Unit #6, The Early 20th Century – THE WARS
Lesson #1 – THE ROAD TO WAR (CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I)
(814-821)
I. Growing International Conflict
A. The New Germany
B. Bismarck fired
C. The Alliances
D. Conflicts prior to war
II. The Mood of 1914
A. Militarism
B. Mobilization
C. Brinksmanship
1
III. The Outbreak of War
A. Archduke Frans Ferdinand
B. Serbian nationalism
C. The Balkan Wars of 1912 & 1913 (and the impact)
click
D. Reaction to the assassination of 1914
E. How a regional conflict came to include Russia and Germany
F. How a four-nation conflict became WWI (by use of the Schlieffen Plan)
2
The changing role of Germany
New German Empire proved itself to be powerful, but peaceful (1870-1890)
Bismarck: the creator of Peace through conferences
1. Berlin Conference of 1878
Goal: negotiate peace treaty after Russo-Turkish War, 1875-1876
Russia & Serbia attacked & defeated Ottomans in region, 1876
Result: Treaty of San Stefano, 1878
Russia – took the Dardanelles
Serbia took Bosnia from Ottomans
Other European powers saw this as an upset to Bal. of Power
Bismarck called for a conference –Berlin Conference of 1878
1. Britain got Cyprus
2. France was encouraged to occupy Tunisia
3. Austria-Hungary got to control Bosnia-Herzegovina
4. Russia lost control of Dardanelles
5. Serbia lost Bosnia to Austria Hungary
Russia resentful – expected support from Germany
Had saved Prussia from Napoleon in 1807
2. BERLIN CONFERENCE OF 1884
To prevent war over claiming land in Africa
Bismarck was (again) leader in Europe
Creator of peace
In both cases, GERMANY GOT NOTHING
But, Germany got to prove its clear leadership
Bismarck: the creator of peace through alliances
A. Three Emperor’s League, 1873-1878
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia (three conservative nations)
Keep France without allies
Dissolved after Russo-Turkish War
B. Dual Alliance, 1879-1918 (was to last 5 years – renewed until 1918)
Germany & Austria-Hungary
Bismarck was quite sure Russia would not seek alliance with Fr or Br
France – too revolutionary
Britain – too democratic
C. Three Emperor’s League renewal, 1881-1886
Russia feared being left alone – sought renewed relationship
Agreed to remain neutral if attacked by another nation
Also – Austria could freely annex Bosnia any time
3
Lifted fears:
Russia – Austria would not befriend Britain
Germany – no Russian alliance with France
D. Triple Alliance, 1882-1914
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy (Italy joined Dual Alliance)
Italy wanted more power to threaten France in Northern Africa
E. Reinsurance Treaty, 1887
Germany & Russia
Three Emperor’s League had collapsed
Bismarck wanted to avoid Russo-French alliance
Both nations would remain neutral if attacked
Bismarck’s alliances had created Balkan peace & German security
Germany was clearly powerful, but used power for peace
THE NEW GERMANY – UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP in 1890
William II was different, with a different vision
29 year old ambitious and arrogant man
self conscious of withered left arm
overcompensated with bombastic rhetoric & mil. Bearing
filled with sense of German destiny to lead Europe
desired a navy and colonial empire as great as Britain’s
Bismarck saw no need to senselessly compete
Clash led to firing; Bismarck was architect of peace
General Leo von Caprivi – hired as new chancellor
”What kind of jackass will dare to be Bismarck’s successor?”
refused Russian request to renew Reinsurance Treaty
felt unable to hold alliance system together
hoped to pull Britain into a new kind of alliance
II. Post-Bismarck Alliances
A. Triple Alliance, 1882-1914
Germany could NOT lose Austria – a loyal ally
B. Franco-Russian Alliance, 1892 (sometimes called “the Dual Alliance”)
France & Russia
Two isolated nations joined in an alliance
France saw Russia as raw investment opportunity
Russia needed an ally
British & German Rivalry began to form
William II’s Grandmother – Queen Victoria
William II had strange admiration & jealousy of Britain
Compete in industry
Compete in size of navy
Built up colonial empire
Many Germans saw Britain as barrier to German greatness
British saw French as “devil” before 1900; after, it was the Germans
Would build military, creating fear in enemies
4
Britain became increasingly antagonistic
Pulled Austria closer as antagonism grew
C. Entente Cordiale, 1904-end of war
Britain & France
Not a military treaty, but a series of agreements
Allowed France free reign in Morocco
France recognized English ownership of Egypt
D. Triple Entente, 1907-1917
Russia, Britain, & France (Russia joined Entente Cordiale)
Russia humiliated by Russo-Japanese War
Russia appeared to be embracing democracy
Britain wanted to avoid Russia drifting back to Germany
Eventually, Britain & France shared naval responsibilities
Britain – pulled ships out of Mediterranean to Baltic region
French – pulled ships from North and loaded Mediterranean
DIFFERENCES:
A. Alliances that had been arranged by Bismarck
Bismarck’s goal: keep Germany safe by using system of alliances
Isolate France – no friends
Avoid intimidating Britain – “sea rats”
Keep Austria close – dominate their politics
Keep Russia close – a weak ally
Keep Britain happy – allow them their overseas empire
Keep France friendless
Avoid European war
B. New vision for William II
William II would not be schooled by an employee
William had a different vision for Germany
i.
Greatness through intimidation
ii.
Unraveled Bismarck’s system of alliances
C. Alliances re-created after Bismarck
Reflected a younger generation
Keep Austria close – support them to prop them up in conflict
Bring Italy into alliance system
Cut Russia loose – an enemy of Austria
Get Britain to respect Germany - to want them as an ally
Don’t worry about France – they’ll fear German might
Britain – went from indifferent to enemy
Russia – went from weak ally to strong partner with France
France – went from lonely and alone to strong with friends
5
Germany – went from dominating to creating fear
All nations will respond
Examples of the New German Attitude:
1. William’s “Risk Theory”
Build German navy so large to inflict severe damage to British navy
Then, Britain could not defeat another power
Idea absurd – just led to militarization of navies
British response – maintain navy as large as next two combined
1 million tons  2 millions tons
1906 – British dreadnought – new mighty iron steam battleship
1908 – Germans launched its own dreadnought
2. Ground Troop armies swelled, 1907-1913
As France build forces, Germany responded
Russia responded, causing Austria & Germany to build forces
Causing France to build more, causing…
Russia & France increased 600%
Germany & Austria increased 800%
Standing armies and reserves grew from 3 million to 20 million
Germany depended on two things to avoid war
1. French & Russian & British fear of German war machine
2. A strong Austrian Empire that refused to show weakness
Goal - Avoid a two-front war
Schlieffen Plan, 1905
All nations had issues they expected others to understand
Reality: no one cared about the problems of others…
Czar Nicholas looking for a war, and needed to show strength
Germany had to back Austria, its only trusted ally
Britain needed to maintain colonial superiority
Austrians needed to control ethnic minorities
click
Serbians wanted to unite all Serbians
Austria secretly wanted to go to war with Serbia to absorb them
6
7