World War 1

Question 1

The Fischer Thesis on blame of WWI

Answer 1

Germany had pursued an aggressive foreign policy since the 1890s aimed at expanding Germany’s borders.

Question 2

AJP Taylor on cause of WWI

Answer 2

The war plans of the great powers were the chief cause of war in 1914.

Question 3

Marxist Interpretation on cause of WWI

Answer 3

The European powers’ race to expand their overseas empress in Africa and Asia in the late 19th and 20th centuries lay above all else as the origin of WW1

Question 4

AJP Taylor on the alliance systems

Answer 4

The alliances were so fragile that they should not be regarded as a major cause of the war

Question 5

John Röhl on alliance systems

Answer 5

1914: German government so alarmed by the changing balance of power in favour of the Triple Entente that it was looking to achieve either diplomatic victory of a general european war.

Question 6

Michael Howard on the arms race

Answer 6

The arms race generated huge tensions and mutual suspicion that led to deteriorating international relations

Question 7

Niall Ferguson on the arms race

Answer 7

Questions whether it was the increased military spending that made the great powers more inclined to go to war, pointing out that Britain had the largest spending immediately before WW1 and it was definitely not seeking war in 1914

Question 8

Samuel Williamson on the July Crisis

Answer 8

the july Crisis “saw a fateful meshing of aggressive German Weltpolitik with an even more aggressive, irresponsible Habsburg Balkanpolitik”

Question 9

G Martel

Answer 9

the nationalists in the Balkans are to blame for the cause of WW1

Question 10

LCF Turner

Answer 10

the war was not a deliberately provoked war. It was caused by “a tragedy of miscalculations”