TALK - Catastrophe - Outbreak of WW1 (part of 20th Century History series)

Join us on Friday 27th March, in the Museum at 2pm, as Lee Steptoe explains that the European powers went to war in 1914 because long-term tensions caused by militarism, alliances, imperial rivalry and nationalism turned the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand into a chain reaction of declarations of war that escalated into a global conflict.

This is the second talk in our ‘20th Century International History’ series, presented by Lee throughout 2026. You can purchase a Series Ticket for access to all ten talks. See below for details on each talk, including dates and topics.

Speaker Bio – Born and raised in Grantham, Lee Steptoe spent over 30 years teaching History at a local secondary school. Lee is currently a town and district councillor, and is deeply invested in the past, present, and future of the town. Believing that understanding history is essential to building a better future, Lee Grantham Museum as a Trustee to help preserve and share the stories that shape the community

Tickets, include tea and coffee on arrival.
Friends of Grantham Museum: £4 | General Admission: £6 | On the Door: £8

Click to book your ‘Catastrophe: Outbreak of World War I’ talk ticket online (or call into see us at the Museum)

Want to attend more than one of Lee’s talks? Why not book a Series Ticket, for a cheaper price and attend all of Lee’s talks coming up, click here!

Not a Friend of the Museum yet? Join us today from £25/year and get discounted tickets plus exclusive perks! Click here to find out more about becoming a Friend.

IMPORTANT – PLEASE NOTE: You will not be issued with a physical ticket i.e. a paper or card ticket will not be posted to you. You will receive an email confirmation of your ticket order, simply show that on your phone or print it off and bring that with you. All event attendees will be checked against our list on arrival.

Talks include:

1. Europe in 1900 – Why was Europe divided into competing power blocs by 1900, and what dangers did this pose? Friday 27th February
2. Catastrophe: Outbreak of WWI – Why did the European powers go to war in 1914? Friday 27th March
3. Slaughter in the Trenches – The main events of WWI, a four-year stalemate that claimed over 10 million lives. Friday 24th April
4. The War to End All Wars? – Efforts to build peace in the 1920s through treaties and the League of Nations. Friday 29th May
5. The Rise of the Dictators – The death of democracy in Italy, Russia, and Germany. Friday 26th June
6. The Failure of 1930s Appeasement – Why there were no serious attempts to stop the ambitions of dictators before WWII. Friday 31st July
7. World War Two – An overview of the conflict that claimed over 60 million lives. Friday 28th August
8. The Collapse of the Third Reich – The downfall of Hitler’s empire following the Holocaust. Friday 25th September
9. Allies Fall Out – How the USA and USSR clashed by 1949, ushering in a 40-year Cold War. Friday 30th October
10. The Cold War and the Collapse of the Soviet Union – The nuclear standoff between communist and capitalist blocs and its eventual resolution. Friday 27th November

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