CAUSES OF WW1 - MILITARISM
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Militarism is a belief held by countries and leaders that puts military strength as the number one priority of the nation. Militarism means everyone within a country is encouraged to contribute to the nation's strength and Militarism usually involves a country acting aggressively to intimidate and scare off potential enemies.
MILITARISM AT SEA For any of the European Empires to be strong, they had to have strong Navy. Large boats, armed with destructive cannons could help them colonise smaller nations and intimidate larger ones from attacking them. The British Empire was biggest in the world specifically because it had the biggest and most technologically advanced Navy in the world at the time. Germany was jealous of Britain's Navy. Specifically it was jealous of the English ship the HMS Dreadnaught. This ship was the fastest, most powerful and strongest in the world. It had guns that could fire and blow up an enemy ship from 32 kilometres away. No German ship could possibly compete with it. In response, Germany designed the Rheinland in 1900, a copy of the Dreadnaught. Not be out done, Britain responded by building a Super Dreadnaught, The Neptune that was bigger and faster than the Rheinland. By 1914, both countries were sucked into a Naval Arms Race where each one was trying to out-do the other. Millions were poured into developing the biggest and strongest Navy. If war was to break out at sea, it would be catastrophic for both sides. Both Germany and Britain were getting nervous in 1914. MILITARISM ON LAND Nine years before WW1 began, a German General, Alfred von Schlieffen began designing The Schlieffen Plan. There was no threat of war in 1905, however Schlieffen began designing a plan to fight the enemies Germany was likely to face. Russia and France. As you know from the Alliance System, if Germany attacked France in the west, then Russia would attack from the east (see Map 1). Germany would have to split its army in half to fight both. The Schlieffen Plan was to attack France first in the west and capture the country in 2 weeks. Germany knew that Russia had the bigger army, but they also knew it would take at least 6 weeks for Russia to get ready. By that time, Germany would be ready to fight in the east. The Schlieffen Plan was so extensive that 16 railway lines leading to the Belgian border were built. If war broke out, Germany could act quickly. |
WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?
With Germany planning for a war at sea and on land meant that any war Germany was going to be involved in, was going to be a big one. However, they were not entirely to blame. Complete the following source activities to find out how.
SOURCE 1 - WINSTON CHURCHILL, british Admiral
This is an extract of a Navy report, written by a British Navy commander, Winston Churchill, about a British 'Naval Exercise' or training where several foreign commanders were invited to watch
"We made a great assembly of the Navy in 1912. The flags of 150 ships were all flying together. The whole fleet were steaming together through a dense mist. Suddenly the fog lifted and the whole long line of battleships burst into tremendous flares of flame, hurling their shells with deafening explosions in the water. The foreign observers I have with me stare anxiously. The ships steamed towards shore and the land draws near, five more minutes and the fleet will run aground. Four minutes! Three! Suddenly a signal and every ship drops anchor and every ship is stationary in a long line of ships a mile this way and miles that. It could have been drawn with a ruler. The foreign observers gasped."
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN YOUR EXERCISE BOOK
Q1. What was the reaction of the foreign observers to the power of the British Navy?
Q2. Why would Churchill have invited the foreign observers in the first place?
Q3. How would an event like this provoke countries into war?
Q1. What was the reaction of the foreign observers to the power of the British Navy?
Q2. Why would Churchill have invited the foreign observers in the first place?
Q3. How would an event like this provoke countries into war?
SOURCE 2: GENERAL MOLTKE, GERMAN ARMY
This extract is taken from a letter written by General Moltke, talking about the Schleiffen Plan
"It may be safely assumed that the next war will be a war on two fronts. Of our two enemies, France is the most dangerous and can prepare the most quickly. I agree with the basic principal of opening the war with a strong offensive (attack) against France. Before attacking the weak forces of Russia. This is only possible by an advance through Belgium or Switzerland."
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN YOUR EXERCISE BOOK
Q1. What did Moltke mean by 'War on two fronts?'
Q2. Why do you think Moltke considered France 'the most dangerous?'
Q3. Most of Belgium is flat, Switzerland is mountainous. Why would Germany decide to attack France by moving through Belgium first?
Q4. How would such a plan provoke Germany's enemies into preparing for war?
Q1. What did Moltke mean by 'War on two fronts?'
Q2. Why do you think Moltke considered France 'the most dangerous?'
Q3. Most of Belgium is flat, Switzerland is mountainous. Why would Germany decide to attack France by moving through Belgium first?
Q4. How would such a plan provoke Germany's enemies into preparing for war?
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