We are often told that WW1 began because of a comparatively trivial assassination - but this is not true. World War One was a horribly sincere war of oppression.
Hope this is helpful.
It's helpful. It's a good start. I'm inclined to call World War I a war of opportunism rather than oppression, but your point is entirely valid: imperialist powers went on a rampage of greed and slaughter without a moment's thought for possible consequences. All of Europe's imperialist powers leapt to join the festivities of destruction and death, and all suffered grievously.
Several curious facts:
1.) America ended the European slaughter.
2.) Post-imperial ideological Europe leapt into renewed mass slaughter in short order, and Japan went on an imperial rampage of theft and mass murder throughout half of Asia.
3.) Again, America ended the European and Asian slaughter.
Oh, by the way, whatever became of that America?
Yes, Germany and Austro-Hungary went on a rampage of greed and slaughter without a moment's thought for possible consequences.
All of Europe's imperialist powers leapt to join the festivities of destruction and death, and all suffered grievously.
No they didn't. They leapt to self-defense.
In Western Europe Germany was barely held at the Marne. Civilization itself was under threat.