In the spring of 1914\, Europe had enjoyed almost a century of peace since the last general war had ended. Economic growth\, including vast increases in international trade\, created a prosp erous and vibrant society. Europe was the world leader in science\, the ar ts\, and innovation in many areas. Five great European Empires dominated t he continent and controlled the majority of the world&rsquo\;s population. In August\, a series of events created a catastrophe that destroyed the o ld order and saw three of the empires collapse and eventually be replaced by totalitarian regimes that epitomized evil and subjected the world to ev en worse horrors. How could this happen?
\nEd Chuhna\, an expert on international relations\, will discuss the European World Order and the di plomatic maneuvering that divided Europe and the world into competing alli ances. Steve Pettyjohn will review the military preparations that resulted from the diplomatic maneuvers including the infamous Schlieffen plan and its disastrous effects in hurtling the world into war. All of the countrie s had clever plans to win the war and bring the boys home by Christmas. No ne of them accounted for Mr. Murphy and his law as it applied to clever mi litary plans.
\nIn response to many requests\, the World At War Foru m will devote more sessions to World War I over the coming months. Please join us for this discussion of how the world we live in today was formed a s a result of a minor assassination in an obscure Balkan nation.
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