The French Started WWI By 1914 the French had maneuvered themselves into a position so as to dominate the Germans in Europe. For many years before, the Franco-Prussian rivalry had grown. It had grown so much that it had become larger than the French rivalry with Britain. As Prussia expanded in the preceding century, the French found themselves at odds with their German neighbors. In the early 1870 s, the Prussians defeated the French in the Franco-Prussian war, and succeeded in capturing the French provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. This left a bitter memory of the Germans in the French minds. From then on the French proceeded with a policy to contain Germany and seek revenge for their defeat. Between 1890 and 1894 France and Russia formed and alliance. This agreement pronounced that each would come to the others aid if Germany attacked one of them. The Germans took this as no less than a threat. Through fear of encirclement, the Germans began to form their own plan to face the scenario of war with both France and Russia. This plan, called the Schlieffen plan, required that Germany would have to knock out France quickly, before turning to face the Russians. Since France had allied with Russia, they placed themselves in a dangerous position. The French gave Germany no choice but to attack France first, or otherwise face slow and certain defeat in a two front war. Also the French guaranteed their involvement in a war that might otherwise have remained a local conflict in Eastern Europe. By allying with Russia, the French linked themselves to the Balkan problem. Austria and Russia were in dispute over the region. The Germans were tied to the Austrians and so pitted against Russia. France was allied with Russia and so at odds with the Germans. The French would also drag their new friends the British into the war, bringing the major part of the west into the war and escalating the conflict into a world war. At the outset of the war, Austria and Germany were mobilized against Russia, who had mobilized against them. The Germans realized that if they attacked Russia, they might provoke France to declare war on Germany. So the Germans asked the French what they would do if Germany went to war with Russia. The French responded that they would do whatever was in their best interests. This obviously meant that the French would declare war on Germany, in accord with the French alliance with Russia. Though the French had a legitimate reason to declare war, they were not entirely forthcoming with providing the Germans with the facts.

Along with the their alliance with Russia, the French had a secret agreement with Britain. The French did not inform Germany that if they attacked France, Britain would more than likely become involved. This led the Germans to believe that the war in the west would remain between France and Germany. The French hoped that Germany would initiate a war that would draw France s allies against Germany. The French would then take the opportunity to retaliate and defeat the Germans, as well as reclaim lost territory. Although none of the great powers wanted war, it must be considered that once they realized war was inevitable, they assumed the conflict would be brief. So all the nations then zealously marched off to war. The French had succeeded in gaining themselves significant allies. They also were successful in provoking Germany to attack first. The French dragged Britain into the war, after they joined in with Russia. The French had made mistakes by allying with the Russians and linking France to the unstable Balkans, augmenting the conflict to include France and Britain. The French were dependent on the unstable Russian s actions, whose national interests were not there own. As well, France was only serving her own agenda at the expense of her allies. The French desired to contain the Germans and get revenge for the loss of Alsace and Lorraine. Through diplomacy the French put themselves in a position to be backed by Britain in a war with Germany. The French then provoked the Germans to attack by backing Russia. Thus, France started a war with Germany, making it seem as though the Germans were the aggressors.