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