After many conflicts had developed with the European nations in the early twentieth century the outbreak of a war appeared to be inevitable. Many countries formed alliances with one another so as to assure that other countries would be unable to impose their will unto them. Each individual nation felt obligated to stand by its allies so that the alliances would not deteriorate. The alliances were formed as a means for protection for all the European nations and the nations were able to prosper from the alliances. While the alliance systems were not solid, as can be seen by Italy's withdrawal from its allies at the outbreak of World War I, they were maintained for a purpose, so that one nation would not be subjected to another nation's will. Yet, these alliance systems split Europe into two opposing powers where each country felt threatened and intimidated by each other. There is no doubt that the alliance systems were exploited and manipulated by every country participating in them, in the hope that the alliances would help to solve the foreign and domestic problems that were arising. These ensuing problems that the nations faced placed an unavoidable burden upon the leaders of the nations. The apparent situation that eventually a war would break out provided the ample opportunity for the nations leadership to try to divert attention from the problems that they faced. The one chance for success seemed to materialize at the outbreak of the inevitable. Nations had the choice of being buried by themselves as they became saturated with domestic problems, or catalyzing the inevitable, start the war, and spark their only ray of hope "if only to buried in the process.
When the Austria-Hungary dual monarchy was formed it was because Austria would not be able to survive without Hungary, and Hungary would not be able to survive without Austria. After the Austro-Prussian war of 1866 Austria was severely weakened by their loss to Prussia.
