Factors that led to the start of WW1

Question 1

What was Germany like before 1914 ?

Answer 1

Strongest economy, strongest in Europe - larger population than Britain and France, had most dangerous army
Aimed at acquiring colonies, particularly in Africa

Question 2

What was France like before 1914 ?

Answer 2

. Been defeated by Prussia in 1871, both economically and in terms of population size it had been overtaken by France and Britain
. Industrial base was small - managed to rebuild and re-equip its army and compensate their small population by building up a large north Africa empire
. Key to France’s survival as an independent power = alliance to Germany
. crucial move in this direction was alliance with Russia
. Came to a colonial agreement and entente with London in 1904

Question 3

What was Britain like before 1914 ?

Answer 3

. Economically, Britain was being overtaken by Germany and USA - was enormously wealthy in 1914 but built its wealth on the basis of the domination of the world’s trade
. Attempted to defuse challenges to its position by compromise/appeasement
. Ready to appease Germany at the cost of Germany abandoning its naval challenge - primarily led to Britain entering the war in 1914

Question 4

What was Russia like before 1914 ?

Answer 4

. By 1914 Russia had a population double the size of Germany’s and an economy that was developing rapidly
. Always threatened by domestic instability - already boiled over into an open revolt in 1905

Question 5

What was Austria - Hungary like before 1914 ?

Answer 5

. In 1867, after its defeat by Prussia, Austria became 2 virtually independent states - Austria and Hungary - which shared a common crown and operated a joint foreign policy
. Hungary was terrified of the Russians - rejected their ways

Question 6

What was the USA like before 1914 ?

Answer 6

. Been shielded from any danger or continental European intervention in the 19th century
. In 1914 the USA had taken the precaution of building up the 3rd largest navy in the world due to being scared of Germany
. USA became an imperial power - in 1898 they seized a lot of the East

Question 7

Why was Britain unwilling to form alliances in the 19th century ?

Answer 7

Britain was not prepared to negotiate binding alliances - didn’t want a permanent alliance with Germany

Question 8

Why was Germany convinced GB would form an alliance with them ?

Answer 8

. Convinced sooner or later French and Russian pressure on Britain’s empire would end in war and force them to turn to Germany for help
. Failed - became increasingly dependent on Austria

Question 9

What was the importance of France - Russian alliance on the balance of power in Europe ?

Answer 9

. Russia wrongly believed that Britain and Germany had signed a secret alliance
. therefore suggested that Russia and France should negotiate an entente - made a secret defensive military agreement (Jan 1894) - scared Germany from attacking
. Ended France’s isolation from Europe

Question 10

How did Britains international position change by 1907 ?

Answer 10

. In 1907, the international situation had dramatically changed
. Germany was isolated and Britain had settled its most acute disagreements with Russia and France
. In any war between the Dual Alliance and the Triple Alliance, by 1907 Britain would join France and Russia

Question 11

How important was economic rivalry in the deterioration in Anglo German relations 1900 - 1914 ?

Answer 11

. Between 1900 - 1914 Germany became an economic giant
. German exports dominated the middle eastern, south American and south African markets - largely displaced British goods there
. Challenge to Britain’s long commercial and industrial supremacy
. German fears their exports were gonna be shut out of Britain markets

Question 12

Why did GB and Germany embark on a naval race after 1897 ?

Answer 12

. Launching of the German naval programme in 1897 alarmed Britain
. Led to an esculating arms race between the 2 states
. Construction of the German navy struck at the core of British power: in order to preserve its empire Britain had to retain control of the seas
. German government intended to build within 20 years a German fleet of 60 battleships, which was to be aimed against British naval bases in the north sea

Question 13

What did Kaiser Wilhelm II do before WW1 ?

Answer 13

. Broke with Otto Von Bismark (iron chancellor) - dominated German politics since 1860s - appointed chancellors who were upper - level civil servants instead of statesmen
. Meddled in German foreign policy on emotions - inconsistency in German relations with other nations
. Had a commitment to creating a navy to rival Britains - caused severe financial problems for Wilhelm’s government

Question 14

What did Wilhelm do during WW1 ?

Answer 14

. Out of touch with international politics in 1914 - thought his blood relationships were sufficient to manage the crisis that followed the assassination of archduke Franz Ferdinand
. Signed the order for German mobilisation (pressure from his Generals) - declared war against France and Russia
. Was commander in chief of the German armed forces - largely a shadow monarch during the war

Question 15

What happened during Wilhelm’s years of exile ?

Answer 15

. Kaiser had to leave to preserve order - country turned on him
. Agreed to leave when leaders of army told him they had lost their support
. Took a train to Netherlands on 10th Nov 1918 - remained neutral throughout the war
. Allies wanted to punish him for war crime but Queen of Netherlands refused to extradite him

Question 16

What happened during the first Morrocan crisis ?

Answer 16

. In 1904 France had concluded a secret treaty with Spain partitioning Morocco
. Also agreed not to oppose Britain’s moves in Egypt in exchange for a free hand in Morocco
. Germany insisted upon an open - door policy in the area. Wilhelm visited Tangler (Mar 31st 1905) and declared for Morocco’s independence and integrity

Question 17

How was the first Morrocan crisis solved ?

Answer 17

In Jan - April 1906 at the Algecrias Conference, where Germany and other economic rights were upheld and where the french and spanish were entrusted with the policing of Morocco

Question 18

What happened in the second Morrocan crisis ?

Answer 18

. Started when German gunboat ‘Panther” was sent to Agadir on July 1, 1911 apparently to protect German interests during a local native uprising in Morocco but in reality to cow the French
. Sparked a flurry of war talk during the summer and fall (GB made preparations for eventual war)

Question 19

How was the second Morrocan crisis solved ?

Answer 19

. International negotiations continued and the crisis subsided with the conclusion of the convention of Nov 4 1911
. France was given rights to a protectorship over Morocco - in return Germany was given strips of territory from the french Congo
. Spain at first objected but through intervention of GB, a franco-spanish treaty was concluded on Nov 27, 1912
. Slightly revising the previous franco-spanish boundaries in Morocco

Question 20

What was the anglo Russain entente ?

Answer 20

. British had long wished to negotiate a compromise with Russia that would take the pressure off Afghanistan and Northern India
. On the Russian side, the Anglo - French entente and Japan’s victory made an agreement with Britain increasingly necessary
. Had little option but to improve its relations with London if it was to maintain its relations with France
. Was signed in 1907 - wasn’t originally aimed at Germany

Question 21

Why was Germany on the attack ?
(Triple Entente)

Answer 21

. Triple entente was not a formal alliance but caused a shift of balance in Europe
. Wanted an Anglo - Russian war so one of the countries would become an ally with Germany
. Still friction between Britain and Russia continued
. Germany and France signed an agreement about Morocco
. Von Kiderlain Watcher wanted an aggressive foreign policy

Question 22

What was the acceleration of the arms race ?
(Triple Entente)

Answer 22

. British and France further improve their armies
. Germany also improve army over 2 years period due to public pressure

Question 23

How was there strengthening of the Triple Entente ?

Answer 23

. Franco - Russian alliance was signed in July by 1912
. France, friendly but didn’t have a proper alliance - greatly strengthened
. French and Russian military chiefs met and decided that if war was to break out with Germany, both armies would immediately attack. This happened because they believed it was safer to be in threes

Question 24

What was the main aim of Austria in the Balkans and why ?

Answer 24

Austria’s main aim in the Balkan’s was now at all costs to weaken Serbia because their king followed a fiercely anti - Austrian and strongly nationalist policy, which he hoped would attract Russian support

Question 25

What agreement did the Russians and Austrains make in 1908 ? What was the problem with this agreement ?

Answer 25

In Sep 1908 the Russian and Austrian foreign ministers approved an agreement whereby Russian warships would be able to pass through the straits. In exchange Austria would be able formally to annex Bosnia and Herezgovina which it had administrated since 1878. Russian foreign minister claimed that any Austrian move would have to be confirmed later by a European Conference, but this was never put down on paper - causes problems

Question 26

Who was angered at the annexation of Bosnia Herzegovina by Austria Hungary ? Why was this crisis so dangerous ? What were the long term consequences of the Bosnian crisis ?

Answer 26

. In Russia and Serbia, there were demonstrations calling for war against Austria, facing strong criticism in the Russian press Isvolosky, demanded the calling of the European conference, to which he insisted the Austrians had in principle agreed. Austrian government immediately vetoed this proposal as it feared a repetition of what had happened at Algecrias
. What made the crisis so dangerous was that Austria, had the unconditional backing of Germany, was ready to fight Serbia even if supported by Russia. However, the Russians received no backing from France
. Long term consequence - did serious damage to Russia’s relations with Germany and Austria and made co - operation is the Balkans much more difficult

Question 27

The Balkan League of Serbia, Bulgaria Herzegovina by Austria Hungary ? Why was this crisis so dangerous ? What were the long term consequences of the Bosnian crisis ?dang

Answer 27

In 1912 the Italians invaded Libya, which was legally still part of the Turkish Empire. This prompted the Balkans states to overcome their internal rivalries, and declare war against Turkey. Within 3 weeks the Turkish Empire in Europe had collapsed. The speed and scale of the victory created an acute crisis for the Great Powers

Question 28

How was the crisis over the 1st Balkan war resolved ?

Answer 28

Immediate danger to Russia passed when Bulgaria failed to take Constantinople and the Balkan states signed an armistice with Turkey on Dec 3rd 1912. Great Powers agreed to call a peace conference in London to settle the territorial problem in the Balkans. By the Treaty of London of 30th May 1913 the Turks gave up all their territory in the Balkans except for a small zone around the Dardanelles and Bosphorous, which satisfied Russia, while Austria’s demand that an independent Albania be set up was agreed

Question 29

Why did a 2nd Balkan war break out in 1913 and how was it resolved ? Why was Austria particularly angry at the outcome ?

Answer 29

. Second Balkan War broke out when Bulgaria, which felt cheated of its just share of territory, attacked Serbia
. Resolved by the subsequent Treaty of Burcharest increased the territories of Serbia, Greece and Romania, while Turkey, through the Treaty of Constantinople regained some of the territory it had lost to Bulgaria
. Clear loser in the Second Balkan War was Austria, because Serbia had now emerged stronger, and was in a position to resist pressure from Vienna