Regional causes for World War I were the growing sense of nationalism within Germany due to the nation's rapid growth in military power and industrial leadership. Nationalism within France also grew due to the bitterness felt over the loss of Alsace and Lorraine in the 1871 Franco-Prussian War. Militarism also developed in every country involved, which fueled the desire to fight. Overseas, different colonies began to fight in support of their mainland leaders, causing tension to strengthen between the European countries. Political causes for the Great War were the breaking of neutralism in Belgium by Germany, invasions by smaller countries like Balkan and Serbia, the assassination of Francis Joseph, and the formation of paranoid alliances between Britain, France, and Russia, as well as the alliances between Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary.