Responsibility for the Outbreak of The First World War 1914-1918 (Controversy 1) Flashcards
Which article of the Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to accept responsibility for the First World War?
Article 231
When was the Schlieffen Plan devised?
1891-1905
What was the strategy of the Schlieffen Plan?
1)Avoid a war on two fronts 2)Gain victory on Western Front of France 3)Turn forces to defeat Eastern Front
What were the issues with the Schlieffen Plan?
- Violated Belgian neutrality with Britain
- Expected the war to be over in 6 weeks
What were the names of the main theories concerning responsibility?
- Escape Forwards Theory
- Offensively Conducted Defensive War
- Calculated Risk Theory
- Fischer’s Theory
What was the David Lloyd George’s consensus on the responsibility in 1930’s?
All the Great Powers had “slithered over the brink into the boiling cauldron of fire”
What are the 3 key points to Fischer’s controversy?
‘A planned and executed war of aggression’
1) Germany caused war for world hegemony
2) Germany hoped the ‘Blank Cheque’ would result in general European war
3) Roots of German expansionism are found in social, political and economic tensions in Germany
What are the two key pieces of evidence Fischer uses in his theory?
*September programme - - *1912 War council meeting
What are the issues of using the ‘September programme’ as evidence?
Fischer relies on it existing before, in July 1914, but there’s no proof of this
Who was missing from the ‘War council’ and what does this mean?
Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg (he called it a ‘war council’) - undermines the theory that he was at the centre of a drive for war
What is the ‘Calculated risk’ theory?
1)Germany want to expand 2)Take a risk to suggest they will go to war if the Triple Entente don’t break 3)Don’t really want a war - BRINKMANSHIP
What is the ‘Offensively Conducted Defensive War’ theory?
Germany felt encircled due to political and geographical isolation and the threat of the Triple Entente
What is the ‘Escape Forwards’ theory?
War used to deal with internal pressures (Wehler + Primat der Innenpolitik). Germany still to blame but not as much as Fischer claims.
What happened in 1890?
Kaiser Wilhelm II denied the renewal of the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia
What happened in 1870 that led France to seek Revanche?
Germany took Alsace-Lorraine after the Franco-Prussian war
When did Kaiser Wilhelm II ascend to the throne?
1888
Who did Germany support in the Boer War in 1899-1902?
The Boers against Britain
Which President did Wilhelm send a congratulatory telegram to in 1896?
President Kruger of South Africa
In which year did the British offer an alliance to Germany and how did they respond?
1901
Britain must first agree not to enter into an agreement with the other European powers as they wanted expansion
When and how did Britain end its ‘splendid isolation’?
With an alliance with France in 1904
When did the naval arms race spark into life? What was it?
1906 - - When Britain launched the Battleship Dreadnought
Why was the Weltpolitik initiated?
- Kaiser= place in the sun
- German colonial and pan leagues wanted Germany to have greater power
- Domestic Issues= galvanise the country
What territory did the Weltpolitik gain for Germany in 1897?
Port of Kiaochow in China
Which year did Germany buy the Pacific Islands?
1898
Which islands did Germany get from UK in 1899?
Eastern Samoan Islands
What were two probelms with the Weltpolitik?
1) Too much money had been spent on the army and navy so it had to succeed
2) There was very little ‘free’ land for Germany to expland
What happened in 1905-1906?
The First Moroccan crisis
What were the French and German links to Tangir in Morocco?
French: In their sphere of influence
German: Held a number of German economic interests
At which conference was Morocco declared in the French sphere and the subsequent strengthening of the Entente?
The Algeciras Conference
When did France and Germany sign a treaty respecting thir interests in Morocco?
February 1909
What happened in April 1911 leading to the Second Moroccan crisis?
Disturbances in Fez (town) led to French military intervention and Germany believed this undermined their treaty.
Where did Germany send the German gunboat Panther?
To moor off the port of Agadir (in Morocco)
What were the 2 main results of the second Moroccan crisis?
Germany gained 2 strips of the congo, while France gained full control of Morocco AND the relationship between France and Britain was stronger
In which year was the Haldane Mission?
1912
Who went to Germany from Britain in 1912 to improve relations?
Lord Haldane
What did Britain demand of Germany in the Haldane Mission?
That Germany stop building their dreadnoughts in the arms race
What was the German response to Britain in 1912?
Germany would agree to limit fleet expansion if the British agrees to neurality if a future European land war broke out: BREAKING the ENTENTE
What happened in 1903 that led to an even more hostile relationship between the Serbs and Austrians?
A strongly pro-Russian dynasty came into power in Serbia
In which year was the Pig War and how did it break out?
1906 and because a trade agreement was not renewed between the Austrians and Serbians
Who was appointed in 1906 which made the real turning point?
Count Aerenthal as Austria-Hungary’s Foreign Minister
What was Count Aerenthal’s plan to deal with the Serbs, which was then carried out in 1908?
To annex the regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina
In Febraury 1909 what did Austria-Hungary make the Serbs and Russian government do?
Forced them to recognise the annexation of Bosnia Herzegovina and did so by threatening war on Serbia
When was the First Balkans War?
1912
When did the Kaiser call a council of his military advisors?
8 December 1912
Who attacked the Ottomans in October 1912?
The Balkan League
Which key territory did they invade?
Albania (Austria then demanded an independant Albania but his requests were ignored)
By how much was the German army’s size increased in the Army Bill of June 1913?
170,000 troops
Which treaty ended the First Balkans War?
The Treaty of London in 1913
When was Archduke Franz Ferdinand shot?
28th June 1914 (Heir to Austrian throne)
Who is thought to be his assassin?
Gavril Princip - a Serbian Nationalist (a memer of the Black Hand)
What was the ‘Blank Cheque’?
The unconditional support and loyalty from Germany for Austria through financial and military aid
Which Austrian diplomat travelled to Berlin for support in July 1914?
Count Hoyos
What was Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg’s phrase for Germany’s actions?
‘A leap into the dark’ was taken by Germany
What happened on 26th July 1914?
The British Foreign secretary proposed a conference to deal with the Austrio-Serb issue but Austri refused
When did Austria declare war on Serbia? How?
28th July 1914 - - - They bombed Belgrade
What happened on 1st August 1914?
France and Germany mobilised their troops for war
Who created the Primat der Innenpolitik theory?
Hans Ulrich Wehler
