How Did Lafore Cause Ww1
As previously mentioned, Lafore emphasizes that the primary cause of World War I was the tensions created in the Balkans, especially between Austria and Russia. I agree with Lafore’s conclusion that Austria-Hungary’s ethnic makeup was behind much of the problems that the empire faced. As he reiterates, these ethnic groups often clashed with the government, on the basis of establishing a nation-state for their nationality. There had been significant nationalistic movements throughout Austria-Hungary since 1870 , and by the early 1900’s, these tensions were only exacerbated by actions taken by both Austria and Russia in their attempts to dominate the region. The Balkan Peninsula was essentially a battlefield for influence between Austria and
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Wilhelm II, under the advice of Grand Admiral von Tirpitz, instituted the Risk Theory, where it was necessary for Germany to initiate a naval arms race with Great Britain, one of Germany’s greatest threats. A powerful German navy needed if Weltpolitk, where Germany would expand its colonial interests drastically, was to be successfully exercised, they needed a navy that could withstand the Royal Navy of Great Britain. As a result, the Naval Laws of 1898 and 1900 were passed, which dictated that the German navy must be increased to two-thirds the size of the British navy. This was make it so that it would be too costly for Britain to attempt to destroy the German fleet, with the ultimate goal of moving Britain out of the way pf Wilhelm’s colonial ambitions. The Germans also did not help relations with Britain when Wilhelm II publicly claimed his support for the Boers in South Africa, during the Anglo-Boer War in 1895. The Schlieffen Plan, which was formulated by Alfred von Schlieffen, also ensured that Great Britain would become involved in a German war with France, because it required Germany to attack through neutral Belgium, which Great Britain had guaranteed its independence. This plan, approved by Wilhelm II, would only widen the scale of a great European
Wilhelm II, under the advice of Grand Admiral von Tirpitz, instituted the Risk Theory, where it was necessary for Germany to initiate a naval arms race with Great Britain, one of Germany’s greatest threats. A powerful German navy needed if Weltpolitk, where Germany would expand its colonial interests drastically, was to be successfully exercised, they needed a navy that could withstand the Royal Navy of Great Britain. As a result, the Naval Laws of 1898 and 1900 were passed, which dictated that the German navy must be increased to two-thirds the size of the British navy. This was make it so that it would be too costly for Britain to attempt to destroy the German fleet, with the ultimate goal of moving Britain out of the way pf Wilhelm’s colonial ambitions. The Germans also did not help relations with Britain when Wilhelm II publicly claimed his support for the Boers in South Africa, during the Anglo-Boer War in 1895. The Schlieffen Plan, which was formulated by Alfred von Schlieffen, also ensured that Great Britain would become involved in a German war with France, because it required Germany to attack through neutral Belgium, which Great Britain had guaranteed its independence. This plan, approved by Wilhelm II, would only widen the scale of a great European