On the eve of WWI, Europe was balanced in a web of alliances so complex that minor disputes threatened to ignite continental war. The first domino fell in 1914, when a Serbian nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz-Ferdinand, Hapsburg heir to the Austrian throne. Austria marched on Serbia in immediate retaliation, and Russia ran to the aid of its Slavic ally. After Russia ignored Germany’s ultimatum to retreat, Germany united with Austria to form the Central Powers, prompting France to mobilize. Germany declared war on France and demanded that the German army be allowed to march through Belgian territory. When Belgium refused, Britain (treaty-bound to defend Belgian neutrality) declared war on Germany. Despite this opposition, Germany advanced through Belgium and northern France, sweeping all of Europe into war.
The German offensive stalled at the Battle of the Marne. Four years of agonizing trench warfare ensued 50km outside of Paris. The rivals’ technologically advanced weaponry—tanks, planes, flame-throwers, and poison gas—led to unprecedented slaughter. In 1917, Germany’s policy of unrestricted submarine warfare provoked the US to entevr the war on the side of the Allies. A British naval blockade, coupled with US manpower, finally enabled Ally victory.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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