Our History Group met on Monday 01 December 2025 to continue their analysis of the origins and causes of World War 1.

The Group has taken the book “The Pursuit of Power: Europe 1815-1914” by Richard J Evans as its guide and there is much to consider in its 840+ pages. The volume was published in September 2016 to many positive reviews.

Much of our society and the way of life in Europe was changed by the conflict, so there is much to analyse. Our guide to these events, Ian, tackled the political situation, the rush to colonisation around the world, the population movements of various countries in Europe to the new world countries, the role of religion and much more besides.

Between 1815, when the map of Europe was redrawn at the Congress of Vienna following the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte, and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914, there had been several spates of revolution across Europe.

These brought about social changes in Europe that also played their part in setting the scene that led to 1) Austro-Hungary declaring war on Serbia with the support of newly unified Germany. 2) Russia supported Serbia so 3) Russia attacked the Germany-Austro Hungarians which led to the next stage of the build up. 4) France then became involved as an ally of Russia which led to 5) Germany attacking France. This they did through Belgium to avoid the Siegfried Line, and 6) Britain came to the support of Belgium.

This is a complex subject, and the group’s next session will be on 05 January 2026 at 2:00pm.