The German Problem

“The balance of power has been entirely destroyed.” – Benjamin Disraeli (1871)

“Historically, Germany has been either too weak or too strong for the peace of Europe.” – Henry Kissenger

“The emergence of an industrial Germany was the major fact of European economic and political life at the turn of the century.” –Western Heritage

A European Tour

Ottoman Empire – The “sick” man of Europe; on the way out

Germany is concerned with/has aspirations for the Dardenelles Strait; become somewhat the hero of the Slavic people

Austria-Hungary has some problems—So many nationalities, it is hard to keep peace (the reason Metternich is so against Nationalism—it was tearing apart his country); wanted to move into the Baltic area, but they are very weak

France had lost two pieces of land to Germany that they want back: Alsace and Lorraine (which they had lost to the Prussians/Germans in 1871) and

England wants out of Isolationism

Germans want to have world colony aspirations

Russia: on the way in

Bismarck

His goal would be to keep the piece of Europe; he recognizes that his country makes others nervous. France is very upset with them, and he wants to placate them. Encourages them to become involved in imperialism to take their mind off of Alsace-Lorraine; doesn’t work. He makes peace with Austria-Hungary, but needs to keep peace with Russia. Why? He does not want to fight a 2-front war. He wants peace and stability. His strategy is to ally with at least 2 of the other 5 great powers. France must be diplomatically isolated.

“Some damned foolish thing in the Balkans” will lead to war!

Will maintain the peace after he fights with France.

Alliance Systems

Things were going great for Germany. Kaiser Wilhelm II

“Germany deserves its place in the sun.”

He wants some ships and colonies like Britain.

Gets rid of Bismarck. Why? He wants to be the ruler of Germany without anyone telling him what to do

Soon after coming to power, Wilhelm will drop the treaty with Russia b/c he thinks it interferes with his treaty with Austria.

1894-Franco-Russian Alliance—now Germany is surrounded by two potentially warlike countries

By 1907, two rival alliances were put in place:

The Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

The Triple Entente: France, Russia, Great Britain

1908—Austria annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina (Serbia, which hoped to create a large Serbian kingdom, is outraged)

The Austrians are keeping us from becoming a world power

The Fateful Day (June 28, 1914) or The Damn Foolish Thing

Archduke Franz Ferdinand (and his wife Sophie)

The Assassins: “The Black Hand”

Leader: Colonel Apis (“The Bee”) – the head of Serbian Intelligence

Finds 7 Serbian youths to participate in the assassination plot—several mishaps occur before they one is successful

The Schlieffen Plan

Plan for Germany is to knock France out of the war quickly, then go after Russia

Leave a token force on the border, and send the majority to invade Belgium (weak), then get the French from behind, and smack them together like a sandwich.

June 28: Assassination of Franz Ferdinand and Sophie

July 5: Wilhelm II assures Austrian foreign minister that Germany would support any action Austria decided to take against Serbia (the “Blank Check”)

July 23: Austria issues ultimatum to Serbia, demanding that Austrian officials will be allowed into Serbia

July 26: Serbian turns it down

Austrians will now mobilize

Russia orders mobilization

Germany issues ultimatum to Russia and France

Germany demands Belgium allows its troops to peacefully march through to attack France

Belgium turns them down

Germany declares war on Belgium and France

When Belgium was created, it was set up as a neutral power. Germany violating that neutrality will cause Britain to get involved.

Italians will switch sides to join the “winner” a bit into the war

The War: Eastern Front—steady German advance

Weaponry of the Great War