German Foreign Policy

Question 0

Interpretations of Fritz Fischer

Answer 0

He suggested, unlike most of the interpretations of time that Germany held responsibility for causing the First World War. He argued this on the basis that he saw an unquestionable desire for European dominance.
He stuck at this view point until 1969 when he produced another book in which he suggested that from the Second Moroccan Crisis in 1911 the German leadership pursued a policy aiming at fighting a Europeans war as a means of achieving world power status.
He further suggested that Germany wanted Austria-Hungary to go to war with the ‘blank cheque’.

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

By concentrating on Germany there is a danger of exaggerating it’s role in the origins of the First World War, thus minimising the role of other countries. We also need to put some focus on the role that factors like nationalism, arms race played, which some historians argued.

Question 2

Fischer’s evidence

Answer 2

Partly on the document found in the German archives written by Bethmann-Hollweg’s private secretary Kurt Riezler on the 9th Sept 1914 in which he wrote Chancellors plans for peace. He argues these treaties must have existed before Germany mobilised. therefore Germany are the perpetrators.
However there is no evidence that this existed in July 1914.

Question 3

Criticisms of Fischer

Answer 3

The Chancellor was not even at the War Council meeting of 1912 and nothing even happened at the meeting.
Evidence of the validity of the September Programme and whether Bethmann-Hollweg was at the centre of the drive for war.

Question 4

The “War council” meeting, 1912

Answer 4

Consisted of the “Men of Berlin” (Admiral Mueller, Von Tirpitz, Von Faulkenhayn, Von Moltke).
Von Moltke said “I consider war inevitabke, the sooner the better”.
Admiral Mueller’s report “England will come to France’s aid.” “War would be inevitable for us.”

Question 5

The Franco - Russian Alliance

Answer 5

They became strategic allies and have a common concern of Germany. Russia was becoming unsettled with the German relations with Austria-Hungary. France wanted to secure improved national security to protect from German attack.
This made reality of what Bismarck called a “nightmare of coalitions” as it meant Germany in the future may have to fight a war on two fronts.

Question 6

Anglo-German relations

Answer 6

1896 - Tensions between British and the former Dutch colony in South Africa reached crisis point as the Jameson Raid attempted an invasion of the Transvaal. The Kaiset sent a congratulation telegram which angered the British. Britain felt that the Kruger telegram was interference with British affairs.
The Kaiser had intended to show the British that they were diplomatically isolated and should become friendly with Germany.

Question 7

Bulow quote about Weltpolitik

Answer 7

“We have to put no one in the shade, but too demand our place in the sun.”

Question 8

Kaiser quote about Weltpolitik

Answer 8

“Germany has great tasks to accomplish outside the narrow boundaries of Europe”.

Question 9

Weltpolitik aims

Answer 9

For some it meant the chance to create a larger overseas empire by the acquisition of colonies and to stimulate the economy.
For others it was simply a policy to assist German to establish areas of economic influence.

Question 10

Weltpolitik for the structuralist (Wehler, Berghahn…)

Answer 10

For structuralists like Wehler and Berghahn, Weltpolitik was a manoeuvre in domestic politics. They have seen it as a diversionary tactic to distract the masses of the people from social and political reform. The Kaiser Reich was was no more than ‘social imperialism’ aimed at rallying public support for the Kaiserreich.

Question 11

Fischer’s views of Weltpolitik

Answer 11

Germany embarked on a new course to achieve nothing less than parity with the British Empire.

Question 12

Objectives of Weltpolitik

Answer 12

World hegemony was to be achieved by a number of objectives…
The expansion of the navy
The creation of a large overseas colonial empire in central Africa, including the Congo, Angola and Mozambique (Portuguese colonies).
The economic domination of central Europe to Germany’s interests. Including Austria-Hungary.

Question 13

Achievements of Weltpolitik

Answer 13

Between 1897-1904 achievements were very limited - naval construction began and German economic influence was extended into South Africa, China, the near east and the Balkans

Question 14

What small gains were made from Weltpolitik?

Answer 14

They gained the Chinese Port of Kiaochow in 1897 as a naval base.
Some islands in the Pacific: Mariana Islands in 1899, the Caroline Islands in 1899, and the German Samoa in 1900.
An attempt to gain access to Angola and Mozambique by exploiting Portugal’s indebtedness was thwarted by British diplomacy in 1898.

Question 15

The end of British splendid isolation: Did Weltpolitik alienate Britain?

Answer 15

Bulow and Holstein believed that the policy of maintaining a “free hand” from commitments with other powers such as Britain and France was consistent with weltpolitik.
Some British politicians like Joseph Chamberlain were concerned with Britain’s foreign policy keystone of ‘splendid isolation’.
Bulow was convinced that Britain would go to war with Russia and France, therefore it would be silly to alienate Russia. An alliance with Britain was not really a good idea and Bulow let the negotiations lapse in 1901.

Question 16

How successful was Weltpolitik?

Answer 16

In 1897 it was rather a mixture of hopes and fears and a desire to catch up with other European powers.
By 1904 they found themselves in a state of diplomatic confusion.
The real benefits remained limited to the commercial advantages from overseas economic expansion and the prestige of their powerful navy.
However their colonial possessions remained few, at a large financial cost.
It had made very little progress towards Germany becoming a world power.
Thus is could be argued that at the time, weltpolitik posed no real threat to anyone, as viewed by the Germans.
Britain had been alienated and was soon to take steps to maintain its naval dominance.
The early years of Weltpolitik contributed to an important change in the balance power within Europe.