ww1

Overview of Militarism and WWI

  • Four main causes of WWI: militarism, alliances, imperialism, nationalism.

Militarism and Armed Camps

  • Europe divided into two camps: Triple Alliance (Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary) vs. Triple Entente (Britain, France, Russia).

  • Alliances considered defensive but perceived as offensive due to secrecy.

Trends in Military Growth

  • Moderate military growth from 1900 to 1910 (e.g., France +100,000, Russia +200,000 soldiers).

  • Significant military expansion from 1910 to 1914 (e.g., Russian army growth from 1.3 million to 6 million).

  • Increased military spending in anticipation of war.

British Naval Focus

  • Unlike others, British army decreased; focus was on navy for defense of trade and empire.

  • Comparison of naval strength: Britain prioritized dreadnoughts over army size, leading to British naval supremacy concerns.

Dreadnought Naval Rivalry

  • Dreadnought launched in 1906; revolutionized battleship design.

  • Germany's rapid naval construction perceived as a threat by Britain, leading to public outcry and demands for more ships.

  • British slogan: "We want eight and we won’t wait."

Kaiser Wilhelm's Influence

  • Personal ambition of Kaiser for a strong German navy; links to prestige and national security.

  • Policy of Weltpolitik aimed at asserting Germany's place globally.

Political Implications of Naval Arms Race

  • German strategy focused on overcoming the threat of encirclement; naval build-up aimed at securing trade.

  • British public viewed German naval expansion as an aggressive act threatening British dominance.

Consequences and Summary

  • Militarism and the naval arms race increased likelihood of war, altering perceptions and attitudes toward Germany.

  • By 1914, the naval arms race favored Britain, but created tensions and conditions conducive to war.

  • Militarism can be seen as a factor that set the stage for war rather than being a direct cause.