This study presents and analyses the power relation at the time of the outbreak of
WWI. The examination is focused primarily on the great powers of the era, including
those countries that entered the war later. The war potentials of Germany, the Austro-Hungarian
Monarchy, Great-Britain, France, Russia, Italy and the United States of America are
reviewed and compared. Other countries are discussed only if the analysis of the aforementioned
powers requires. The study relies on published data and absolute and relative indexes
are applied to describe the relations and tendencies of the years before WWI. The
emphasis is put on those parameters whose significance was confirmed by the outcomes
of the war. The most important aspects of the analysis are geographical, ethnic and
demographic characteristics, military and economic capacities, military goals and
operation plans. In addition to numerical data, I consider political and cultural
relations very important as well. My aim is to highlight those factors of the war
that might be less noticeable than the events on the fronts, but still very important.
