The victorious Allies pursued innocence in the Great War by holding Germany alone responsible for the terrible devastation of Europe following the war. Despite the significant influence that Germany had in the initiation and development of the war, all countries are liable to bear the blame for the First World War. The alliance system proved crucial in the development of the Austro-Serbian affair into a world war as a whole. The indisputable beginning of the outbreak of the war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by the Black Hand, a guerrilla group affiliated with Serbia. As a result, the system of alliances enveloping Europe established the damaging domino effect that led to the outcome of the World War. The assassination and initial war of Austria and Serbia were overshadowed by their allies, and in this the First World War was catalyzed. Responsibility for the Great War falls on the alliance system, which irrefutably places relatively equal responsibility for the outbreak and destruction of Europe on all parties involved, rather than one nation, Germany, taking the majority of the blame. by forming an alliance and receiving the benefits associated with friendship, there was the promise of lifelong support. The triple alliance, consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy, promised military support in the event of foreign conflict. After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Wilhelm II issued a "blank check" ((Berghan, Imperial Germany 1871-1914(1994)) to remain a faithful ally of the vital Austria-Hungary. This meant that Germany would have provided Austria with the full support of the "Blank Check" and the suggestions provided by Germany... middle of paper... the rationalistic and imperialistic intentions of the European nations, bears the greatest blame for the First World War tensions stirred by Serbia, lit the fuse that led to the destruction of Europe due to the advancement of alliances, thus making all nations subject to the same responsibilities associated with the war. The Treaty of Versailles of 1919 established Germany as the scapegoat for the mistakes of calculation and hostility of all Europeans; however, in an attempt to alleviate the guilt and responsibility of the terrible Great War, the victors justified their equally guilty actions by blaming Germany as the main culprit. Furthermore, it was the alliances signed between all the nations involved that forced a local conflict in the Balkans to turn into a real world war..