To what extent was German policy responsble for the outbreak of WW1
To what extent was German policy responsible for the outbreak of WWI?
Without a doubt, German was one of the most important European powers that were responsible for the outbreak of WWI. Before Bismark was fired, he built a great web of alliances for Germany with all possible effort he could make. The Three Emperors’ League joined Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary into an alliance in 1873. In 1879, Bismark made a separate treaty with Austrians. The Triple Alliance between Germany, Austria and Italy was formed in 1882. Finally The Reinsurance Treaty in 1887 ensured that Germany stayed Friendly with Russia. However, Bismark’s system was destroyed once Wilhelm II came into the power and switch German foreign policy into the policy known as Weltpolitik. This policy was directly responsible for the outbreak of the war.
First, German’s policy of Weltpolitik brought it into conflict with Britain. Kaiser of Germany believes that Germany should mount a naval challenge to Britain, and he had pushed a Naval Law through the Reichstag. This bill was followed by a second Naval Law in 1900. It was clear to many in Britain that the British position of ‘Splendid Isolation’ was no longer appropriate or useful. So they singed entente with France in 1905.
Second, German hoped this aggressive foreign policy would help them to get overseas colonies. At the time, France was interested in Morocco. So in spite of humiliating France and taking control of more colonies, German cultivated the atmosphere of the Moroccan Crisis and eventually forced France to agree to a conference at Algeciras. To Geman’s surprise, because German Weltpolitik already destroyed most of Bismark’s alliance web, with France and Britain singed the treaty of Entente Cordiale, no one backed up German except Austria-Hungary. So as the result of the crisis, German did not get any colonies in North Africa. Besides, several states had considered war as a possible outcome of the crisis, and Germany is now seen as
Without a doubt, German was one of the most important European powers that were responsible for the outbreak of WWI. Before Bismark was fired, he built a great web of alliances for Germany with all possible effort he could make. The Three Emperors’ League joined Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary into an alliance in 1873. In 1879, Bismark made a separate treaty with Austrians. The Triple Alliance between Germany, Austria and Italy was formed in 1882. Finally The Reinsurance Treaty in 1887 ensured that Germany stayed Friendly with Russia. However, Bismark’s system was destroyed once Wilhelm II came into the power and switch German foreign policy into the policy known as Weltpolitik. This policy was directly responsible for the outbreak of the war.
First, German’s policy of Weltpolitik brought it into conflict with Britain. Kaiser of Germany believes that Germany should mount a naval challenge to Britain, and he had pushed a Naval Law through the Reichstag. This bill was followed by a second Naval Law in 1900. It was clear to many in Britain that the British position of ‘Splendid Isolation’ was no longer appropriate or useful. So they singed entente with France in 1905.
Second, German hoped this aggressive foreign policy would help them to get overseas colonies. At the time, France was interested in Morocco. So in spite of humiliating France and taking control of more colonies, German cultivated the atmosphere of the Moroccan Crisis and eventually forced France to agree to a conference at Algeciras. To Geman’s surprise, because German Weltpolitik already destroyed most of Bismark’s alliance web, with France and Britain singed the treaty of Entente Cordiale, no one backed up German except Austria-Hungary. So as the result of the crisis, German did not get any colonies in North Africa. Besides, several states had considered war as a possible outcome of the crisis, and Germany is now seen as