CAUSES OF WW1 NOTES

Focus Question:

"To what extent can it be said that the first world war was caused by ...

- Nationalism?"

- Nationalist groups in balkans

- Black Hand

- Birth of Germany

- Will for war- propaganda/nationalism

- Russia wanted to regain prestige after loss to Japan.

- The Alliance System?"

- Alliances were dangerous because they increased suspicion.

- 1879 Germany and Austria/hungary formed the Dual Allaince

- 1882 Italy joined, triple alliance formed.

- 1904 Entente Cordialle: France and Britain.

- 1907 Russia joined: "Triple Entente"

- by 1914, Europe was divided into two armed camps.

- The Arms race?"

- 1900 Germany paced the Navy Law

- 1906 Britain built first Dreatnought

- Germany retaliated with "Rhineland"

- After about 1910 France, Germany and Russia raced each other to build up huge peacetime armies.

- By 1914, Britain had clearly won race: "29 to 17"

- Played a part in increasing fear and suspicion between the two countries.

- Increase in military spending

- European powers:300 % increase

- More destructive weapons.

- Mobilization plans of the great powers.

- Colonial/economic rivalry?"

- Germany had policy of becoming a world power (‘weltpolitik’).

- Wanted to become a serious economic threat to britain.

- Challenged French interests in morocco in 1905 and 1911, both occasions Britain stuck up for French and Germany had to back down.

- Produced friction

- Short term causes:

- Assasination of Arch Duke Ferdinand (heir to Austro-Hungarian throne) in Sarejevo on 28 June 1914.

- 23 July Austra-Hungary delivered ulitmatum to Serbia with a 48-hour time limit

- 26th July Austro-hungarian troops began to bombard belgrade.

- 30th July Russia declared a general mobilisation.

- 1st of August Germany began to excecute the Schlieffen plan.

- 2nd August Britain declared war on Germany, defending Belgian neutrality.

Historiography

1)The war was germany’s responsibility.

- Fischer, Geiss: Germany only wanted a war, prepared for it, and ultimately provoked it in 1914 in order to advance Germany’s position in the world.

- Link to Nationalism, economic rivalry.

2) Germany Risked war, but did not plan it.

- Ritter: Germanys main aim was to retain Austria-hungary as an ally and that Germany’s actions can be interpreted as defensive, not aggressive.

- Zechlin: Germany was ready to accept the risk of war, but had no desire to provoke it.

3) Everyone has some responsibility.

- Schroeder: War was the logical outcome of tensions leading up to 1914 and no individual country should be held responsible.

- Taylor: No one wanted war, but their freedom of action was limited by their existing war plans.

- Joll: The willingness on the part of the people and leaders of all nations to go to war.