Facts v. 2

Question 1

Imperialism as a cause of WW1

Answer 1

‘Weitpolitik’: Germany wanted influence in Africa but 90% of Africa already colonised - increased tensions.

Moroccan Crises 1906 and 1911: international crises centring on France’s attempts to control Morocco and on Germany’s concurrent attempts to stem French power - increased tensions.

Served to increase tensions between GB, Fr. and Germany (strong colonial powers)

Question 2

Militarism as a cause of WW1

Answer 2

Anglo-German Naval Race: GB launch of the dreadnaught in 1906 made all other ships obselete.

Arms Race: arms spending increased drastically

Since 1870 all European powers had adopted Conscription Policies except GB.

War Plans (Schliefflen Plan)

Not essential, more of a product of other factors but still served to increase tensions.

Question 3

Alliances as a Cause of WW1

Answer 3

As tensions arose through imperialism and militarism, European countries sought security in treaties.

Ger: Triple Alliance between G, I, AH. - isolate Fr. and prevent war on two fronts.

Triple Entente: reaction, linked GB, Fr. and Rus.: created split of two blocs in Europe.

London Treaty of 1839: used as GB’s excuse for entering war to protect Belgium

Alliances were instrumental in creating war, not because they dragged countries into the war (Fr. didn’t join right away and It. changed sides) but because they cast a facade of safety over Europe that allowed tensions to grow to the point of war.

Question 4

Nationalism as a cause of WW1

Answer 4

Nationalism in the form of the creation of the Nation State

Pan-Slavism: freedom of Slavs from Ottoman Empire (supported by Russia)

Bosnian Crisis 1908-9: AH annexed Bosnia and Herzegovnia. (Heiss described as a dress rehearsal for WW1, all the big powers were involved)

First and Second Balkan War: First Balkan War - Serbia gained land and access to sea (powerful); second Balkan war she lost it.

Serbian Nationalism: Blackhand Gang assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Question 5

Trigger of WW1

Answer 5

Assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand ‘50 years were spent in the process of making Europe explosive. 5 days were enough to detonate it’

AH ultimatum to Serbia; harsh.

Ger. gives AH blank cheque to support them in war.

Russia mobilises

‘honour and self-interest, meant that, fatally no Great Power could back down’ - Bridges

Crisis gave all nations as excuse for war.

ALL COUNTRIES TO BLAME

Question 6

Weakness of Weimar govt. in facilitating Hitler’s RTP

Answer 6

Middle class favoured autocratic rule. Constituion of Article 49 and Proportional Representation

ToV tainted Weimar.

Unable to destroy oppostion, uprisings e.g Munich Putsch, 1923 and Spartacist Uprising (both sides)

15 govt. in less than 15 years.

Economic instability in the Ruhr. 200DM for one loaf of bread - instability and evidence of failure.

Success in Stresemann and Erfullungspolitik (Fulfilment) but WSC highlights instability of regime.

1932: 6m unemployed, failure of Dawes and Young Plan, still had reparation costs…forced German pop. into desperation. Hitler promised them Stability.

Carr: were it not for 1929 it is ‘inconceivable that Hitler would have come to power’

Question 7

Personal Qualities and Ideology in facilitating Hitler’s Rise toPower

Answer 7

Lebensraum (Space to expand): combat ToV, revision of the clauses.

Promised employment for everybody.

Promised strong incorrupt leadership, political instability will end, security will be reinstated

Found scapegoat for wrongdoings in Jews, Removed any previous blame

Brilliant orator ‘A Hitler speech was superb theatre’ - EH Carr

Question 8

Mistakes of Opponents in Facilitating Hitler’s RTP

Answer 8

KPD and SPD disunite. Stalin ordered not to unite

Communists insistence on a class war ‘limited appeal’ especially with strong middle class whilst Hitler ‘did not address himself to any particular class’ - Bullock

Muller SPD govt. could not deal with depression

Von Papen convinced Hindenburg to give Hitler the Chancellorship as they thought he would be content with that.

‘The Hindenburg clique thought they could install him in power and control him’ - Gordon

Question 9

Hitler’s Economic Policies

Answer 9

Unclear aims. Economy needed to support expansionist foreign policy and retain popularity. Needed to solve unemployemnt.

1932 6m unemployed - 1939 0.2m unemployed: Public Works programmes (autobahn, Volkswagen) and conscription - removed women and jews from the workforce.

Arms spending: 1.9bn RM 1933 - 17.2bn RM 1939

Four Year Plan: autarky, huge trade deficit with raw materials and food. Focus on militarism: ‘guns before butter’

Result: Success of reducing unemployment however, forced labour and removing from the workforce calls in to question success. Four Year Plan = failure, still dependent on fuel and raw materials. 19% food imported in 1939.

Question 10

Hitler’s Policy on Race

Answer 10

Volksgemeinschaft (pure Aryan race)

Remove non-Nazi influences

Successfully introduced Racial Purity (1935 Nuremburg Laws and 1938 Kristallnacht)

Jews made to live in ghettos later sent to concentration camps along with other enemies of the regime (gypsies, etc.) Effectively removed from society.

Question 11

Hitler’s Policy on Youth

Answer 11

The Hitler Youth Movement: many children joined, given same status as school. Boys = militarised. Girls = domesitcated.

Had to take oath of loyalty to Hitler.

500,000 (1933) -> 5m members 1936

1939 membership was made compulsory.

Changes to education: PE was compulsory, took eugenics, Oath of Loyalty from teachers. By 1937, 97% of teachers were a part of Teacher’s League.

Poor quality students produced: dependent on Nazism and not forward thinking.

Question 12

Hitler’s Policy on Women

Answer 12

1934 Speech: prioritise Kinder, Kirche, Kuche

Women removed from the social service and only 10% allowed state jobs. Failure: more women in jobs in 1939 than in 1933 (due to war)

Cross of honours for Ger. mothers to increase birth-rate. 1933 birthrate: 990,000. 1937 birthrate: 1.27m but well short of 1920 level of 1.6m = fail

1943: women conscripted back into the workplace.

Question 13

Hitler’s Policy on Church

Answer 13

Protestant Church = divided. Confessional Church and Reich Church. Confessional Church provided weak opposition that was crushed easily. Only spoke out against State involving itself in Church affairs.

Signed a Concordat with Catholic Church in 1933: stay out of each others business.

The Nazis started to close Catholic churches. Many monasteries were shut down and the Catholic Youth Organisation was abolished.

Pope Pius XI condemns Nazi treatment of Church. Bishop Gallen of Munster condemns euthanasia.

Question 14

Stalin’s Political Policies

Answer 14

Ruthless terror unleashed on enemies of the state

Kirov Murder 1934 - Show Trials (Kamenev and Zinoviev executed 1936; Rykov and Bukharin executed 1938)

Purge of the Red Army, 37000 officers purged: purified army.

Great terror on population: carried out by NKVD. Class enemies eradicated/silenced through fear.

Historical Debate: Totalitarian (Conquest) or Revisionist (Getty)

Question 15

Stalin’s Economic Policies

Answer 15

The Great Turn: Mass Industrialisation. Wanted to establish self-sufficiency, increase grain supply to feed workers.

5 Year Plans: centered around state-controlled forced industrialisation: promoted through propaganda (Stakhanovite legislation) and pay differentials to skilled workers. Bosses who didn’t reach targets were arrested.

1^st FYP (1928-32): focussed on heavy industry. Magnitogorsk built. 250,000 citizens. Effective in boosting industrial production. Not as effective in consumer goods.
2^nd FYP: Heavy industrial goods. By 1947 USSR virtually self-sufficient in machine making and metal working.
3^rd FYP: War economy (weaponry)
Soviet became a modern industrial state.

Many historians argue w/o plans, Russia would not have survived WW2. While official soviet figures were gossly infalted, Historians believe industry grew at somewhere between 7% and 14% per year.

However, targers set were quantative not qualitative; produced poor quality goods in order to fulfil targets. Fear of punishment led people to lie about output.

Collectivisation: introduce socialism into countryside. Farms in collectives organised by Gosplan. 3 stages: grain procurement, Dekulakisation, Mass collectivisation. Mid-1929 - less than 5% collectivised. Feb 1939 - over half collectivised.

Collective farms did not produce wnough food. Grain was taken to give to the workers. Great humanitarian cost: peasants did not have enough grain to feed themselved.

Question 16

Stalin’s Social Policies

Answer 16

Wanted equality.

Eradicate those who went against his communist values: pursued a policy of dekulakisation - kulaks were sent to the gulags.

Women: divorce and abortion was made easier and from 1922-37 82% of all new workers were women. War meant retreat to typical calues for women. 1936: medals given out to women who had more than 9 children (needed to stabilise the Russian state)

Youth: enforce Stalinism, youth groups: Pioneers and Komsomol. Sent to countryside to promote socialism.

Movement towards equality and transformation but war effort took priority.

Question 17

WW1 as a cause for the 1917 Feb Revolution

Answer 17

Highlighted existing problems in Russia: increased social and political instability.

Optimist debate: tsardom would have survived without WW1: ‘no longer endowed with dangerous tensions’ - Timasheff

Brought new problems to Russia: depleted resources are committed towards the war, no consumer goods (discontent), unregulated printing of money to fund war - hyperinflation

Big military defeats in Tanneneberg and Masurea Lakes - lack of moral on home front

Conscription for foreign war with internal weaknesses causes unrest with army and conscripts. Tsar loses support of army.

War highlight’s Tsar’s weakness. Put himself in charge on the front line - held directly responsible for any defeats they faced. Tsarina was left in charge rather than accept Duma’s suggestion of a Progressive Bloc - alienated the liberals.

Question 18

Political Instability as a cause of 1917 Feb Revolution

Answer 18

Pessmistic Perspective: Tsardom was always doomed to fail, notably due to long-lasting political instability.

Lack of reform: Duma and restricted franchise and lack of popular representation brought discontent to Russia.

Fundamental laws prevented any form of real change - alientated intelligentsia

Stolypin’s reforms didn’t go far enough. Some have argued Stolypin’s assassination in 1911 secured the failure of the Tsardom.

Government repression w/ Okhrana

‘Imperial Russia simply rotted away from the centre outward until its shell fell in’ - Crankshaw

Question 19

Economic and Social Causes of 1917 Feb Revolution

Answer 19

Existed before the war - created great discontent.

Industrialisation: growing working class, poor working wonditions, bad pay = strikes such as Lena Goldfields, 1912)

Agriculture not growing fast enough to support demand for food

Land huger: farming methods = inefficient

Russification still angers minorities as it was seen as suppressive. Hard to keep vast amount of different nationalities under one supressive rule.

Question 20

Political Causes of Spanish Civil War

Answer 20

Inability of the previous regime to easee the transition into a modern democratic government following the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera

Large divide between right (traditional) and left (working class/reform/replace)

Azanas Government (left-wing) (1931) army democratised, separation of church from state, church property nationalised, church teachers and schools removed: further exacerbated social differences (anti-clerical). Gave Catalan a degree of autonomy. Many army officers were made to retire early. Huge estates nationalised. Opposition from the right and also from the left (reforms not going fast enough)

Right wing governement (1933): Ceda, right-wing chruch group. Overturned all the left-wing govt. had done: upset in Catalonian and Basque regions. 1934: <miners in asturias went on strike: brutally suppressed=”new” elections.>

<p>Left-wing parties formed Popular Front: (1936). Election was 48% in favour of Popular Front, 46% for right-wing. Right-wing started searching for military insurrection - coup d'etat. </p>

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Question 21

Social Causes of Spanish Civil War

Answer 21

• Spain on low: loss of empire
• church mobilised everyone to vote against republicans – Church resented by many. especially in urban areas
• large gap between aristocracy and peasants
• Most peasants lived in poverty: inspired by Bolshevism to rise against Monarchy.
• Second Republic could not solve social problems
• Social Divide manifested itself in political divide.

Question 22

Economic Causes of Spanish Civil War

Answer 22

• Extreme poverty amongst peasantry – Origins of war lay in deep-routed class conflicts, hunger for land= desire for change.
• ‘latifundia’ – rich ‘braciaros’ – poor
• Basque and Catalonia = economically superior, wanted autonomy
• loss of empire in 1898 = loss of protected markets, suffered from WWI (even though neutral)
• No eco. development + modernisations: exacerbated by 1929 crisis; -75% in exports from 1930-1934 = developed DESPERATION

Question 23

Political unity and leadership as a reason for Nationalist Victory in SCW

Answer 23

• Republican weakness: not a unified force. Made up of diverse groups – communists, socialists, left-wing republicans, anarchists, POUM – whose aims differed. Communists and socialists believed revolution should be postponed until the war was won whereas the anarchists argued war could only be won through revolutionary policies.
• Exemplified in 4 day street fighting in Barcelona in May 1937.
• ‘the Spanish Civil War was not one but many wars’ – Preston
• Nationalists managed to combine many parties under Franco’s successful leadership. Falange, Carlists, CEDA, Alfonsists, right-wing republicans were all part of the Nationalist brigade.
• Franco unified the Falange and the Carlists under his sole command to create the FET.
• Conclude: in terms of political unity, the republicans disunity allowed Franco’s unified force to take advantage of the weakness of their opposition. It was more Rep. weakness.

Question 24

Economic Factors as a reason for Nat. Victory in SCW

Answer 24

• Thesis. In terms of economically, the Nationalists had a far superior economic situation implying it was their strengths that impacted the outcome of the war.
• Rep weaknesses: lost gold reserves paying for Stalin’s international aid. Communist collectives failed to provide. Inflation was at 300% yet wages had only gone up 15%. Effect on non-intervention: GB and F prevented the Republicans from trading.
• On the other hand, Nat controlled key industrial and grain growing areas by 1937. Support of big business community.
• Conclude: Nationalist’s strong economic position allowed them to win the support of the people who the Republicans had irritated.

Question 25

Foreign Intervention as a reason for Nat. victory in SCW

Answer 25

• Republicans foreign aid was of a lesser quality than that of the Nationalists, both in quantity and timing.
• Rep: USSR but only until 1937 and at a price. Not integrated into Rep army. Sent no troops only aircraft, tanks and advisors. Poor quality of aid that was withdrawn before the war was over.
• Non-interventionist of GB and F.
• International Brigades (35,000) . Significant in defence of Madrid but other than that impact was limited. Left in 1938.
• However, Nat had the support of Germany, Italy, and Portugal. Consistent and effective support, unified under Franco. Gave nationalists control of the air. Support of international business community.
• Civil War would not have happened w/o German army airlifting Franco’s army from Morocco to Spain

Question 26

Contrasting Leadership as a Reasion for CCP victory in Civil War

Answer 26

• Chiang government = corrupt. Foreign aid from the US got lost within the system: did not aid them.
• Chiang was out of touch with public, obsessed with beating CCP. Chiang had no full support of GMD in his decisions.
• 10 years of rule, little achievement= loss of confidence from peasants
• conscript soldiers shackled to prevent from running away
• Mao earned prestige through the Long March, was clearly a man of the people.
• Edgar Snow – Mao’s dedication and preaching of equality made him a successful leader.
• Strong ideological unity.
• Rectification Campaigns, by 1945, Mao had eliminated opposition from within the party: clear leader. The party was unified.

Question 27

Party Policies as a Reason for the Outcome of the CCW

Answer 27

• Argued that the ‘struggle for the hearts and minds of the people’ was effectively over by 1946
• Soviet in Jiangx and Yan’an, Mao gained sympathy from the masses. Successes of land reform in 1932 got peasants on side.
• CCP were closer to fulfilling nationalist ‘3 Principles of the People’ than the GMD (Socialism, Nationalism, Democracy).
• GMD had 10 years in power to prove validity of claims. Neglected people and economy. Lost main support base through inflation. Communist policy better overall.
• The Communists could show their support of the people during the Long March, connected with the people and when they were in Yan’an: could be seen as the main fighting force against the Japanese.

Question 28

Tactics and Technology as a Reason for the outcome of the Spanish Civil War

Answer 28

• 1946: appeared GMD should win based on fire power and outnumbering opponents 4:1. Technological advantage, more arms.
• CCP’s Guerrilla tactics undoing of GMD ‘When enemy advances, we retreat, when they tire, we attack’
• Support and united belief of troops more important than firepower.
• Manchuria lost 1947, CCP seized Japanese arms, cut communication lines between cities held by nationalists.
• Sep. 1948 ‘beginning of the end’ when CCP turn towards S. China after consolidation power in the North.
• GMD support from US did not give military aid as Chiang had depended on = little impact.

Question 29

Mussolini Foreign Policy: Making his Mark

Answer 29

• Revenge: prove the new power of Italy.
• Corfu incident 1923. Invaded Corfu following the death of Italian soldiers on the border. Ordered to retreat by LoN and received compensation from Greece = success.
• Regaining Fiume, 1924. Italian land controlled by Yugoslavia. Pleased Italian people. Was consistent with Musso’s original foreign policy aims.
• Period of consistency, his aims were clear and his success was demonstrated through Fiume.

Question 30

Mussolini Foreign Policy: International Statesmen

Answer 30

• Later 1920s
• Consistent with aim of making Italy respected.
• Locarno treaty (Germany’s Western Borders) co-guarantor with Britain 1925
• Kellogg-Briand Pact 1929: outlawing war in Europe. While consistent with making Italy respected, did not fulfil the fascist lust for war.
• Creation of Stresa Front with GB and F against Italy. Success at boosting international prestige and power in International diplomacy. Most successful policy of making Italy respected.
• Defended Austria by sending troops to the Brenner Pass to warn Hitler not to invade. Hitler’s retreat highlights that Hitler at this time feared the Italian army.

Question 31

Mussolini Foreign Policy: Aggressor

Answer 31

• Musso’s descent into aggression would cause his stable and consistent foreign policy to collapse
• Following WSC, tactics had to change to distract Italian people from domestic crisis. Unemployment = unrest.
• Invasion of Abyssina, 1935/36: lost respect of GB and Fr = collapse of Stresa Front.
• Invasion was a success but weakened Italy, so in hindsight the success has to be questioned.
• Intervention in SCW: gave more aid than any other country.
• Significantly weakened Italy: become apparent with outbreak of WW2.
• Extremely expensive with little economic benefit.
• Forms a friendship with Hitler.
• Distracted from domestic policies but again inconsistent.

Question 32

Mussolini Foreign Policy: Disaster. Lead up to WW2 and WW2.

Answer 32

• Highlights failure of Musso’s foreign policy
• Friendship with Hitler ( Rome-Berlin Axix, 1936, and Anti-Comintern Pact, 1937)
• Left isolated in Europe with Hitler as his only Ally.
• Allowed Hitler to invade Austria (shows how he has developed since he stopped him in the 1920s)
• Mussolini unable to enter WW2 as his troops being present in Spain and Abyssinia = embarrassing.
• FAILURE.

Question 33

Mussolini’s Economic Policies

Answer 33

• Main aim: autarky, wanted to be self-sufficient in time for war. Show greatness of Italian economy to other regimes.
• Set out three battles: battle for Grain, Lira and Land. Wanted a ‘strong currency for a strong country’. Economy deflated to drive up the value of the Lira – harmed exports. 1936, force to devalue: failure.
• Battle for Grain: ‘free Italy from the slavery of foreign bread’. Placed high tariffs on grain imports. Success as grain imports fell 75% 1925-35 but overall damages agriculture and failed to solve rural poverty of south. Cost of bread increased.
• Battle for Land: aimed to increase land for grain and jobs. Reclaimed ¾ of the land in North and provided jobs. South neglected. Only benefitted some Italians.
• Corporate State: third way between capitalism and communism. ‘Corporate revolution’ to stop labour disputes. Success: by 1934, 22 corporations set up, but dominated by fascists, corrupt suppressed.

Question 34

Mussolini’s Social Policies

Answer 34

• Women: ‘in our state she does not count’ Traditional view, should be at home raising sons for army.
• 1927: women taken out of ‘unnatural professions’
• Failed to an extent as their exclusion from work raised the amount of women in higher education from 6% in 1914, to 15% in 1938.
• ‘Battle for Births’ – aimed to increase population by 50-60% by 195o. Prizes given to women with large families and abortion made difficult (supported by Catholic Church)
• Birth-rate actually declined until 1936. Marriage rate fell.
• Youth: wanted loyal fascist generation to secure future of the regime. 1930’s – one standardised textbook – Cult of Duce
• Unclear on success, Church still had influence.

Question 35

Mussolini’s Religious Policies

Answer 35

• Catholic Church dominated Italian society. Most Italians devoted Catholics. Pope not recognised Kingdom of Italy since unification in 1870.
• Musso needed Church to give his government credibility.
• Lateran Treaties of 1929. Ended conflict. Church gained compensation for unification and Pope given Vatican city. Musso earned recognition as Italian leader.
• ‘the pacts were a triumph’ – Clark
• Success: boosted Italian prestige for Catholics worldwide, Church endorsed Musso in elections. BUT relationship deteriorated over youth groups and anti-Semitic laws 1938.

Question 36

Alexander III’s Political Policies

Answer 36

• Immediate dismissal of Loris-Melikov reforms (which aimed to implement constitutional reform and assembly)
• 1881 ‘Manifesto on Unshakeable Autocracy’: proving his reactionary political rule
• 1881 Statute for measures protecting State security – increased influence of Okhrana (secret police) in imprisoning opposition
• Laws passed in 1890 and 1892 restricting the size of the voting franchise, returning power to those who supported the tsardom
• Limiting education in higher classes in 1894 University Statute and 1887 decree stopping peasants attending school – by 1897 only 21% of the population are literate
• Russification: persecution of national minorities
• Undoubtedly a political reactionary who was determined to return power to autocracy

Question 37

Alexander IIIs Economic Policies

Answer 37

• Initiated by Sergei Witte: finance minister 1892-1903
• ‘The Great Spurt’ aimed to industrialise Russia in order to retain ‘Great Power Status’
• Advocated a policy of state capitalism where state would fund, direct and plan industry. Experts hired from abroad
• Needed money to fund, notably imposed heavy taxes and high interest rates; limited imports; extensive loans from France; rouble put on the Gold standards. Put Russia into a lot of debt.
• Industrialisation improved production, with coal production doubling between 1881-1894. Trans-Siberian railway: modernises Russia as it encourages internal migration. Working conditions were awful.
• The growth of the industrial sector in the 1890s was 126%, following on from reforms implemented by AIII
• Peasants land bank helped peasants but land following the financial crisis of their emancipation = successful. Agriculture was not fully reformed = famine when harvest failed.
• Shows clear statistical signs of modernising Russia’s economy in order to remain a great power.

Question 38

Causes of 1905 Revolution

Answer 38

• Lack of political reform. Repression of the two reactionary Tsars increased opposition. Creation of the RSDP in 1898 who split in 1903.
• The Great Spurt left dreadful working conditions as a result of rapid urbanisation. Frustration of the workers was not subdued.
• Famine and redemption payments: disillusionment among peasants.
• Short term: discontent with Nicholas – enhanced by result of the Russo Japanese war. Naval mutiny May 1905 and the Russian Baltic fleet destroyed.
• Bloody Sunday 22 Jan 1905. Peaceful Protest turned into disaster. Over 100 dead or wounded
• Tsars failure to reform and his neglect of the needs of the people led to the outbreak of revolution.

Question 39

Consequences of 1905 Revolution: Reform (Optimist)

Answer 39

• One could argue that the consequences of the October revolution supports the optimistic notion that Tsardom could have survived.
• October Manifesto is published to bring an end to the conflict (gives freedom of conscience, speech, meeting, and association) – wins the middle classes back to the side of the Tsar.
• Absolute monarchy became constitutional – a radical change for Russia, no law can be passed without the State Duma’s approval. Duma’s franchise was made larger.
• Opposition subdued. Redemption payments cancelled in 1907 – peasants satisfied.
• Army brought back on side as officer classes can now enforce the law.
• Stolypin aided peasants by establishing a Land Bank to help them but land and also made it easier for them to leave the Mir, although these reforms were disrupted by the outbreak of WW1 in 1914.
• Reforms in education and health show Russia is on its way to a viable democracy, seen statistically by the number of primary schools doubling.
• From the historical view point of optimism, the Tsardom looked like might survive as a result of these forms.

Question 40

Consequences of the 1905 Revolution: Failure to Reform effectively (Pessmistic)

Answer 40

• Pessimistic view point that Tsardom was doomed to fail.
• Trotsky exemplified this ‘a constitution has been given but autocracy remains’
• Fundamental Law of Empire 1906. Laws had to be agreed by the Tsar, the Tsar could dissolve the Duma and tsar kept control of foreign policy.
• Redemption payments removed too late – most peasants had already paid a significant sum.
• First and Second Duma were a disaster, third and fourth slightly more successful but they were completely loyal to the Tsar. Stolypin was dead by the fourth Duma.
• ‘the dilemma of attaining complex, specifically western objectives in an lleberal, underdeveloped society’
• Growing discontent, suggesting that one of the consequences of the 1905 revolution was the 1917 revolution as it acted, for the Bolsheviks, as a lesson on timing and tactics.

Question 41

Satisfying Demands as a way Bolsheviks consolidated their power

Answer 41

• Made promises to workers and peasants in campaign → needed to solve problems that the Tsar and the Provisional Government failed to solve.
• Created Sovnarkom: Bolshevik council to rule and make decrees. (All power was not given to the Soviets)
• Workers given 8 hour day and granted of factories to committees of workers (satisfied workers → abolished during war communism)
• Abolished private ownership of land and legalised the peasants land seizures → fulfilled promise of ‘Land’
• Banks, railways and land all nationalised.
• ‘Treaty of Brest-Litovsk’ 1918 → fulfilled promise of peace. Harsh terms led to increased opposition → cost them 25% of industry.

Question 42

Dealing with Opposition as a way Bolsheviks consolidated their power.

Answer 42

• Particularly from Kadets and other Socialist groups prominent in Soviet.
• Creation of Cheka: unlimited power of arrest and torture. Aim to eliminate all opposition. Arrested leaders of opposition.
• Encouragement of class warfare: anyone accused of upholding ‘bourgeois’ values liable to arrest.
• Press censorship: not making mistake of PG and allowing freedom of speech.
• Allowed Constituent Assembly to form (meeting popular expectations). SRs won the election → Lenin shut down the CA and prevented it from meeting again through force. Prevented opposition parties: consolidated an authoritarian state.
• Extremely effective. Shutting down of CA (SRs won) allowed Bolsheviks to take power even though they weren’t the majority party.
• Crushed any residing opposition in the Civil War and by 1924, they were the clear undisputed leaders of Russia.

Question 43

Terror and Armed Forces as a method of the Bolsheviks consolidating their power.

Answer 43

• Set up Red Army in Jan 1918: Jan 1920 had ½ million members
• Crucial in eliminating opposition and upholding regime e.g. closing Constituent Assembly
• Also crucial for Bolsheviks in 1918-1921 Civil War.
• Propaganda key to create Lenin’s Cult of Personality.
• Civil War neutralised opposition. Won Civil War: Trotsky’s military leadership, Lenin as an orator, Unified side.
• Literature, Theatre, Radio and Newspapers emphasise glory of revolution.
• Important: winning Civil War was the last stage in neutralising opposition.

Question 44

Stolypin’s Reform: De-revolutionising the Peasantry

Answer 44

• Agricultural land was too expensive and this led to heavy mortgage repayments, known as redemption payments. Left from the emancipation of the serfs. The peasants feared that their land was going to be confiscated as they could not pay the heavy mortgage repayments.
• Stolypin cancelled redemption payments in 1907.
• Was successful to a large extent as it managed to de-revolutionise the peasantry.

Question 45

Stolypin’s Reform: Wager on the Strong

Answer 45

• 1906-1907: Stolypin cancelled inefficient strip farming system (stifles innovation) and replaced with fenced fields.
• He created a special Land Bank that loaned peasants’ money to be able to buy more land. Stolypin’s goal was to create a layer of prosperous peasants who would support the Tsar as a result of their new wealth.
• New laws abolished compulsory communal land-tenure and turned the land into private property.
• Stolypin said that he needed 20 years for his wager on the strong to bring results. He was assassinated in 1911 (only 5 years)
• By 1914, the strip system was still widespread. Only 10% of the land had been consolidated into fence field farms: Failure.
• Most peasants did not want to leave the security of the communes for the uncertainty of individual farming. The peasants’ conservationism made them object change.
• By 1915: only 30% of all peasant households requested individual ownership, while only 22% received it.
• The policy had great potential and given the 20 years to be put into action it may have succeeded in not only modernising the countryside but saving the Tsardom.
• WW1 and the Russian Revolution hindered this policy’s ability to succeed,

Question 46

Stolypin’s Reform: Resettlement

Answer 46

• Stolypin attempted to create large scale voluntary resettlement of the peasants in order to populate remote areas of Russia such as Siberia. Opened Siberia for farming.
• His resettlement policy was effective as over 1.5million Russias moved to Serbia between 1907 and 1909.

Question 47

Emancipation as a Cause of Opposition to Alexander II

Answer 47

• Most famous reform: the Emancipation of the serfs, 1861.
• Serfs granted freedom to marry; freedom not to be bought and sold and freedom to own land.
• But still under control of Mir: had to get passports to travel over 20 miles. Mir decided land allocation. Some peasants saw it as the new serfdom.
• Also redemption payments for 49 years: peasants believed they were the rightful owners of the land and so were bitter about having to pay for it.
• Led to peasant uprisings.
• “single greatest liberating measure in the whole modern history of Europe” –GM Anderson
• Peasants were dissatisfied with the nature of their freedom.

Question 48

Further Reform as a reason for opposition to Alexander II

Answer 48

• Emancipating the Serfs led the way to further reform.
• The most important of these in inciting further opposition were the legal reforms.
• These introduced open courts, jury and judges who were well educated and well paid. These new courts provided a platform in which critics of the regime could openly criticise. Also well-educated judges led to creation of intelligentsia who wanted constitutional reform.
• Furthermore, reforms in local administration. Creation of Duma and Zemstva. Multi-functional Zemstva introduced as a local council (military conscription, public health etc.). All classes could be elected in as members. No fundamental change but a symbolic change to give the people a voice.
• Liberals were dissatisfied with the rate of reform: wanted political parties and a constitutional monarchy and they openly criticised the regime in court.

Question 49

Reactionary Period as a Reason for Opposition to Alexander II

Answer 49

• The majority of AII reign is reactionary (1866-1880).
• Following an assassination attempt: he became reactionary in his reforms.
• Brings in reactionary ministers: Dmitri Tolstoy took immediate action to halt educational reform (blamed for student radicalism). Reduced power of Zemstvas over education and made it so only students from traditional Russian schools could go to university.
• Repressive policies: Brings back censorship and courts are encouraged to interpret the law in favour of the government.
• Led to many attempts of assassination: in 1881: one was successful. People wanted reform.

Question 50

Stalin’s Political Policies

Answer 50

• Ruthlessness shown by terror unleashed on ‘enemies of the state’
• Instigated by Kirov murder (candidate for Stalin’s replacement) – purge of opposition began through the Show trials: Kamenev, Zinoviev, Buhkarin, Rykov tortured (members of Politburo).
• Purge of Red Army, 37000 officers purged: purified army, however created a new problem during WW2 → unexperienced officers in command.
• Great Terror on population → carried out by Stalin’s use of NKVD. Class enemies completely eradicated or silenced through fear.
• Historical debate: Totalitarian (Robert Conquest) → Stalin was in charge. Revisionist (Getty) → Spiralled out of control.
• Similar political structure to Lenin (authoritarian) however, new reign of terror transformed Russia into a state bound by fear and suspicion.

Question 51

Stalin’s Economic Policies

Answer 51

• The Great Turn – Mass Industrialisation. Wanted to establish self-sufficiency, increase grain supplies to feed workers.
• 5 Year-Plans: centred around State controlled forced industrialisation (Gosplan – State planning agency). 1st FYP (1928-32): focussed on heavy industry. Magnitogorsk built. 250000 citizens. Effective in boosting industrial production – little improvement in consumer goods. 2nd FYP – heavy industrial goods: by 1047, USSR virtually self-sufficient in machine making and metal working = TRANSFORMED.
• 3rd FYP: War economy (weaponry etc.) By start of the war, Soviet economy transformed – modern industrialised state.
• Collectivisation – solve peasant problem. 3 stages. Grain procurement, Dekulakisation, Mass collectivisation. Mid 1929 – less than 5% collectivised. Feb 1939 – over half peasant households collectivised.
• Collective farms did feed cities. Great humanitarian cost: peasants didn’t have enough grain to feed themselves. Kulaks eradicated.

Question 52

Stalin’s Social Policies

Answer 52

• Wanted equality (communism): made improvements for women, divorce made easier + abortion. 1922-37, 82% of 4 million new workers were women.
• Outbreak of war led to a retreat to typical values for women: 1936: medals given out to women who had more than 9 children (needed to stabilise Russian state)
• Youth: enforce Stalinism, youth groups Pioneers and Komsomol. Sent to countryside to promote socialism.
• Movement towards equality and transformation but the war effort took priority.

Question 53

Weakness of Previous Govt. in enabling Hitler’s RTP

Answer 53

• Strong middle class → favoured autocratic rule “Parliamentary democracy never accepted”.
• Treaty of Versailles linked to Weimar, seen as Dictated Peace
• The chauvinism from pre-WW1 was not yet quenched, but Weimar was doing what it could to remove it
• Unable to destroy opposition, uprisings e.g. Munich Putsch, Spartacist uprising
• 15 govt. in less than 15 years, hyperinflation as a result of the Ruhr, 200b DM for one loaf of bread → INSTABILITY and evidence for failure
• While there were successes in the Golden Years of Streseman and Erfullungspolitik (Fulfilment)
• BUT 1929, Streseman dies, Eco Crisis = turning point following Wall Street Crach
• 1932 6 million unemployed, failure of Young and Dawes Plan, Still had Reparation costs… forced german pop. into desperation, and Hitler promised them stability “inconceivable that Hitler would have come to power” –Carr were it not for 1929

Question 54

Hitler’s Ideology and Personal Strengths in Facilitating Hitler’s RTP

Answer 54

• Lebensraum to combat Treaty of Versailles, revision of the clauses
• promised employment for everybody
• promised Strong incorrupt leadership, political instability will end, security will be reinstated
• Found scapegoat for wrongdoings in Jews, Removed any previous blame from himself
• defeated socialists w/ Reichstags-Fire
• SS: 52,000 men by 1933, Night of the long knives- killed all opposition
• Above all, a brilliant orator “A Hitler speech was superb theatre” (E.H. Carr)

Question 55

Mistakes of opponents in facilitating Hitler’s RTP

Answer 55

• KPD and SPD disunity, Stalin ordered not to unite
• Communist insistence on class war “limited appeal”, especially w. strong middle class, whilst Hitler “did not address himself to any particular class (Bullock)
• Müller SPD govt. could not deal w/ depression
• Von Papen: lifted ban on SA, convinced Hindenburg to give Hitler Chancellorship “The Hindenburg clique thought they could install him in power and control him” -Gordon
• Hindenburg died

Question 57

Religious Causes of SCW

Answer 57

Catholic Church was rich and powerful in Spain . Disputes between Church and state throughout the C19th.

Church used its wealthto gain significant political and social influence.

Used its power to support social, political and economic conservatism and was against modernising and liberal forces.

Aristocracy was closely tied to the Church and provided funding for the Church. Church inclined to defend the rights and status of the poor. (led to resentment with the left-wing)

Contributed to the polarisation of politics.

Question 58

Mao’s Economic Policies

Answer 58

Thesis: Early reforms looked promising but GLP did not fulfil Mao’s goal of modernising Russia and was, in fact, destructive.

• Land Reform, 1950: redistribution of all land from the landlords to the peasants which thus redefined class status of peasants, abolishing feudalism. Peasants encouraged to denounce landlords in ‘stuggle meetings’. While from a humanitarian persepctive = poor. (Historians estimate 5 million landlords perished). But did fulfil promise of giving peasants land. And production increased = success in terms of aims.
• First Five Year Plan, 1953: based on the Soviet model - aimed to promote urbanisation and the large production of coal, steel and automobiles. Undoubtedly a success; it exceeded its original targets by 20%, for example coal production rose from 68 million tonnes to 130 million tonnes + dramatic development in heavy industry.
• Second FYP, 1958: movement away from Soviet model - wanted to impose greater control on the people. Also known as the Great Leap Forward. Established People’s communes which pushed the countries towards co-operativism; peasants would work in a team and would share in the profits. Successfully centralised power to the party, mirroring a socialist model, (Fairbank as ‘a modern serfdom under party control’.) Achieved without major disruption to rural economy. 1957 = increase in industrial output. Solitary success of the SFYP. Tried to maximise iron and steel production and to increase productive power. Agriculture notably absent. Backyard Furnace Campaign; it saw 600,000 furnaces being built in people’s backyards: Mao aimed to create 11 million tonnes of steel. Labour intensive plan = complete disaster with poor quality steel being produced as a result of a lack of understanding regarding the process of steel production. Fields were left to rot and agricultural output decreased massively = famine in from 1957 to 1961, also known as ‘the three bitter years’ in which approximately 30-40 million people died.
• Failure of Mao’s economic policies is highlighted through Mao having to step aside as a result of the discontent of the people. The latter years of his economic reform saw industry and agriculture collapse leading to probably the world’s largest famine which clearly demonstrates the failure of Mao’s goals of making China an industrial communist superpower.

Question 59

Mao’s Political Policies

Answer 59

• Mao’s political policies could be considered his most successful in terms of his aim, stated by historian Jung Chang, ‘to scare and brutalise the entire population’. Achieved through intense centralisation of power on Mao, and complete censorship following the Antis-Movements and the Hundred Flowers Campaign in 1957.
• Rectification Campaigns were introduced in the early years of Mao’s rule in order to establish unity within the party; ‘correct ideas’ were ones that came from Mao and it targeting reactionaries and counter-revolutionaries. Vague targets, the aim of the campaigns were clear; no deviation from Mao’s rule would be accepted.
• The first of these Rectification campaigns was the 1951 Three Antis Movement which targeted the ‘evils’ of corruption, waste and bureaucracy and thus it was directed party members, business owners and similar were all purged as they were seen as symbols of the old China.
• Five Antis Movement = targeting cheating on government contract, stealing state economic information, tax evasion, theft of state property and bribery. Aimed to eradicate opposition to Communism, it notably also accentuates purging those who have committed crimes against the government.
• Both movements encouraged those who were considered guilt to partake in ‘struggle meetings’ where, as was the same with the Agrarian Land Reform Law, they would be encouraged to admit and repent for their crimes.
• These movements increased state revenue but perhaps more importantly they brought a section of Chinese society under control, those who were the antithesis of the communist regime; an undisputable success.
• Mao’s 1957 ostensible Hundred Flowers Campaign = censorship being lifted in order to encourage open debate to allow China to move forward, both socially and economically.
• Mao famously introduced the campaign through the words ‘let a hundred flowers bloom. Let a hundred schools of thought contend’ summarising the possible aim of allowing intellectuals the freedom of debate in order to win them over to Mao’s communist regime.
• However, it is probable that the Campaign was introduced in order to reveal critics to the regime, who could then be identified and purged. If this was the campaigns aim, it was a complete success.
• Democracy walls were set up in major cities and complaints about over-centralisation and communism were splattered across all of them; those who took part in the Campaign were eliminated by the PLA and the Red Guards, thus eliminating China’s intellectual class.
• This successfully eradicated Mao’s opposition and positioned him as the sole leader of China, fulfilling his original aims. However, one could argue the Campaign was a failure as it destroyed the intellectual class, preventing further progress in China.

Question 60

Dates of Alexander II’s Rule

Answer 60

1855-81

Question 61

Dates of Alexander III’s rule

Answer 61

1881-94

Question 62

Dates of Nicholas II’s rule

Answer 62

1894-17

Question 63

Dates of Lenin’s rule

Answer 63

1917-24

Question 64

Dates of Stalin’s rule

Answer 64

1929-53

Question 65

Date’s of WW1

Answer 65

1914-17

Question 66

Dates of WW2

Answer 66

1939-45

Question 67

Dates of Spanish Civil War

Answer 67

1936-39

Question 68

Dates of Chinese Civil War

Answer 68

1927-36

1946-50

Question 69

Dates of Russian Civil War

Answer 69

1917-22

Question 70

Mussolini Takes Power

Answer 70

1922

Question 71

Hitler Takes Power

Answer 71

1933

Question 72

Locarno Treaty

Answer 72

1925

Question 73

Kellogg-Briand Pact

Answer 73

1928

Question 75

Mao’s Social Policies

Answer 75

Marriage Reform Law, 1950: aimed to end oppression of women. Ended arranged marriages, gave equal divorce rights to women who could now divorce husbands who had abused or abandoned them, women were given equal property rights.

Campaigns to eliminate prostitution: Reached epidemic proportions by 1949. The communist government tackled them because they had close links with GMD. Serious offenders were puncished serverly.

Education: CCP wanted to expand. In 1949 80% of population were illiterate and only 25% of the primary school aged children were in school. By 1956, attendance rate for primary schools was 56%. However illiteracy remained around 80%.

Question 76

Mao’s Cultural Revolution

Answer 76

• 1966: Great Proletariat Cultural Revolution.
• Believed China had lost revolutionary spirit. Youths encouraged to boycott classes and spread posters attacking the education system in order to teach the younger generation about revolution.
• Became a reign of terror of the youth: became the ‘Red Guards’ with the motto ‘to rebel is justified’ begin to attack enemies of the regime and enemies of Mao (intellectuals and ethnic minorities).
• Grey: illustrating ‘the persistence of two themes in Chinese society – emperor worship and power of conformity’ = Mao had manipulated the students through the inherent traits in their society of a possible psychological need to feel they’ve got a role to play.
• Mao’s Cult of Personality became a phenomenon. People encouraged to read the ‘Little Red Book’ which detailed quotes of Mao. Mao became: ‘Red Sun rising in the East’
• While Mao’s power = consolidated. Lack of moral restrictions of the Red Guard caused their control to start to deteriorate – eventually disbanded = end of Cultural Revolution.
• Overall death toll = several millions, and the loss of a whole generation as education collapsed and industrial prod. came to a standstill.
• Mao’s biggest failure: ruined any other social and economic progress made.
• summarised by an ex-Red Guard: ‘we became beasts. There was not a human being left in china. We were worse than beasts. At least beasts do not slaughter their own kind.’

Question 77

Economic Advantages as a reason for German defeat in WW1.

Answer 77

• German Eco. Decline: War SHOULD’VE been over by Christmas, prolonged war taking effect on GER eco.
• High inflation due to unbacked printing of mon., Huge national debt, millions of deaths from influenza epidemic == tired and wearisome
• Men at war, short of workers, materials and money → soldiers had to come back to work in Factories
• Naval blockade stopped influx of foreign trade = no food! Agriculture fell 70%, 1000cal per day, workers = no strength
• ‘Auxiliary labour law’ passed to maximise worker output BUT caused tension – eyes on Revolution
• Deaths x6 more than Fr. “They no longer wanted to win. They only wanted to end the war” AJP Taylor
• Economic Advantages of Allies: After 3 years of gruelling war, countries = eco. drained.
• America = economic superpower (biggest in World) gave billions of $ of loans to GB and FR.
• Combined with huge colonial powerbases of GB and FR. = strong resources supply – Allies had 25% of world production for material production even before America joined.
• “German economic decline was the most important factor for losing attrition warfare” -Wolfson

Question 78

Military Strategies as a reason for German defeat in WW1

Answer 78

• Germany: Failure of the Schlieffen Plan forced Germany to fight a two-front war (Plan for war was calculated to defeat France in 6 weeks before Russia could mobilise and then att. Russia to prevent war on 2 fronts. Nearly successful, but FAILED = split resources, prolonged warfare. Economic problems because prolonged warfare means more resources used: munitions manufacturers not catered for lengthy conflict.)
• Unrestricted submarine warfare Jan 1917 failed to knock out GB and helped bring in the USA on the allied side
• Ludenorff Offensive March 1918
• Failure of Spring Offensive: last chance “before the Americans can throw forces into scale” –Ludendorff, failed. 800,000 deaths hard to replace, black day 8th Aug. ’18 German artillery captured, loss of morale from defeat, catalysed surrender
• Allies: stronger tactics. Encircled Germany. GB, F and later USA can aid each other.
• Superior military technology: U boat campaigns defeated by convoy system and the use of depth chargers. Use of tanks from 1917 onwards and use of creeping barrage offensives by 1918.
• British Naval Blockade: shortages of crucial raw materials such as rubber, nitrates for fertiliser and explosives. Civilian population starving by 1917.

Question 79

Weakness of German Allies as a reason for German defeat in WW1

Answer 79

• German troops had to be diverted to help against Russia and Italy.
• Ottoman Empire weak: British conquer most of its territory in the middle East by 1918
• By 1918 all allies suing for peace.
• Italy joined the Allies in 1915. USA joined Allies April 1917: unrestricted submarine warfare, January, Zimmerman Telegram March offered German aid to Mexico to reconquer territories lost to the USA.

Question 80

Government Legislation in Hitler achieving Totalitarianism.

Answer 80

Reichstag Fire (Feb 1933). Emergency Decree passed for ‘Protection of State’ allowed opposition to be suppressed and KPD to be banned.
Enabling Act March 1933 – w/ support of Centre Party had 2/3 of the vote: passed act which meant Hitler would rule by decree for 4 years.
Other political parties were banned.
In 1934, all federal gov. brought under Ministry of Interior: centralised the state.
Trade Unions banned and replaced with German labour Front.
Press Censorship.
Politically – fully centralised state. Workers controlled through German Labour Front.

Question 81

Consolidation of Party and Gleichshaltung in Hitler achieving Totalitarianism.

Answer 81

• Rohm presented opposition from SA – wanted ‘second revolution’ against capitalism.
• Night of Long Knives June 1934: Opposition eliminated. SA purged. Key leaders (inc. Rohm) killed.
• Aug 1934: Army swear oath of allegiance to Hitler.
• Gleichschaltung: bringing people into line. Creation of fear-driven, obedient society enforced by Army and Gestapo.
• Edward Peterson said Hitler was a ‘weak dictator’: the party was in disarray and disorganised and Hitler had very little say in the daily running of the party.
• Dick Geary: difficult to identify true support of Hitler due to fear and terror removing any alternatives.
• Concentration Camps opened 1933. Undesirables removed from society.
• Anti-Semitic Laws: little opposition due to terror.
• Consolidation critically depended on mass violence and intimidation.
• Army brought under control. Parts of society Hitler could not control (homosexuals, gypsies etc.) were eradicated from society through concentration camp.

Question 82

Education, Church and the economy in Hitler having totalitarian power.

Answer 82

• Cult of Personality. Propaganda key in creation of totalitarian state.
• Indoctrination of Youth. Race Science taught. Youth groups compulsory 1936.
• Concordat with Church 1933. Successful in keeping Church out of state affairs however, gov. did not have total control over Church.
• Weak religious opposition from Confessional Church.
• ‘Wehrwirtschaft’ – War economy. Achieve autarky and be ready for war. Failed. State did not have total control over economy.

Question 83

Terror as a means Stalin maintained Power.

Answer 83

• Ruthlessness shown by terror unleashed on ‘enemies of the state’
• Instigated by Kirov murder (candidate for Stalin’s replacement) – purge of opposition began through the Show trials: Kamenev, Zinoviev, Buhkarin, Rykov tortured (members of Politburo): dealt with division in higher members of party.
• Purge of Red Army, 37000 officers purged: purified army, however created a new problem during WW2 → unexperienced officers in command.
• Great Terror on population → carried out by Stalin’s use of NKVD. Class enemies completely eradicated or silenced through fear.
• Historical debate: Totalitarian (Robert Conquest) → Stalin was in charge. Revisionist (Getty) → Spiralled out of control.
• Consolidated power, opposition removed, society and party controlled through fear.

Question 84

Government Legislation as a means Stalin maintained power.

Answer 84

• Centralised state activity by increasing Politburo influence in comparison to Sovnarkom – increased Stalin’s personal control over the state.
• Banned trade unions – took power away from the workers.
• Carried on regime of absolute control however Stalin dappled in socialism in his agricultural and economic policies.
• E.g. Through the 5 year plans: forced industrialisation of towns such as Magnitogorsk injected socialism to workers – attitude to do well for country induced by Stakhanovite legislation → wage increases for those who mined more than their quota.
• Peasants – forced into collectives organised by Gosplan. Failure → production dropped and many peasants killed their animals to prevent them from being used in the collectives.
• Increases personal power, many things already in place with Lenin → Socialism not a success in the countryside.

Question 85

Cult of Personality and Social Changes as a means Stalin maintained power.

Answer 85

• Stalin seen as true leader and Lenin’s natural successor (he read the eulogy at the funeral)
• Propaganda projecting images of Stalin as a God-like figure through posters, cinema, radio, and speeches.
• Changes in art socialist realism: communism and Stalin as the saviour of Russia
• Indoctrination of the youth
• Attack on the orthodox Church: created a new Russia
• Although not fundamental, raised platform of Stalin as undisputed leader.

Question 86

Why GB got involved in WW1?

Answer 86

• Superficial level as them fulfilling their promise from 1939 Treaty of London.
• Germany invading Belgium as part of the Schliefflen Plan demanded GB involvelment
• GB used as justification but weak. Treaty was nealr 80 years old - unlikely a nation would involve itself in a rapidly expanding war just on this basis.
• Clark’s argument is much more compelling, citing economic motivations and a fear of German strength
• ToL = Public justification. It alone would not have encouraged GB to join war.
• // Most Important Cause = protect economic interests against German aggression.
• Ger was starting to gain colonials, threatening GB’s position as a colonial power. GB needed to assert dominance.
• Ger = strong pop. and armed forces (Naval Race) so GB wanted to suppress GB from expanding in Eur = view shared by Ferguson and Kennedy who believe GB have a lot of responsibility in the expansion of the war.
• Supression of Ger = most important. Evidenced by GB joining Triple Entente w/ Russia, who they had strong tensions with in an effort to surround Ger. in Europe.

Question 87

Why Ger got involved in WW1?

Answer 87

• inevitable result of their agressive foreign policy, Weitpolitik, under Kaiser Wilhelm II. Saw Ger. attempt to gain colonies and expand their navy: expansionist foreign policy.
• Germany’s involvement in war (supported by Fischer) was to get dominance in Europe.
• Moltke, the army chief of staff, reportedly said ‘in my opinion war is inevitable and the sooner the better’, supports the view thar there was real desire to go to war.
• Evidenced through Ger. issuing the ‘blank cheque’ to Austria. Arguably could be ecplaned by alliance w/ Austria. Suggests a real desire to go to war.
• // Means to distract from social and political problems. German govt. was dominated by landed elites who feared rise of socialism. Social Demoncratic Party had made large gains in 1912 elections, and the govt. wanted to create more support for the elite govt.
• Idea is supported by pop. support there was for war in Ger. Ger. foreign policy was much more important.