Balkin Wars... The Beginnings of WWI?

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Were the Balkan Wars the prelude to WWI and WWII?  I believe so... 

While the world was engaged in the 1912 Olympics and while Americans witnessed a fiery campaign run by the Bull Moose, across the Atlantic a different much more serious historical event was taking shape. A nationalist movement was on the rise. 

Nationalism was a response to colonialism; whereby, nations sought to create their own identities, traditions, freedoms, and independence from the power and rule of the occupying governments. In addition, as a result of the Industrial Revolution, which attempted to modernize societies, nations outside of Europe struggled to keep their identity and traditions. Nations struggled with the concept of embracing technology and changes that were occurring across the global landscape.

Thus, October 1912 represents the beginning of an era in European history dominated by nationalism and conflict; so much so that the Great Powers of Europe would intervene. (Hall, 2000)  What many did not know was that the political unrest and the nationalist movement in the Balkan region would soon culminate into one the world's deadliest wars of all time - WWI.

Prior to the start of the war, the Balkan League (Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Montenegro) was formed in the spring of 1912 to take Macedonia away from Turkey. (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2013)  So, when the war broke out in the fall, the Balkan League had decided it was time to liberate the Balkan states from the control of the Ottoman Empire and by the summer of 1912, the Ottoman control of the Balkans had deteriorated.  "The fighting begun in October 1912 in the Balkan Peninsula had not ended completely by July 1914, when all Europe became enveloped in war."  (Hall, 2000)

As a result of the First Balkan War, the Ottoman forces were defeated.  "Under a peace treaty signed in London on May 30, 1913, the Ottoman Empire lost almost all of its remaining European territory, including all of Macedonia and Albania."  (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2013)  Eventually, this would lead to a Second Balkan War as Serbia, Greece and Romania argued with Bulgaria over the division of Macedonia.  "The political consequences of the wars were considerable.  Bulgaria, frustrated in Macedonia, looked to Austria for support, while Serbia had been forced by Austria to give up its Albanian conquests, regarded with Vienna with greater hostility than ever."  (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2013).  

The straw that broke the camels back was the assassination of Austrian Archduke, Francis Ferdinand, his wife Sophia. Check out this YouTube video on the assassination of the Archduke entitled, Cause of World War One - Franz Ferdinand 2.

Ultimately, what would transpire would be a war of epic proportion, World War I, and is considered the bloodiest war in the history of civilization. The Allied forces of Germany, Austria and Hungry warred against the Central powers of France, Great Britain and Russian. It is estimated that nearly ten million people lost their lives as a result of the war.   

Twenty years later, as a result of WWI, we be engaged in the second World War. Thus, one could conclude that the First Balkan War is ultimately responsible for the deadliest series of wars the world has ever seen, and it all began in 1912.

Before I leave post, here is some food for thought... Check out this video!

Sounds like the U.S. and Afghanistan War could be a repeat of world history... With Bush being the new Rockefeller???

Works Cited
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2013). Balkan Wars. Retrieved from Encyclopaedia Brittannica, Inc.:                             http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/50300/Balkan-Wars
Hall, R. C. (2000). The Balkan Wars 1912-1913. London: Routledge.