The road to warThe road to war

I The alliance systemI The alliance system

II International rivalryII International rivalry

International rivalry International rivalry before 1914before 1914

The role of GermanyThe role of Germany The arms race The arms race Colonial rivalryColonial rivalry Crises in Morocco and the BalkansCrises in Morocco and the Balkans

The role of The role of GermanyGermanyCreates suspicion and tension –Creates suspicion and tension –especially after 1890especially after 1890

Role of Germany –Role of Germany –Kaiser Wilhelm IIKaiser Wilhelm II

Personal ambitions for a Personal ambitions for a strong Germanystrong Germany

Unpredictable and Unpredictable and interferinginterfering

Up sets Britain and othersUp sets Britain and othersEg Kruger telegram 1896, Eg Kruger telegram 1896, Daily Telegraph affair Daily Telegraph affair 1908, refuses to renew 1908, refuses to renew Reinsurance treaty with Reinsurance treaty with RussiaRussia

The role of The role of GermanyGermanyMilitarism strong – Eg captain of Militarism strong – Eg captain of Kopenick!Kopenick!

The role of Germany-The role of Germany-WELTPOLITIKWELTPOLITIK

Weltpolitik – use it to get mass support for Weltpolitik – use it to get mass support for the kaiser and the ruling elitethe kaiser and the ruling elite

Seats won by the Social Democratic Party in Seats won by the Social Democratic Party in parliamentparliament

YearYear seatsseats

18901890 3535

19121912 110110

WeltpolitikWeltpolitik

Increase German prestige abroad – get Increase German prestige abroad – get involved in international politicsinvolved in international politics

« drang nach osten »« drang nach osten » Berlin – Baghdad railwayBerlin – Baghdad railway « Place in the sun »« Place in the sun »

Naval arms raceNaval arms race Tirpitz and Navy laws, 1898, 1900Tirpitz and Navy laws, 1898, 1900 « risk theory »« risk theory »

Britain - the TWO POWER STANDARD Britain - the TWO POWER STANDARD

Naval Arms race starts Naval Arms race starts

..

HMS Dreadnought HMS Dreadnought 19061906

Armour platingArmour plating GunsGuns speed;speed;

The Naval arms race The Naval arms race intensifiesintensifies

« we want 8 and we won’t wait »« we want 8 and we won’t wait » Kiel canal - opened 1914Kiel canal - opened 1914 Navy league influential in Br and GerNavy league influential in Br and Ger

Created impression Br & Ger enemiesCreated impression Br & Ger enemies

Colonial rivalryColonial rivalry

Not much interest in colonies up to the Not much interest in colonies up to the 1870s1870s

New ImperialismNew Imperialism Scramble for Africa 1870-1900Scramble for Africa 1870-1900 Struggle for China 1895 - 1905Struggle for China 1895 - 1905

Reasons for the « new Reasons for the « new imperialism »imperialism »

Economic motivesEconomic motives National securityNational security Nationalism and national prestigeNationalism and national prestige Social Darwinism « survival of the Social Darwinism « survival of the

fittest »fittest »

How serious were How serious were colonial rivalries?colonial rivalries?

On occasions they damaged On occasions they damaged relationships eg Fashoda crisis 1898, relationships eg Fashoda crisis 1898, Moroccan crises 1905, 1911Moroccan crises 1905, 1911

Overall the conflicts were a long way Overall the conflicts were a long way from home – they did not cause the war from home – they did not cause the war to start.to start.

CRISES - in MoroccoCRISES - in Morocco

First Moroccan crisis First Moroccan crisis 1905/061905/06

Germany wanted to Germany wanted to test the strength of test the strength of the Entente Cordiale.the Entente Cordiale.

1905, Kaiser lands in 1905, Kaiser lands in Tangiers & Tangiers & demands » open demands » open door » in Moroccodoor » in Morocco

CRISES - in MoroccoCRISES - in Morocco

Conference held at Algeciras 1906Conference held at Algeciras 1906 Germany defeated & Br and Fr closer togetherGermany defeated & Br and Fr closer together Germany makes the Schlieffen plan, France – Germany makes the Schlieffen plan, France –

plan 17plan 17

The Schlieffen planThe Schlieffen plan

CRISES - in MoroccoCRISES - in Morocco

2nd Moroccan crisis 1911 – the Agadir crisis2nd Moroccan crisis 1911 – the Agadir crisis French troops Vs rebelsFrench troops Vs rebels German gunboat – the Panther sent to AgadirGerman gunboat – the Panther sent to Agadir Br and Fr hold firmBr and Fr hold firm Lloyd George – Mansion House speechLloyd George – Mansion House speech Germany backs down BUT public opinion Germany backs down BUT public opinion

furious with Britainfurious with Britain

CRISES – in the BalkansCRISES – in the Balkans

Bosnian crisis 1908Bosnian crisis 1908 Austria annexes BosniaAustria annexes Bosnia Germany supports AustriaGermany supports Austria Russia furious and humiliated – won’t let Russia furious and humiliated – won’t let

that happen again!that happen again! Serbia angry – hostile to AustriaSerbia angry – hostile to Austria

CRISES – in the BalkansCRISES – in the Balkans

The First Balkans war 1912The First Balkans war 1912 Balkan league attacks TurkeyBalkan league attacks Turkey Would Russia or Austria get involved?Would Russia or Austria get involved? International peace settlement arrangedInternational peace settlement arranged Serbia angry because Austria blockes Serbia angry because Austria blockes

her access to the sea.her access to the sea. War Council meeting in GermanyWar Council meeting in Germany

CRISES – in the BalkansCRISES – in the Balkans

The second Balkans war 1913The second Balkans war 1913 Bulgarians unhappy with the peace Bulgarians unhappy with the peace

settlementsettlement Bulgaria attacks SerbiaBulgaria attacks Serbia Other Balkan countries help SerbiaOther Balkan countries help Serbia Br and Ger stop Austria from helping Br and Ger stop Austria from helping

BulgariaBulgaria

CRISES – in the BalkansCRISES – in the Balkans

Consequences of the second Balkan warConsequences of the second Balkan war Serbia strengthened and ready to stir up Serbia strengthened and ready to stir up

trouble for Austriatrouble for Austria Austria determined to end Serbia’s Austria determined to end Serbia’s

ambitions ( a preventative war )ambitions ( a preventative war ) Germany thought Britain would co-Germany thought Britain would co-

operate if there was another crisisoperate if there was another crisis

CRISES – in the BalkansCRISES – in the Balkans

Sarajevo 28th June 1914Sarajevo 28th June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinatedArchduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated Austria sees a chance to finish SerbiaAustria sees a chance to finish Serbia Gets « blank cheque » from GermanyGets « blank cheque » from Germany Ultimatum to Serbia, then war declaredUltimatum to Serbia, then war declared Russia mobilisesRussia mobilises Germany launches Schlieffen planGermany launches Schlieffen plan Britain declares warBritain declares war

The First world war The First world war beginsbegins July / August 1914July / August 1914