WW1 Flashcards
Main factors that lead to WW1 [4]
- Aggressive Nationalism
- Imperialism
- Militarism
- Formation of mutually hostile power groups
Describe the terms “aggressive nationalism”, “imperialism”, “militarism” and “alliances” [8]
- Aggressive nationalism is an intense form of patriotism or loyalty to ones country, leading to a feeling of superiority over other countries and therefore hating and discriminating against them.
- Imperialism is a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means.
- Militarism is the belief that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.
- Alliances, in international relations, is a formal agreement between 2 or more states for mutual support in case of war.
Describe the Sarajevo Crisis in detail [4]
The Sarajevo Crisis, which took place in June 1914 in Sarajevo, Bosnia, is the direct cause which lead to World War 1. Archduke Franz Ferdinand, first in line to the Austro-Hungarian throne visited Bosnia to oversee military matters. (While being driven around the streets, a bomb, thrown as an attempt to assassinate the Archduke, closely misses their car but ends up injuring others. Later in the day the Archduke tries to go visit the victims of the bomb, but his driver not knowing the right route, takes a wrong turn. One of the coconspirators of the assassination attempt earlier in the day happened to be on that road.) There, he was assassinated by a member of a Bosnian nationalist group named Gavrilo Princip. In response in the murder of the heir to its crown, Austria Hungary declares war with the help of Germany on Serbia, official starting WW1.
Name the 2 major mutually hostile power groups in WW1 and their members [4]
- Triple Entente/ Allied Power: France, Britain and Russia
- Triple Alliance/Central Power: Germany, Austria Hungary and Italy
Germany
Before 1870: Germany is divided into multiple smaller states of which Prussia was the most powerful
1870: Prussia, under the leadership of Bismarck, defeated France in the Franco-Prussian War (Battle of Sedan) and took Alsace-Lorraine from France. This was one of France’s major mines and a big source of their economic income
1871: German states unite to form the German Empire with an extremely strong army. Bismarck wanted to make Germany the strongest nation of Europe. He also knew France would try to avenge themselves sooner or later. (This caused Britain to become anxious of Germany’s growing power)
1872: Treaty of Three Emperors, Austria Hungary, Germany and Russia form an alliance. Bismarck did this to secure it’s Eastern border from France. Bismarck knew that involving Germany in any European wars would be an obstacle in making them a world power. This treaty isolated France. However, Russia and A.H. had a conflict over the Balkan regions.
1878: Russia leaves the Treaty of Three Emperors due to Bismarck’s favoritism towards A.H. concerning the Balkan conflict. Russia wanted to elevate the downfall of the Ottoman Empire and annex Slavic provinces, which made their relationship with Germany complicated.
1879: Bismarck forms the Dual Alliance with Austria Hungary. According to this treaty, Germany would help A.H. if they were attacked by Russia and A.H. would do the same if Germany was attacked by France
1882: Triple Alliance between Germany, A.H. and Italy. Italy has problems with France over Rome and Tunisia, so they allied with the Dual Alliance.
1890: Kaiser Wilhelm II sacks Bismarck. Unlike Bismarck, he couldn’t find any benefit in avoiding war. Germany’s foreign policy is changed and becomes more aggressive.
1890s: Kaiser wanted Germany to be a world power and acquire colonies overseas, like Britain and France. Kaiser ordered building up of a large navy which soon became very powerful, second only to the British Navy, causing anxiety in British foreign policy. Germany supported the Boers (members of the Dutch population which settled in southern Africa in the late 17th century) in Africa against Britain.
Austria Hungary
Austro-Hungarian Empire was a central European empire consisting of different ethnic groups like Germans, Czechs, Slovaks, Serbs and others.
Many of these groups wanted independence from Austria- Hungary (nationalism). For example-
Czech people wanted to rule themselves.
Slav people, especially Croats, wanted their own state,
Serbs in the South wanted to join their neighbor state Serbia.
The main concern of the Emperor of Austria- Hungary, Franz Josef I, was how to keep this fragmented empire together.
Newly independent state of Serbia was becoming powerful. Austria-Hungary was anxious that it should not become any stronger.
Also, Russia, which supported the Serbs, had a very strong army.
Russia supported Serbia because most of the population in both Serbia and Russia were Slavs (member of the most numerous ethnic and linguistic body of peoples in Europe, residing chiefly in eastern and southeastern Europe). Large areas with Slav population became a part of Austria- Hungarian empire. Russia believed that those areas should be a part of their sphere of influence.
Italy
Italy, a newly unified state like Germany, once settled sought to ‘flex its muscles’.
Ambitious to set up colonies and establish an overseas empire, Italy joined hands with Germany and Austria in the Triple Alliance.
France
1870: France was defeated by Germany in the Franco- Prussian War. Since then, Germany had built up a powerful army and strong industries. France was worried about the growing power of Germany, so they had built up their industries and armies. Also, France wanted to get Alsace-Lorraine back from Germany.
1894: France had developed a strong and close relationship with Russia and a secret Franco-Russian Alliance was concluded.
1904: Signing of “Entente Cordiale” between Britain and France. Although France was a bitter enemy of Britain during the 19th century, their mutual disliking of German ambition brought them together. According to this treaty, England acknowledged the supremacy of France in Morocco and in return, France allowed Britain a freehand in Egypt.
Russia
Russia was the largest of the six powers but was also the most backward, since it was an agricultural country.
Russia had a complicated relation with Germany. One of the main causes behind the problem between these two countries was their equation with Austria-Hungary.
Russia and Austria-Hungary had a long standing rivalry over the control of the Balkans.
Bismarck wanted both Russia and Austria-Hungary as his ally to secure his eastern border and to isolate France.
However, Bismarck’s effort to maintain the status quo in the Balkan region along with Kaiser William II’s support to Austria- Hungarian empire’s policy of expansion for Balkan soil made Russia strategically oust Germany and form a friendly alliance with France.
Russia’s defeat in the Russo-Japanese war in 1905 weakened Russia’s position.
Several civil revolutions had erupted against Czar Nicholas II in Russia for the international humiliation of losing to Japan.
Britain, now less concerned about Russia’s aggressive expansionist policies, extended her hand towards Russia.
The Anglo-Russian Entente was signed in 1907:
- This treaty solved all colonial disputes between them in Persia, Afghanistan and Tibet;
- Delineated Persia for both of their colonial aspirations;
- Both countries decided not to interfere in the internal affairs of Tibet;
- Recognized Britain’s influence over Afghanistan
Britain
In the 19th century, British followed a policy on not involving itself in European politics, especially during the second half of the 19th century. This attitude became known as ‘Splendid Isolation’.
Since 1900s, Britain moved out of Splendid Isolation.
Reasons: Britain realized that it was practically standing alone while other European countries were focusing on building mutually hostile power groups. Kaiser’s ambitions of establishing an empire and a strong navy which was a serious concern for Britain
Britain considered France and Russia its biggest rivals during the 19th century.
But Britain had reached a number of agreements with France about colonies in North Africa in 1904.
Russia was defeated in the Russo- Japanese War of 1904 which weakened Russia and made Britain less concerned about Russia’s imperialist aspirations.
After 1885, foreign ministers were interested, not only in questions concerning dynasties but in colonial boundaries, spheres of influence, trade routes and markets and tariffs. In the great majority of cases, negotiation, agreement and compromise were substituted for wars.
1904:Britain signs an agreement with France
1907:Britain signs an agreement with Russia
1907: Triple Entente
Balance of Power Theory
The concept/ theory of Balance of Power tries to explain how states behave in the international system.
It states that:
States (nations) are considered primary actors in an international system.
States pursue their own interests. They look out for their own needs, aims, and ambitions.
The key aims of states is to ensure territorial integrity (that is, no one invades them) and to maintain their sovereignty (that is, no one should be able to dominate them)
To ensure this is intact, the states must increase their power.
How can states increase their power?
Increase military power: increase arms, military, naval, air power, etc
Increase economic power: more trade, especially more exports
Increase political power: make alliances with other powerful countries, they may also set up neutral buffer states which are relatively weak to maintain balance between the two powerful unfriendly nations (eg, Nepal and Bhutan are ‘buffer states’ between India and China)
Increase technological power: these days, technology plays a huge role. States invest heavily on their research and development to come up with different technologies.
Naval Race
1805 onwards, Britain had dominated the seas
Britain had the most powerful navy in the world
1898- Kaiser announced his intention to build a powerful German navy
Britain felt threatened: Although Germany’s navy was smaller than Britain’s, but Britain’s navy was spread across the globe, protecting the British empire. If Germany didn’t have an empire, what did it need a navy for?
German perspective: Kaiser and his generals felt that Germany needed a navy to protect its growing trade. They felt that Britain was overreacting
Britain was not convinced by the Germans. In 1906, Britain makes the first HMS Dreadnought. Germany makes its own ‘Dreadnoughts’.
Both Britain and Germany continued to spend millions on the naval race that ensued
Moroccan Crisis I
Background of tension & rivalry (esp. Imperialism - Kaiser Wilhelm wanted ‘a place in the sun‘).
Morocco was weak; France hoped to conquer it.
In 1903, the French based an army on the Moroccan border.
In Feb. 1905, France demanded control over the Moroccan army and police. The Sultan refused.
In March 1905, Kaiser Wilhelm visited Tangiers in Morocco.
He told the French agent (Count Cherisay) that he wanted free trade for Germany in Morocco - then dismissed him before he could reply.
He then gave a speech in which he promised to defend Morocco as ‘free and independent ‘ and ‘subject to no foreign control’.
There was an international crisis - both France and Germany threatened war..
The French (scared of another war with Germany) were going to back down, but the British encouraged them to take a firm line..
A Conference was held at Algeciras (1906).
Britain and Russia supported France (Britain stationed a navy patrol outside Algeciras harbor)
Germany had to promise to stay out of Morocco.
France were ANGRY with Germany.
Britain was frightened of Germany’s Empire.
At the Algeciras Conference (1906), France, Britain, and Russia forced Germany to promise to stay out of Morocco. Germany felt humiliated.
In 1907, Britain and Russia, alarmed by German ambitions, made an Entente - adds to alliances.
Algeciras convinced Germany that the other countries were ‘ganging up’ on Germany - from this moment, Germany began preparing for war.
Moroccan Crisis II
Background of tension & rivalry (Imperialism - Kaiser Wilhelm wanted ‘a place in the sun‘).
At Algeciras (1906), Germany promised to keep out of Morocco - the French Foreign Legion went into Morocco.
In 1910, France made a huge loan to Morocco, and took control of customs and taxes.
In 1910 France sent a gunboat to Agadir in southern Morocco (German newspapers were angry).
In March 1911 there was a rebellion in northern Morocco. The French sent an army to defend (= angers the Germans).
In June 1911, the Germans announced that they needed to protect German citizens in southern Morocco (even though there were no German citizens in southern Morocco).
In July 1911, Kaiser Wilhelm sent the gunship Panther to Agadir. It ‘rescued’ ONE German.
There was an international crisis - war-fever in Germany and Britain.
Lloyd George attacked Germany and promised support for France (‘Mansion House speech’).
Nov 1911: Treaty of Berlin - Germany was forced to remove the gunship and accept instead a small piece of land in the Congo. Morocco became a French colony.
Morocco became a French colony.
Nov 1911: Treaty of Berlin - Germany was forced to remove the gunship and accept instead a small piece of land in the Congo. Morocco became a French colony.
German resentment: Wilhelm said: ‘these events have shown the German people where its enemy is’.
One historian has written: ‘the Kaiser was determined not to be the loser in the next crisis’.
