benefited from the Balkan Wars, such as Serbia and Greece, felt cheated of their “rightful gains”, while for Austria it demonstrated the apparent indifference with which other powers viewed their concerns, including Germany.

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Claiming this amounted to rejection, Austria broke off diplomatic relations and ordered partial mobilisation the next day; on 28 July, they declared war on Serbia and began shelling Belgrade. The German General Staff had long assumed they faced a war on two fronts; the Schlieffen Plan envisaged using 80% of the army to defeat France, then switch to Russia. Anxious to ensure backing from the SPD political opposition by presenting Russia as the aggressor, German Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg delayed the commencement of war preparations until 31 July. A further German demand for neutrality was refused by the French who ordered general mobilization but delayed declaring war. That afternoon, the Russian government were handed a note requiring them to “cease all war measures against Germany and Austria-Hungary” within 12 hours.

British and Russian support for France against Germany during the Agadir Crisis in 1911 reinforced their relationship, increasing Anglo-German estrangement. German industrial strength and production had significantly increased after 1871, driven by the creation of a unified Reich, French indemnity payments, and the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine. Backed by Wilhelm II, Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz sought to use this growth in economic power to build a Kaiserliche Marine, or Imperial German Navy, which could compete with the British Royal Navy for naval supremacy.