The outbreak of World War 1 is widely attributed to a complex web of alliances and treaties between various countries, as well as the actions of several key figures, including the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. Some historians also point to the arms race and imperialism of the time as contributing factors to the outbreak of war. While there is no one specific person or country that can be held solely responsible for the outbreak of World War 1, the actions of these individuals and countries ultimately led to the outbreak of the war.