Which area of Europe was a hotbed for nationalist and ethnic tensions that would eventually lead to the start of WWI?

Question

A. southern Italy
B. Russia
C. former Polish areas
D. the Balkans

Answer 1

D. The Balkans were a hotbed for nationalist and ethnic tensions that eventually led to the start of WWI. Several Balkan states had recently gained independence, and there were strong nationalist movements seeking unification with neighboring states. These tensions ultimately culminated in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, which was the spark that ignited the start of the war.