They did this through aggressive policies, which they hoped would achieve their aim and build up their empire. In 1897 Germany introduced Weltpolitik (World policy). This was a militaristic strategy and the aim of it was for Germany to become a world power and to create an empire to rival Britain’s. They tried to build up their empire but only managed to gain minor colonies, which offered little gain to Germany and did little to assert their authority in Europe. They clashed with the main powers of Europe over territory like morocco, which ultimately strengthened Franco-Anglo relationships.
In 1904, Germans were encouraged to become nationalists. Nationalists believed that their country was superior to other countries. Nationalism made citizens become bellicose and more antagonistic towards other countries. Germans were led to think that war was a glorious thing. Militarism played an immense part in the start of the Great War and without it, there was a chance that the war would have never have lasted as long as it did.
Germany was trying to gain the Moroccan land which France had already taken over as a colony. When Germany did this France was furious. In a conference Britain and France, Germany had to back down from taking over Morocco. Wilhelm wanted land to create an empire for Germany, their ally Austria-Hungary helped gain land from Turkey. This meant more power for their empire.
Pan German nationalism is the love of everything German; more specifically it means the passion and pride for the German culture, history, music and scientific achievements, (Extreme patriotism) The people that believed in this ideology were called Volk; they were a nation that believed German people deserved a place in the world that was prestige’s, a utopia for the German people. The ideology of Pan German Nationalism indicates that Nazism was not created by Hitler, but had been lingering around for hundreds of years. Hitler had only made thoughts into actions. The pan Germanics had lots of idols, but one idol stood out in particular. Otto Von Bismarck (Hitler’s hero).in 1871 Otto Von Bismarck established Germany as a country by winning the Franco Prussian war.
Both England and France had specific aims for entering the World War One. England wanted to stay and maintain their position as the most powerful country in the world. England desired to expand not only their territories but also their military power even though they had the largest areas under their control and the greatest naval power in the world. Since Germany speedily industrialized and gained power, Britain regarded the rapid development in Germany as the biggest threat to Britain’s aim of staying in the position of great power; thus, through diplomatic channels England claimed to Germany that a large navy or colonies
Compare and contrast the aims, methods and success of the use of propaganda in two single party states. Essentially, both Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler had the same fanatic desire to make their nations “Great” and gain considerable respect worldwide which would be determined by their economic might. Both leaders used various means of propaganda to achieve their ultimate aims. To what extend they were successful, however, is a debatable issue. Hitler could not achieve the solid control over the masses which he had, if he did not have the help of the so called powerful propaganda machine.
The German public saw Hitler as god-like with his vast power and glorifying the German race as being the “master race.” When he finally reversed the power of the Treaty of Versailles and rebuilt Germany’s armed forces, the German nation basically did as he told them to do. This was seen as one of his major successes. Another would be numerous military successes. He united Germany after the humiliation of World War I and extended the Germen territory into Eastern Europe. This would be his military successes.
Hitler became leader of Germany because he was leader of the most popular party’ How far do you agree with this statement? By 1933 Hitler had consolidated full power over Germany, it can be argued that the main reason he was able to achieve this power was purely down to the fact that he was the leader of the most popular party. However it seems to be clear that there are other factors, which resulted in Hitler becoming leader in Germany, such as the collapse of the Weimar constitution, the effects of the Great depression and the political actions of people such as Von Papen and Schleicher. Some may argue that Hitler had become such a powerful leader due to the popularity of the Nazi party. Anti – democratic figures had seen the Nazi party as potential allies to provide popular support for an authoritarian regime.
Britain and France had recently signed a treaty called the Entente Cordiale, which initiated an alliance between the countries. Germany, seeing as Britain and France had interest in colonizing Morocco felt the need to step in; fearing that Britain and France were becoming to powerful. Britain and France until recently had become involved in imperial rivalries in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Although Hobsbawm had very logical arguments for why he feels industrial capitalism was the ultimate cause of WWI, all historians didn’t entirely agree with his point of view. Rather, Fritz Fisher for example blamed a whole country entirely
Fischer, the provoker of this controversy, expresses this concept of German aggression by stating that since c.1900 Germany planned, and then was able to execute a war, due to their aggressive weltpolitik; based purely on expansionism. However, although many historians have agreed with, or adapted this argument, such as the view it was a ‘calculated risk’, or an ‘escape forward’ in order to relieve Germany from their domestic pressures, many have also criticised the approach. For instance, it is interpreted by some that Germany stumbled into a defensive war in order to protect themselves, and their ally; Austria-Hungary. However, considering these aspects, it could be argued that it is most conceivable that that Germany had planned the war and their aggressive foreign policy aimed to provoke a war in order to help their plans of annexation. Fischer’s argument that the outbreak of the First World War was due to Germany’s aggressive foreign policy, with a harsh focus on annexation, can be regarded as one of much significance.