The Rise of Global Conflict: From German Unification to World War II Isolationism

The Unification of Germany and the Shift in European Power

Historically, Europeans have been in conflict with one another for hundreds and thousands of years.
Germany did not exist as a single united entity until $1871$ . Prior to this, it consisted of at least a dozen different German kingdoms or states.
The speaker compares these entities to states in the United States, suggesting they could have been called the "United Countries of America."
Specific pre-unification German states included: - Prussia - Bavaria - Baden Wurttemberg - Hesse - Berlin - Saxony - Westphalia
Upon unification in $1871$ (the speaker also mentions the date $1971$ later in the transcript), Germany immediately became the most powerful country on the European continent.
Population comparisons at the time of unification: - There were more Germans living in Germany than French people in France. - There were more Germans than English people. - There were more Russians than Germans, but Russia was viewed as backward and underdeveloped.
Germany was highly industrially advanced, rivaled only by England as the most advanced country in the world during that period.

The Concept of Alliances and International Relations

The rise of a united Germany caused significant fear among England, France, and Russia, driving them into a solid alliance.
Prior to this, international alliances were fluid; for instance, France and England shifted between being allies and enemies.
Germany represented a common enemy between the powers of France, England, and Russia, physically located between them on the European "checkerboard."
The operating principle of these relations is described by the Middle Eastern saying: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
These alliances are often temporary and based on convenience.
WWII Parallel: The United States allied with the Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin despite Stalin being "the greatest mass murderer of all time." - Between $1928$ and $1953$ , the Soviet dictatorship killed approximately $25,000,000$ Russians. - During WWII, Stalin was referred to in the U.S. as "Uncle Joe."

The Outbreak of World War I: Assassinations and Mobilization

World War I began in $1914$ following the assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The assassin was Gavrilo Princip, a Serb and member of a secret society called the "Black Hand" (sometimes referred to as the "Black Angel" in the dialogue).
The assassination occurred in the city of Sarajevo while the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were on an official visit.
Escalation of War: - Austria-Hungary made demands on Serbia (e.g., turning over Black Hand members, allowing Austrian troops to investigate on Serbian soil). - Serbia accepted all demands except for the presence of Austrian troops. - Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. - Russia, allied with Serbia, declared war on Austria-Hungary to prevent a threat to Russian power. - Germany, allied with Austria-Hungary, declared war on Russia. - The United Kingdom and France, allied with Russia, declared war on Germany.
Military Strategy: - It was believed that a few days' head start in mobilization could win the war. - Troops were moved via railroads to concentration sites (not to be confused with camps) at the front lines. - The Von Schlieffen Plan: Germany's strategy to first defeat Russia in the East and then turn to face England and France in the West.
The Ottoman Empire was aligned with Germany and Austria-Hungary, primarily concerned with Russian power.

The United States' Path to Involvement in World War I

President Woodrow Wilson was elected in $1912$ , came into office in $1913$ , and was reelected in $1916$ .
He campaigned on the slogan "He kept us out of war," but was secretly supporting England.
The Luxury Liner Strategy: The U.S. sent weapons of war to England hidden in the cargo holds of passenger cruise liners like the Titanic (used as an example of the era).
The Blockade and Submarines: - England used its navy to blockade German ports to cut off food and fuel, aiming to grind the German war machine to a halt. - Germany responded with the Unterwasser boat (Submarine/U-boat) to target British ships and the luxury liners carrying weapons.
The Lusitania: - Sunk on May $7$ , $1915$ . - Death toll: $1,198$ out of almost $2,000$ passengers. - Includes the deaths of $128$ Americans. - The U.S. claimed the ship was not carrying weapons; Germany claimed it was. Later evidence confirmed weapons were on board.
Germany resumed unrestricted U-boat activity in early $1917$ , sinking warships and American merchant ships.
The Zimmerman Telegram: A German message to Mexico proposing that if the U.S. entered the war, Mexico should join Germany. In return, Mexico would regain territories lost in the Mexican-American War (California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and part of Colorado).
The U.S. officially entered World War I in April $1917$ .

The Human and Geopolitical Cost of World War I

Woodrow Wilson framed the entry into war as a necessity to "make the world safe for democracy."
Propaganda characterized Germans as "the evil Hun" and spread false stories about them killing Belgian babies.
Casualty Statistics: - Total deaths: $17,000,000$ . - Combatants: $10,000,000$ . - Civilians: $7,000,000$ . - American deaths: $110,000$ in less than a year and a half ( $1917$ – $1918$ ). This would scale to approximately $350,000$ deaths relative to today's population.
Chemical warfare: Mustard gas and poison gas were used, leading to an eventual treaty in $1923$ banning chemical weapons.
Post-War Colonialism: - The Ottoman Empire was dismantled. - France and England did not grant independence to territories but maintained imperial control (e.g., France took direct control of Algeria and Syria). - This led to American disillusionment and the rise of isolationism.

The Rise of Nationalism and National Identity

Isolationism: A foreign policy philosophy where the U.S. remains inactive or unengaged in world affairs to focus on domestic problems. This dominated U.S. policy between $1918$ (end of WWI) and $1939$ / $1941$ (start of WWII/Pearl Harbor).
Nation vs. Nationalism: - A Nation is an identity group based on ethnicity (involving language, culture, region, and often religion). - Nationalism is loyalty to one's nation above all else (above individual rights or economic comfort).
The concept of the nation emerged in Europe in the $1800$ s, specifically following the French Revolution.
The French Revolution Influence: - Instituted a Republic and spread ideas of individual rights and liberties under Napoleon. - Created a sense of a "special unique" French mission in the world, which then forced other groups (Germans, English) to define themselves as special nations.
Modern examples of nationalism: - Russian nationalism is used by Vladimir Putin to mobilize troops for the conflict with Ukraine (citing historical invasions from WWI and WWII). - Ukrainian nationalism serves as a positive, unifying force for defense against Russian aggression.

The Emergence of Fascism and the Road to World War II

The Great Depression ( $1929$ ) exacerbated the problems left by World War I.
Benito Mussolini: - Became the leader of Italy in $1922$ . - Head of the Fascist movement. "Fascism" comes from fasci (a bundle of sticks), signifying strength through unity.
Adolf Hitler: - Leader of the Nazis and a "fanboy" of Mussolini. - Built a movement on German nationalism ("Germany for the Germans").
Nazi Atrocities (pre-1939): - Concentration camps were already in use by $1933$ . - Persecuted groups included Jews, Roma (Gypsies), gay men ( $15,000$ sent to camps), Catholic priests, Protestant ministers, and labor union leaders. - Murdered $80,000$ physically and mentally handicapped people to prevent "inferior genes" from being passed on.
Americans remained isolationist despite these reports, viewing it as "Europe's business."

Imperial Japan and the Shift to Global Internationalism

Imperial Japan was taken over by fascists in the $1920$ s and began expanding into China in the early $1930$ s.
The Rape of Nanking ( $1937$ ): The Japanese army murdered $400,000$ innocent Chinese people in three months through mass slaughter and rape.
Japan conquered parts of China, the Korean Peninsula (from $1910$ ), Southeast Asia from the French, and Burma from the English.
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on $12/07/1941$ , miscalculating that isolationist Americans would surrender after the destruction of their fleet.
Post-WWII, the U.S. shifted from isolationism to internationalism, believing that active engagement in world affairs makes the world safer and more stable.

Questions & Discussion

Question on the assassin of Franz Ferdinand: A student correctly identified Gavrilo Princip as a Serb and a member of the Black Hand.
Question on why Russia and others went to war for Serbia: The speaker explained the alliance system where Russia feared Austrian expansion, leading to a chain reaction of declarations of war.
Question on the Zimmerman Telegram's authenticity: A student asked if it was British propaganda. The speaker stated he is " $97\%$ certain" it was a real message uncovered/interpreted with British help.
Question on Serbia's role as a major power: The speaker clarifies that Serbia was a smaller country and not a "major power" that would swing the war's outcome like Germany or the UK.
Question on WWI causing the Great Depression: The speaker clarifies WWI did not cause the Depression but created problems exacerbated by it.