The First World War was one of the largest conflicts that the world has ever seen; there is much dispute over who was really to blame for the start of World War One. Naturally, the blame traditionally falls to the Germans, but were they really to blame for escalating the conflict that was already turning global with Russia mobilizing their army and being ready to help Serbia? The reasons for Germany wanting to start a war were mainly their jealousy of Britain’s Empire and wealth. They were also feeling threatened by France and Russian on its eastern and western borders. 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.
It also severely restricted Germany’s military power. The treaty, to Germany, was something that was not only unfair, but also humiliating. This caused Germany to bear resentment against the winning powers and caused some to thirst for revenge. America’s policy of isolationism also played a major part in starting World War II. Their refusal to join the League of Nations severely weakened it, and effectively destroyed the League of Nation’s ability to follow through with its threats and stop wars.
Even after what Germany did, President Wilson still hesitated in taking further steps. Wilson broke off any relationship with Germany, but still did not declare war with them. The Germans U-boats continued to sink million tons of Allied ships per month; the Allies told Wilson that without their supplies they have no chance in winning the war. Finally on April 2, 1917 Wilson went to the Congress and asked for a declaration of war. Wilson was real serious and dedicated in not only defeating Germany but destroying them
Stalin wanted the east, to take over the Baltic states and he knew that Hitler would not keep his word but he had hoped that the agreement would give him time to build up his forces. * On September 1939, Germany invaded Poland and on September 2, Britain and France kept the promise they made about protecting Poland if Hitler invaded. And so they declared war on Germany. Hitler was not ready for such a war and he then realized he had taken one gamble too
5). America was neutral and on one ship 1,260 were dead which showed that Germany didn’t care about neutrality by destroying any ship that wasn’t theirs. Many Americans were outraged at the fact they had sunk an American boat since we were neutral at the time. The Lusitania was later found out to be a ship that carried weapons and passengers. On January 10, 1917 just a few months before America went to war, America got a telegram from Great Britain.
The pledge was kept until January 1917, when the original policy of unrestricted submarine warfare resurfaced. Germany felt that by cutting off supplies it could end the war on its terms before the United States could react. Shortly afterward, the United States cut off diplomatic relations with Germany, a step preparatory to war. In
It can be argued that had these short term factors not come about, the outbreak of war would have been avoided regardless of the fact that these triggers were deemed to be less important than other long term factors such as Britain’s relationship with Germany. The treaty of London, signed in 1839 stated that Britain should protect Belgium and with Germany violating this with their invasion, forced the government to go to war, with the help of pressures from the public who were extremely pro-war at the time. The alliance system may also be to blame for Britain’s involvement in the war as due to the assassination of the Archduke and his wife, causing Austro-Hungary declaring war on Serbia, dragging all the other powers in Europe into war. This, however, can only be seen as a catalyst as tensions within Europe had been increasing rapidly since the turn of the century. Germany’s decision to build a navy that would rival Britain’s did nothing but sour relations further between the two dominant powers of Europe at the time.
Zimmerman promised to help Mexico regain lost territory that the United States took away (all of Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico). Unfortunately for Zimmerman, the British intercepted the message and decoded it. Then the British eagerly delivered it to President Wilson. To persuade Congress to give him the power to wage an undeclared naval war and protect American merchant ships against German submarines, Wilson published the Zimmerman note. A wave of anger swept through the United States and the Armed Ship bill was passed.
In the decade leading up to the war, there was a competition between the European powers to outdo each other’s military. If one country brother up their military, the others would build their’s up even more. It also resulted more trade among the allies and America. Because of all of the different cultures between the border, Austria-Hungary was at risk of Nationalism. In the “Year of Revolution” many of the countries that made up the European empire rose up against the Habsburgs, Germany, and Italy were left as divided states, but strong nationalist movements and revolutions led unification of Italy in 1861, and Germany in 1871.
Germany first made Europe nervous by frequently imposing their aggressive foreign policy Welpolitik on sometimes already existing colonial territory (Morocco). Although Weltpolitik was a self-aggrandizing policy that only let Germany’s nationalism and militarism spiral further out of control and the relations between its rival Britain worsen is was not the major catalyst of the war. Germany’s main vice was its paranoia of encirclement during both the Bosnian and Balkan wars, which impelled it to make Austria-Hungary its unconditional ally. With Austria-Hungary and Germany joint at the hip it assured its ally that it would mobilize if Austria-Hungary went to war with Serbia. If Germany had not given Austria the blank cheque or the military backing in the first place Austria would have to have accepted Serbia’s amended ultimatum, but because Germany had pledged their undying support Austria was able to declare war on Serbia thus also dragging a precarious network of alliances with it.