But the rising power of Germany and the Kaiser’s personality wasn’t a reason for accusing Germany of starting the war. The rising power of Germany was due to the case that they where the second country in the world with economical power and they also wanted overseas colonies. And lets think who started the war, was it Germany? No, it was Serbia who started the war when a Serbian terrorist killed Franz Ferdinand. Off course Austria Hungary had to defend itself so they attacked Serbia and Germany, as a good ally supported Austria Hungary as the Triple Entente supported Serbia so why are we blaming Germany for the outbreak
Germany had to either get involved in the war and be on the front foot against France and Russia, or they could wait until they were attacked and be unprepared. They showed this fear in the German Imperial War Council of 1912. As well as this, they had pledged to defend Austro Hungary, and had a burden of responsibility after their show of support in November 1912. The Austro Hungarian Empire also had reasons for war, they had a large empire and wanted to protect their land from the rebelling Serbs. There was also the widely accepted claim that the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the event that tipped the scales of war.
When Germany was formed in 1870, it caused tension between Germany and France because Germany took over the French territory of Alsace and Lorraine. Therefore the French wanted to take revenge on Germany. To make them unable to do this the Chancellor of Germany, Otto Von Bismarck, tried to isolate France by signing several treaties with other European nations. Bismarck signed a League of Three Emperors agreement with Austria-Hungary and Russia, followed
Germany felt isolated and threatened by the Triple Entente in early twentieth century and fought back with a very aggressive nature towards all involved. Europe at the time was divided into rival systems of military alliances, including Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy in the Triple Alliance, and Britain, France and Russia included in the Triple Entente. These alliances aimed to create peace and increase strength in international relations, however they only increased suspicion and fear of a
These wars were started in an effort to display German power and domination, while also attempting to unify German territory held by other nations, such as The Holstein-Schleswig Question which caused the Danish War. Cavour, on the other hand, was an extreme introvert. He neither approved wars, nor actively supported them. But, in Italy’s case, the North-South Divide was too great to be overcome by Cavour’s regular diplomatic relations, alliances or deals. This is when Garibaldi had to take over, and successfully unify the two divided territories.
While they were friends, both the USSR and the United States still did not agree with each other in terms of government, but both thought that it was more important to work together fighting against Germany. World War 2 left Germany in tatters, and after this the allies divided it into four parts. One part of the country was given to USA, France, Britain and Russia. Berlin, situated in Eastern Germany, split as well although it was part of the quarter that was made Soviet after World War 2. The USSR and the United States were friends during World War II only because both countries did not approve of Nazi Germany's ideology.
Germany had invaded other Europeans Nations who were at peace and the reasoning for that invasion was for land. After that invasion had occurred, the attacked countries had declared war simply because of the desperation of survival. Jus Ad Bellum and Jus in Bello Jus Ad Bellum, or “Right to War” is a set of criteria that is to be
This disagrees with the argument that Fischer states. Fischer states that Germany was planning the war and to occupy Central Europe before the war. Fischer also states that they were planning an offensive war, whilst source one says “which at its beginning was to be a defensive war.” This shows that Germany was resorting to a preventive strike as an attempt to break free from the pressures brought about by diplomatic isolation and the threatening power of Russia. These are both supporting the argument that German aggression didn’t cause World War One. The source carries on to say “…nor anyone else at the time, and a special plan to dominate Europe” This shows an argument that all the countries in Europe ‘slithered into war’.
IMPACT OF GERMAN ARMY IN WEIMAR REPUBLIC The German army was one of the strongest nationalistic institutions in the country and became imperative in the Weimar Republic. The army provided essential defence against revolutionary communist forces in the early era of democracy in which aided the Weimar republic greatly. However, their strong nationalistic right wing tendencies prevented them from launching attacks on right wing assaults. The accession of Seeckt to Defence minister shifted to role of the army from mainly strategic to mainly political. Weimar militarism was instrumental in the establishment of political chaos in Germany and led to the eventual collapse of the Weimar democracy.
Historians such as Fischer have the view that Germany was actively seeking a war and this is shown by his theory in Source 1. Another theory is the shared guilt idea which both Source 2 and 3 have evidence to support. Source 2 also points towards the Fischer theory but also that events spiralled out of control, a ‘War by Timetable’ as A.J.P. Taylor said. It is fair to say however that Germany, in any of these scenarios, was very much responsible which is why their aggression points towards the outbreak of a general European war.