WORLD WAR IForeign policy: Even before the start of World War I, years of tension had created a rivalry between the great European powers, sparked by alliances, power, arms races and security. Moreover, the Balkans were a power vacuum, formally under the control of a rapidly deteriorating Ottoman Empire. The imperialist expansionism of Austria-Hungary and the German Reich also caused tensions. Germany's increased efforts to create a colonial empire in Africa was another factor that led to World War I. In the 19th century, Britain, France and Germany were competing to build colonies in America, Africa and Asia. Russia, Japan and the United States were doing the same in the Asian theater. Africa and parts of Asia were points of contention between European countries. This was due to the raw materials these regions could provide. Growing competition and the desire to create larger empires led to increased clashes which helped push the world into World War I. The resulting tensions and rivalries between the major European powers culminated in a dynamic arms race that came to a head in 1914. At that time, countries across Europe entered into mutual defense agreements that would lead into battle. If a country was attacked, allied countries were required to defend it. Before World War I, the following alliances existed: Russia and Serbia Germany and Austria-Hungary France and Russia Great Britain and France and Belgium Japan and Great Britain Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russia involved in defending Serbia. Germany, seeing Russia mobilizing, declared war on Russia. France is then confronted with Germany and Austria-Hungary. Germany attacked France through Belgium...... middle of paper...... and signed the Nazi-Soviet pact with Hitler, which only increased anti- Soviet power in the West, but delayed the start of the war between the two powers. However, while Stalin hoped that Germany would become mired in war with France, the first Nazi conquests took place quickly, allowing Germany to invade the Soviet Union in 1941. 1917 October: Bolshevik Revolution in Russia . 1918-1920 Unsuccessful Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. 1919 March 15. : Lenin creates the Communist International (Comintern) to promote international revolution. 1922 December 30: Creation of the USSR. 1933 The United States begins diplomatic relations with the USSR for the first time. On August 13, 1961, the East German government erected the Berlin Wall to prevent its citizens from fleeing to the West. For 28 years, the Berlin Wall separated West from East and became a symbol of the Cold War..