A: Alliance System
The American Diplomat and historian George Kennan believed that one the 1894 alliance had been signed between France and Russia. The fat or Europe was sealed. Suspicion mounted between the two opposing camps, russia, austria-hungary, and germany got themselves into situations which they could not escape from without suffering further humiliation; war seemed to be the only war for them to save face.
B: Colonial Rivalry
In early July 1914 Anglo-German relations were good: and agreement favorable to German had just been reached over a possible partition of Portuguese colonies in Africa. However, there was one side-effect of colonial rivalry which did cause dangerous friction- this was naval rivalry.
C: Naval Race
Germany government believed in Alfred Mahan who believed the way to a great empire was through great navy. Therefore Germany needed to create a much larger navy capable of challenging the world's greatest sea power-Britain. The rapid growth of the german fleet probably did not worry the British too much at first because they had an enormous lead. But then the powerful british created the "dreadnought" battleship which changed all this because it made all other battleships obsolete. This meant the germans could begin building "dreadnoughts" on equal terms with Britain. The resulting naval race was the main bone of contention between the two right up to 1914. British people thought that this meant germany was going to declare war on Britain because it was certain that the british could not be overtaken as far as capital ships were concerned and this caused tension.
D: Economic Rivalry
The desire for economic mastery of the worlds caused german business men and capitalists to want war with Britain, which still owned about half the worlds tonnage of merchant ships. This put the blame for the war on the capitalist system.
E: Russia Supported Serbia
Russian backing probably made Serbia more reckless in her Anti-austrain policy that she might otherwise have been. The russians were worried about the situation in the balkans, where both Bulgaria and Turkey were under german influence. This could enable germany and austria to control the dardanelles, the outlet from the black sea. Thus russia felt threatened and once austria declared war on servia, saw its struggle for survival. the russians must also have felt that their pretige as lead of the slavs would suffer if they failed to support serbia.
F: Germany Backing Austria at Crucial
It is significant that germany restrained the austrians from declaring war on serbia in 1913, but in 1914 encouraged them to go ahead. The kaiser sent them a telegram urging them to attack serbia and promising german help without any conditions attached. This was like giving the austrians a blank cheque to do whatever they wanted.
G: Mobilization Plans
Known as the Schlieffen Plan.
This made it seem as thought germany was being ruled by a band of unscupulous militarists. This plan assumed that France would automatically join russia, the bulk of german forces were to be sent by train to the belgian frontier, and through belgium to attack france, which would be knocked out in six weeks.
H: A "Tragedy of Miscalculation"
LCF turner suggested that the germans may not have deliberately provoked war but was caused by "tradegy of miscalulations"
The austrians miscalculated by thinking russia would not support serbia
Germany making a crucial mistake by promising to support austria with no conditions attacked
politicians in russia and germany miscalcluating by assuming that mobilizing would not necessarily mean war
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Churchill Criticizes the German Fleet
1. Explain in your own words what Churchill sees as the difference between the significance of the German and the British fleets.
I believe that Churchill sees as the difference between the significance of the German and British fleets that British naval power is essentially defensive. Britain has never had any thoughts of aggression, and we attribute no such thoughts to other great powers. The British Navy is to use a necessity and from some points of view, German Navy is to them more in the nature of luxury. It is expansion to the British.
2. Look carefully at the language Churchill uses in describing the German fleet. What impression of the German fleet does his choice of language give?
Churchill uses in describing the German Fleet a aggressive tone. The tone of Churchill gives the impression that Germany has alot of power and he is sticking up for Great Britain more than Germany. He is trying not to make Germany mad and saying good things about them but is also saying that Great Britain is better.
3. What does Churchill mean by "the ratio which our naval strength will have to bear to other great naval Powers"?
Churchill means that Great Britain will do anything to be better then the other great powers. Britain will do anything to be better than Germany because they want to be the best. Also, Britain needs there navy more than anyone.
4. How exactly is Churchill threatening Germany in this speech?
He is mostly saying that Germany doesn't need a navy as much as Britain and this threatened Germany because they believe that they need a navy just as much and Germany does not want to give up their navy just because Britain believes they need one more. Germany doesn't want to be the one without an navy and Churchill is saying that Germany doesn't need this and Britain is the one who needs the navy the most. Germany gets very defensive about this because what would one know about another countries needs.
5. This speech was studied very carefully by the German government (as Churchill knew it would be). Which parts of it might give the German government grounds to complain to the British government? What do you think was the effect Churchill intended this speech to have in Germany?
Churchill was saying that Britain never had any thoughts of aggression, and attributed no such thoughts to other great powers. He is saying that Britain is basically better then germany and that they never wanted to hurt anyone but germany did. He is comparing Britain and Germany. He said "the german navy is to them more in the nature of luxury" This would affend the germans because they want these naval races to show that their navy is getting bigger and not about the looks. "Germany was a great power, respected and honoured all over the world, nefore she had a single ship.." Churchill is saying germany used to be great but that they arent anymore and Britain is stronger. His letter was hurtful and mean towards Germany and they could use these parts of the letter to complain to the British government. He wanted germany to know that Britain had the strongest navy and they shouldnt think about having a better navy because it wasnt going to happen.
I believe that Churchill sees as the difference between the significance of the German and British fleets that British naval power is essentially defensive. Britain has never had any thoughts of aggression, and we attribute no such thoughts to other great powers. The British Navy is to use a necessity and from some points of view, German Navy is to them more in the nature of luxury. It is expansion to the British.
2. Look carefully at the language Churchill uses in describing the German fleet. What impression of the German fleet does his choice of language give?
Churchill uses in describing the German Fleet a aggressive tone. The tone of Churchill gives the impression that Germany has alot of power and he is sticking up for Great Britain more than Germany. He is trying not to make Germany mad and saying good things about them but is also saying that Great Britain is better.
3. What does Churchill mean by "the ratio which our naval strength will have to bear to other great naval Powers"?
Churchill means that Great Britain will do anything to be better then the other great powers. Britain will do anything to be better than Germany because they want to be the best. Also, Britain needs there navy more than anyone.
4. How exactly is Churchill threatening Germany in this speech?
He is mostly saying that Germany doesn't need a navy as much as Britain and this threatened Germany because they believe that they need a navy just as much and Germany does not want to give up their navy just because Britain believes they need one more. Germany doesn't want to be the one without an navy and Churchill is saying that Germany doesn't need this and Britain is the one who needs the navy the most. Germany gets very defensive about this because what would one know about another countries needs.
5. This speech was studied very carefully by the German government (as Churchill knew it would be). Which parts of it might give the German government grounds to complain to the British government? What do you think was the effect Churchill intended this speech to have in Germany?
Churchill was saying that Britain never had any thoughts of aggression, and attributed no such thoughts to other great powers. He is saying that Britain is basically better then germany and that they never wanted to hurt anyone but germany did. He is comparing Britain and Germany. He said "the german navy is to them more in the nature of luxury" This would affend the germans because they want these naval races to show that their navy is getting bigger and not about the looks. "Germany was a great power, respected and honoured all over the world, nefore she had a single ship.." Churchill is saying germany used to be great but that they arent anymore and Britain is stronger. His letter was hurtful and mean towards Germany and they could use these parts of the letter to complain to the British government. He wanted germany to know that Britain had the strongest navy and they shouldnt think about having a better navy because it wasnt going to happen.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Bismarck & Europe 1871- 1878 Labels: Bismarck, Germany, Balkans, Britain, France, Russia, Hapsburg_Empire, Ottoman_Empire
1. What were Otto von Bismarck's aims in foreign policy following Germany's victory over France in 1871?
One of Otto Von Bismarck's aims in foreign policy following Germany's victory over France in 1871 was that he wanted to keep peace with other countries so that he would not further upset the balance of power in Europe. Germany's defeat over France made Germany the most militarily powerful country in Europe, and other countries thought that maybe Bismarck was power hungry and wanted to expand. He wanted to assure them that that was not the case because he did not want to fight anymore wars because it would be pointless to him because his only goal was to protect his empire.
Bismarck to maintain this peace and he had to make sure that there were no threats to the peace. The two biggest threats of this peace were France and a conflict arriving in the Balkans. Bismarck decided to 1) isolate France so any possibility of revenge was impossible and 2) try to smooth out any issues Germany had with Austria-Hungary and the Russians so no conflict would arise. "Bismarck's diplomacy was consequently something of a delicate balancing act: he wished to keep rivalries simmering but to prevent them boiling over." Another way that he had to maintain this peace was by convincing the rest of the countries leaders that he had miraculously changed into a man who was a total supporter of peace. He did this by having meetings with the other countries leaders, the German Kaiser, the Habsburg Emperor, and the Tsar of Russia, which eventually lead to the "Three Emperors League." This league basically gave one another help in protecting their countries against the threats of socialism, republicism, and any conflict in with Austro-russia. Bismark however wasnt in the league for its ideals but for its benifits.
2. Why did events between the years 1875-78 in the Balkans lead to a crisis between the Great Powers?
Events between the years 1875-78 in the Balkans lead to a crisis between the Great Powers for many reasons. The Balkans, being what all the Great Powers wanted to achieve, was off limits to most and this made people angry. It was such a good spot and many countries wanted to expand and wanted the Balkans for this. The Balkans created a problem and lead to a crisis between the Great Powers. The Turks, allegedely massacred over 10000 Bulgarians for the Balkans. The russian volunteers were fighting in Serbia. Australians had only agreed to remain nuetral in russo. Britain stuck up for the Turks after they had massacred all these people for the Balkans. This got Serbia mad and they ended up fighting the turks but were defeated. Russia finally declared war on the Turks and they had won. Russia had one this battle but had lost the peace completely.
One of Otto Von Bismarck's aims in foreign policy following Germany's victory over France in 1871 was that he wanted to keep peace with other countries so that he would not further upset the balance of power in Europe. Germany's defeat over France made Germany the most militarily powerful country in Europe, and other countries thought that maybe Bismarck was power hungry and wanted to expand. He wanted to assure them that that was not the case because he did not want to fight anymore wars because it would be pointless to him because his only goal was to protect his empire.
Bismarck to maintain this peace and he had to make sure that there were no threats to the peace. The two biggest threats of this peace were France and a conflict arriving in the Balkans. Bismarck decided to 1) isolate France so any possibility of revenge was impossible and 2) try to smooth out any issues Germany had with Austria-Hungary and the Russians so no conflict would arise. "Bismarck's diplomacy was consequently something of a delicate balancing act: he wished to keep rivalries simmering but to prevent them boiling over." Another way that he had to maintain this peace was by convincing the rest of the countries leaders that he had miraculously changed into a man who was a total supporter of peace. He did this by having meetings with the other countries leaders, the German Kaiser, the Habsburg Emperor, and the Tsar of Russia, which eventually lead to the "Three Emperors League." This league basically gave one another help in protecting their countries against the threats of socialism, republicism, and any conflict in with Austro-russia. Bismark however wasnt in the league for its ideals but for its benifits.
2. Why did events between the years 1875-78 in the Balkans lead to a crisis between the Great Powers?
Events between the years 1875-78 in the Balkans lead to a crisis between the Great Powers for many reasons. The Balkans, being what all the Great Powers wanted to achieve, was off limits to most and this made people angry. It was such a good spot and many countries wanted to expand and wanted the Balkans for this. The Balkans created a problem and lead to a crisis between the Great Powers. The Turks, allegedely massacred over 10000 Bulgarians for the Balkans. The russian volunteers were fighting in Serbia. Australians had only agreed to remain nuetral in russo. Britain stuck up for the Turks after they had massacred all these people for the Balkans. This got Serbia mad and they ended up fighting the turks but were defeated. Russia finally declared war on the Turks and they had won. Russia had one this battle but had lost the peace completely.
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