What caused an arms race in Europe?

Countries such as Germany and Britain engaged in a race to produce the most powerful armies through invention and mass production of weapons. This arms race is often cited as a leading cause for World War I. In the decades leading up to World War I, many European countries began to place more focus on their military might.

Arms Control Efforts Fail Moreover, Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles and began to rearm. This started a new arms race in Europe between Germany, France and Britain, and in the Pacific between Japan and the United States