Arms Race WW1
The Arms Race leading up to WW1
The great war of 1914 was one of the bloodiest conflicts modern man has yet experienced. Its consequences reached far from the battlefield and into the towns, homes and families of the soldiers. There are many arguable points one could debate regarding the origins of WW1 but much guilt resides on the part of the arms race. An arms race can best be described as one country adding a portion to its military then a neighboring country doing the same because it is nervous. The two countries continuously keep adding to their military might to keep up with one another. Edward Gray, Britain’s foreign secretary from 1906-1916 offered a good example1. If one country builds a rail way to the border of a neighboring country, then that country will feel threatened and subsequently will build a railroad of its own to the border. Anticipating an attack, the first country will begin to mobilize its army and perhaps build weapons. The second country now feels incredibly threatened and mobilizes its own army calling in all the reserve troops possible. Gray assessed that the only way to stop an arms race is war.
An arms race does not simply start on its own. There is indubitably some event that triggers the arming of a country. In WW1, that can be attributed to the treaties between European countries2. When Austria and Serbia get into a dispute, Austria issues an ultimatum with ten conditions. Serbia agrees to all but one and starts looking around for backup in case of attack. Serbia forms an alliance with Russia because Russia hates Austria. When Austria finds out they call their friend Germany for an alliance. Russia subsequently calls France knowing that France is looking for an easy shot to get back at Germany for the Franco-Prussian war from 1870-1871 in which Germany defeats France and makes them pay dearly
for the loss3. On the day of the ultimatum, Austria declares war on Serbia, Russia declares
The great war of 1914 was one of the bloodiest conflicts modern man has yet experienced. Its consequences reached far from the battlefield and into the towns, homes and families of the soldiers. There are many arguable points one could debate regarding the origins of WW1 but much guilt resides on the part of the arms race. An arms race can best be described as one country adding a portion to its military then a neighboring country doing the same because it is nervous. The two countries continuously keep adding to their military might to keep up with one another. Edward Gray, Britain’s foreign secretary from 1906-1916 offered a good example1. If one country builds a rail way to the border of a neighboring country, then that country will feel threatened and subsequently will build a railroad of its own to the border. Anticipating an attack, the first country will begin to mobilize its army and perhaps build weapons. The second country now feels incredibly threatened and mobilizes its own army calling in all the reserve troops possible. Gray assessed that the only way to stop an arms race is war.
An arms race does not simply start on its own. There is indubitably some event that triggers the arming of a country. In WW1, that can be attributed to the treaties between European countries2. When Austria and Serbia get into a dispute, Austria issues an ultimatum with ten conditions. Serbia agrees to all but one and starts looking around for backup in case of attack. Serbia forms an alliance with Russia because Russia hates Austria. When Austria finds out they call their friend Germany for an alliance. Russia subsequently calls France knowing that France is looking for an easy shot to get back at Germany for the Franco-Prussian war from 1870-1871 in which Germany defeats France and makes them pay dearly
for the loss3. On the day of the ultimatum, Austria declares war on Serbia, Russia declares
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