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Standard MWH-7.1
It is essential for students to know: During the nineteenth century, military buildup
(militarism), nationalism and the growth of alliances led to a continental war in Europe. Between the
1840’s and the first decade of the 1900s, many countries joined groups to promote peace. While this
movement for peace grew, so did the strong sense of nationalism in many of these nations.
Nationalism served to unify the people in each country; however, it also led to competition.
By 1900, six nations were in competition for power in Europe. These nations, who were also
called the Great Powers, were Great Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Italy, and France.
They competed economically and for territory. All these nations were involved in imperialism, which
contributed greatly to the competition between the nations. During the nineteenth century, each of
the countries was vying for territory in Africa; this competition almost led to war in the early 1900s.
As competition on the continent, as well as overseas grew, each country began a rapid build-up of
weapons. All of the countries (excluding Great Britain) built a huge army. Military leaders developed
plans to mobilize troops quickly, should the need arise. All of these factors made the likelihood of war
in Europe probable as tensions grew.
World War I In 1879, Otto von Bismarck, helped to develop an alliance between Germany,
Austria-Hungary and Italy, called the Triple Alliance. At that time, Wilhelm II became Kaiser, or
Emperor, of Germany and he did not want to share power. He forced Bismarck out and followed his
own policies. In 1879, he let an alliance that was formed with Russia and Austria (called the League of
Three Emperors) expire, and Russia quickly allied itself with France. This alliance meant that Germany
would have to fight enemies on east and west borders if there were a war with either country.
Germany also maintained its alliance with Austria.
Wilhelm II then moved to make the German navy larger. This alarmed Great Britain and in
response it began to build more ships. It made a Triple Entente Alliance with France and Russia. The
six Great Powers had now formed two camps: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy against Britain,
France, and Russia. Meanwhile, trouble was brewing in the Balkans, in Southeastern Europe. The
Ottoman Empire, which controlled this area, was breaking apart. Both Austria-Hungary and Russia
wanted some of this land. The kingdom of Serbia, which was in this region, wanted to bring other
Slavic peoples who lived in the Balkans under its control. In 1908, Austria-Hungary seized Bosnia and
Herzegovina.
These lands had Slavic peoples and the Serbs were angered. However, their Russian allies
were unwilling to support them, and they backed down. By 1914, the situation was different. Serbia
gained land in other parts of the region and felt strong. Austria worried that Serbia might interfere
with its control of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Amid these tensions, a shot rang out. In June 1914, a
Serbian shot and killed the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary declared war on
Serbia. Russia came to Serbia’s defense, and soon most of Europe was at war.
World War II As Germany, Italy, and Japan conquered other countries, the rest of the world
did nothing. In the 1930s, the major democracies—Britain, France, and the United States—still faced
serious problems at home. Dictators in Germany and Italy took advantage of this and began moving
to gain territory. So did Japan which was now ruled by generals. These military leaders had taken
power when the Depression struck. They planned to capture China as a part of a Pacific empire. In
1931, the Japanese army captured Manchuria, a part of China. It was rich in coal and iron and as a
result provided valuable resources for the Japanese economy.
Other countries protested in the League of Nations but did nothing else. Japan ignored the
protests and in 1933 pulled out of the League. It remained in Manchuria. Four years later, Japan
Cold Text
Standard MWH-7.1
invaded China. The strong Japanese Army swept Chinese fighters aside. It killed tens of thousands of
Chinese in the city of Nanjing. Chinese forces, both the Nationalists of the government and
Communist rebels, continued to fight Japan.
Italy’s Benito Mussolini wanted an Italian empire in Africa and in 1935 he invaded Ethiopia. His
troops won easy victory. Haile Selassie, the Emperor of Ethiopia, pleaded to the League of Nations for
help. The League did nothing. Hitler made moves also. He broke the Versailles Treaty by rebuilding
Germany’s army. In 1936, he sent troops into an area of Germany that the treaty had forbidden it to
enter. France and Britain again refused to stand up to Germany. This move won Hitler more support
in Germany. That same year, he signed an agreement with Mussolini and also with Japan. The three
nations were called the Axis Powers. In 1936, Spain erupted in civil war as the army revolted against a
leftist government. Hitler and Mussolini aid to the army, which was backed by Spanish Fascists. The
Soviet Union sent aid to the government. In 1939, the army won and Francisco Franco became
Spain’s fascist dictator.
In March 1938, Hitler moved his troops into Austria. He made it part of Germany, again
breaking the Treaty of Versailles. France and Britain once more did nothing. The next year, Hitler
demanded that Czechoslovakia give up part of its land to Germany. The country refused, but Britain
and France agreed to allow Germany to take the land. Hitler promised to respect the new borders of
Czechoslovakia, but a few months later he took the entire country. In the summer of 1939, Hitler
made a similar demand of Poland. That nation also refused to give up land. Britain and France now
said that they would protect Poland. But Hitler guessed they would not back this up. Meanwhile, he
made an agreement with Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in which the two countries promised never to
attack each other. The strong sense of nationalism espoused by the Spanish, Italians, and Germans,
coupled with the lack of action by the British and French ultimately led Europe into war again.
Propaganda Used During 20th Century Wartime Propaganda refers to ideas that deliberately
spread a particular point of view to benefit a cause or to damage an opposing view. Political leaders
in Europe, as well as in the United States, used propaganda during World War I and World War II to
gain support for their war efforts. For example, the Nazi party used the documentary film The
Triumph of the Will to glorify the movement. Posters and other visual references were the most
commonly used format for propaganda; however, the growth of various technologies also
contributed to the spread of propaganda. The first European and American radio stations began to
broadcast in the 1920s. Politicians used the radio to influence public opinion. During World War II,
President Roosevelt gave informal talks, called fireside chats to speak to the nation. Citizens felt a
greater connection to their leadership due to the use of these techniques.