what were the three major central powers countries in 1914?

Many did not want to fight and believed that Britain should not get involved. But until late July 1914, Britain was largely preoccupied with domestic issues. The Balkan crisis now threatened a European-wide war. Every volunteer had to undergo a series of medical and fitness tests before being accepted as a soldier. Later the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria became part of the Central Powers. Following the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, Serbia emerged as a larger and more assertive presence in south-east Europe. They formulated war plans which they expected to bring swift victories if war came. Fear of Germany’s growing strength encouraged Russia and France to enter into alliance in 1893. It was determined to take decisive action against Serbia and, by now, knew this risked war with Russia, Serbia's supporter. Throughout the crisis, Russia and France were putting increased pressure on the British to declare their support. After declaring war on France, Germany was now determined to execute its war plan to defeat France first and then concentrate its forces against Russia. But by violating Belgium’s neutrality, Germany positioned itself as the belligerent aggressor and made British intervention a moral issue about the rights of small nations. But some powers were more prepared to start a war than others. Europe’s leaders went to war with the general support of their citizens. Germany’s invasion of Belgium tipped the balance for Britain. Austria had long seen Serbia as a threat to the stability of its multi-ethnic empire. On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian-backed terrorist. Austria's annexation of Bosnia in 1908 and Serbian ambitions to unify south-east Europe's Slavic people further strained relations in this volatile part of Europe. Britain was largely removed from the growing crisis in Europe until late July. Throughout the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, Europe's leaders saw military strength as an essential part of being a great power. Europe's leaders were willing to go to war to defend or extend national interests and their choices were shaped by a combination of long and short-term foreign policy goals, political pressures at home, previous crises, and the system of opposing alliances that had developed over the previous 35 years. Suspecting Serbian backing for the assassination, Austria-Hungary was determined to use the royal murder to crush the Serbian threat once and for all. News of the assassination of Franz Ferdinand was met with shock and surprise in Britain, but it was regarded as a distant crisis. Belgium refused. Austria-Hungary's aggression towards Serbia and Russian support for Serbia in the aftermath of the assassination stemmed from fears that, if either backed down, they would lose credibility and prestige as great powers. The plan required German troops invade Belgium to get to France. In early July 1914, in the aftermath of the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the immediate likelihood of war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, Kaiser Wilhelm II and the German government informed the Austro-Hungarian government that Germany would uphold its alliance with Austria-Hungary and defend it from possible Russian intervention if a war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia took place. By the summer of 1914, Germany had only one war plan, which was to knock France out of the war before turning on France's ally, Russia. This alliance included three major powers Great Britain, French Republic, Russian Empire. The preservation of Austria-Hungary - its only reliable ally - as a great power became an important part of German policy. On 5 July, Germany promised Austria full support for a severe response against Serbia. German politicians saw the Balkan crisis in 1914 as an opportunity to inflict a diplomatic setback on Russia and France, but its Generals feared Russia's growing military power and were ready to strike before it was too late. This was especially important in Britain, where there was no compulsory military service and recruitment would be dependent on voluntary enlistment. At 2pm on 4 August, it issued an ultimatum demanding Germany withdraw its troops. At 11pm, the deadline passed without a reply. German ambitions to build a battle fleet initiated a naval arms race with Britain that seriously strained relations between the two. Most of the European powers maintained mass armies through compulsory military service and embarked on large-scale arms programmes.

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