Good point, that the whole shooting match had a lot to do with everyone being convinced the other guy was bluffing. The Willy-Nicky telegrams are an example of this, some telegrams between the German Kaiser (Wilhelm) and the Russian Czar (Nicholas); they referred to each other with affectionate nicknames because they were cousins. (The King of England was another cousin, so was the queen of Romania and there were probably even more of Victoria's grandchildren on assorted thrones.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Willy–Nicky_Correspondence

This sheer lack of understanding of intention is why Wilson was so big on forming a League of Nations.

Archduke Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, had ambitions quite unlike those of Emperor Franz Joseph, the dictator who had spent decades pissing off all the peoples under his control. Archduke Ferdinand had visions of a United States of Greater Austria, where the various oppressed people would be given much greater autonomy. Dumbass Serbian assassins would have done better pledging themselves to Ferdinand's protection to make sure he could make it to the throne and give them what they wanted all peaceable-like.

Great writeup about the events leading up to the war in this thread if you're looking for a good read.

http://tinyurl.com/l4bjpz8


^^
No rickroll I swear

I still like Blackadder's 2 minute explanation better.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=641_1285524199

It's a decent synopsis.

Dan Snow vs. Jon Snow (his father and/or game of thrones dickhead)

Make it happen.