Modernity and the future are inextricably linked with the past. Objectively, the one who forgets history and has not learned the «lessons of the past» loses the sense of the present and cannot look into the future. Without pretending to state the truth in the last instance, it is necessary to briefly describe the nature and origins of the two world wars in Europe, which, we believe, will make it possible to understand the military threats of the present and future. The article examines the issues of the historical development of the states of the European continent as the most vulnerable countries in terms of threats of unleashing wars here. The author draws parallels between the First and Second World Wars in Europe and, analyzing their causes, expresses concerns about current trends taking place today: these are contradictory trends in international relations in the post-bipolar world and military threats through the prism of political, economic, and social aspects of anti-Russian policy. A number of European states (the Baltic States, Poland, Ukraine, Georgia) are used by the United States as potential irritants and possible executors of their aggressive plans against Russia. Other European countries, taking a neutral or active inflammatory position, based on historical experience, risk being drawn into another world war.