Controversy 1: “To what extent was Germany responsible for the outbreak of world war one?”
Contents of Notes:
Background: Events leading to war
Timeline of War
Alliances leading up to 1914
Arguments for German aggression (Germany actively sought war)
Arguments for Germany pursuing a preventative war (defensive)
Arguments that it was not German aggression
Shared Guilt arguments, including the role of other countries and imperialism
Changing Historiography on the Subject
Background: Events leading to war
(1) Russo-Japanese War 1905 :
- Russia were defeated by Japan, significant in weakening Russia and symbolising they were no longer a
threat
- Germany felt more secure, able to take more aggressive foreign policy without fear of backlash
- However this led to a major reform of Russia’s armed forced, a development that alarmed G
- This war also drew Britain, Russia and France closer together (foreshadowed the 1907 Triple Entente)
since Britain too no longer viewed Russia as a threat, now seeing Germany as the bigger problem
(2) First Moroccan crisis 1905-6
- France wanted Morocco to complete her empire in North Africa
- 1904 Britain and France signed Entente Cordiale, giving France a free rein in Morocco
- However Kaiser decided to interfere in Morocco because: (1) wanted to test strength of Entente and
believed he could split Britain and France (2) did not believe Britain would stand by France over
Morocco, an area of little interest to Britain (3) he did not want to see France extent her north African
Empire
- Kaiser visited Tangiers (in Morocco) and made a speech declaring Morocco should try to gain
independence from the French, a move that would be supported by Germany, which sparked off riots/
crisis
- France, backed by Britain, refused to give up control, but agreed to the Kaiser’s demand for an
international conference to discuss the future of Morocco
- This conference took place at Algeciras. Britain supported French while only Austria-Hungary backed
German demands for Moroccan independence
- This Increased tension because (1) France gained control of Morocco and increased power (2) Kaiser
suffered defeat (3) He blamed this defeat on the British and their support for France
,Impact of the First Moroccan Crisis: (1) Wilhelm’s actions had achieved the opposite of what he had hoped
and actually strengthened the Entente Cordiale (2) Germany seen as having the more aggressive foreign
policy, hence British foreign sec proclaimed they were now following ‘brinkmanship (3) More international
tension as Germany had used Morocco as an attempt to provoke a dispute (4) foreshadowed the alliances
of WW2
(3) Bosnian Crisis 1908-9
- 1908 Austria-Hungary added Bosnia-Herzegovina to its empire, creating a second international crisis
(permitted by article 25 of 1878 Treaty of Berlin)
- Serbia felt surrounded by the triple entente
- Serbia felt surrounded by the triple alliance, felt isolated
- They were also angry because it had hoped to make Bosnia part
of a greater Serbia, so asked for Russian help
- Russia called for internat conference with Triple Entente but
Austria refused to attend (Moltke made it clear that G would be
prepared to mobilise if Serbia and Russia took military action) Serbia
- Russia couldn’t do anything alone (too weak) so Austria annexed
Bosnia, highlighted weakness of Triple Entente (victory to Kaiser and policy of Brinkmanship)
- Germany demanded Russia accepted the Austrian seizure: Russia had no choice but to accept – Russia’s
armies no match for German forces
Impact of the Bosnian Crisis: Increased tension because (1) Serbia resented Austria and wanted revenge
and the return of Bosnia (2) Russia was humiliated (3) Germany fully committed to supporting Austria in
Balkans even if it meant war (4) Russia drew closer to France and Britain, but the fact that she wasn’t
supported by Britain and France (who didn’t care about the Balkans) showed the weakness of the entente
(4) Second Moroccan crisis: Agadir 1911
- The Kaiser’s imperial policies had been causing international tension and rivalry
- At Algeciras conference (1906) Germany had promised to keep out of Morocco, under French control
- 1910 France made a huge loan to Morocco, taking control of economy/ customs/ taxes
- Germany grew angry with increasing French influence in Africa
- March 1911 rebellion in northern Morocco, and by April 1911 the Sultan was besieged in his palace,
French sent in troops to help put down the rebellion under the pretext of protecting European lives
and property (this angered G as France had promised not to use troops at Algeciras)
- June 1911 Germans announced they needed to protect German trade interests in southern morocco
(even though no citizens in south Morocco)
- July 1911 Kaiser sent gunship ‘Panther’ to Agadir – rescuing one German. GUNBOAT DIPLOMACY.
(however could be argued this was an attempt to regain popularity in pub opinion, rather than an
aggressive action)
- 7 July German ambassador said no territorial aspirations in Morocco and would negotiate for a French
region on the basis of ‘compensation’ for Germany in the French Congo region and the safeguarding of
her economic interests in Morocco
- 21 July David Lloyd George delivered Mansion House speech – declared that national honour was more
precious than peace – speech interpreted by Germany as a warning that she could not impose
unreasonable demands on France
, - 4 nov 1911 at the treaty of Fez, Germany forced to back down, remove the gunship and accept a small
piece of land in Congo instead. Morocco became a French colony.
Impact of Second Moroccan Crisis: (1) Morocco became a French colony, evidence of imperialism and
French strength (2) German international reputation damaged: publicly humiliated by Britain when they
stood up for France, showed strength of entente and how German ‘brinkmanship’ had failed (3) political
tension between Germany and Britain (4) following this, both began pushing for increased arms
expenditure and international suspicions regarding true nature of German foreign policy increased
(‘gunboat diplomacy’).
Within a year Britain and France had made a naval agreement that set up a structure of fleets to protect
both in preparation for war
(5) The Naval and Arms Race
This international suspicion of Germany after the Second Moroccan crisis led to the arms race growing
between Germany and Britain:
- since 1898 naval bills passed, Germany began to expand navy, following ‘Flottenpolitik’ (‘fleet policy’)
- In 1905 Britain were in control of ¾ of the fleets in European waters
- consequence of German industrial revolution and increasing technology on both sides increased tension
- 1906 new type of battleship, the ‘dreadnought’ was created – faster and more armoured
- Germany wanted to equal their navy through 1906 Reichstag bills which would build Germany its own
dreadnoughts
- Britain estimated by 1911 Germany would have 11 dreadnoughts to Britain’s 12 – concerned about the
threat to British naval supremacy
- this led to the two countries expanding their navies to compete: 1909 Britain built 6 dreadnoughts,
Germany 3; 1910 Britain built 4 dreadnoughts, Germany 3 – although Britain maintained their lead
Germany were consistently building too
Attempts for unilateral disarmament, were pushed by G Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg who tried to
improve the relationship between Britain and Germany. G recognised an agreement with Britain to limit
naval construction to reduce financial difficulties and loosen the ties of the triple entente
BUT these demands came to nothing because: (1) Kaiser and Tirpitz did not want to limit naval building,
inline with aims of Weltpolitik (2) German demands for neutrality from France and Russia was too high a
price for Britain
The policy of naval rearmament on both sides showed how Britain considered Germany a threat and that
G’s foreign policy was becoming more aggressive. However the fact that G removed their gunboat at the
treaty of Fez showed how they were not yet strong enough to win a war.
(6) The Balkan Wars 1912-13
- Balkans are made up of Serbia, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Albania, Greece – traditionally mostly controlled by
Turkey/ Ottoman Empire, but the empire was weakening and its control of the Balkans lessened
- As a result many of the Balkan people revolted against the Turks wanting independence: Serbia,
Montenegro, Bulgaria and Greece formed the Balkan League and attacked Turkey in 1912, almost
driving the Turks out of Europe
- Austria saw this as an opportunity for further expansion/ annexation of Baltics and also worried over
the possible growth of Serbia
