Alliances played a significant role in the outbreak and escalation of the war. Prior to the outbreak of World War I, many European countries had entered into alliances with each other, creating a complex web of international relationships. These alliances were formed in order to provide security and protection against potential enemies, and were intended to deter aggression from other nations. However, the construction of these alliances also had the unintended consequence of creating a situation in which a single localized conflict could quickly escalate into a much larger, international conflict. When Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated in 1914, this singular event quickly turned into a full-blown world war as various alliances were invoked, drawing numerous countries into the conflict. Additionally, once the war began, alliances fueled the escalation of the conflict, as each country sought to protect its allies and secure its strategic interests.
