Sweden - Causes of World War I: The outbreak of the First World War in popular history magazines

Abstract

World War I is a central event in contemporary history. It can be regarded as the start of the short 20th century (1914-1989) involving horrific wars and a reshaping of Europe. The causes of the war, which lasted between 1914 and 1918, are often explained with how political tensions, alliances and imperialist aspirations made a minor dispute turn into a major war. On the one hand, we have Germany and Austria – Hungary, the so-called central powers, and on the other hand, we have France, Russia and the United Kingdom: the triple entente. The triple entente also included Serbia and later Japan, Italy, Romania and the United States. Sweden was declared neutral and, for this reason was not directly involved in the war. Still, Sweden was affected in many ways. Rationing and economic problems with international trade affected daily life. With dismay the contemporary Swedes could read about the war in the trenches, which strengthened the peace movements in Sweden.