2. MILITARISM

3. Causes of WWI: Militarism 1910-1914 Increase in Defence Expenditures
Total Defense Expenditures for the Great Powers [Ger., A-H, It., Fr., Br., Rus.] in millions of £s (British pounds).
1870
1880
1890
1900
1910
1914 94
130
154
268
289
398
Increase in Defence Expenditures
France
10%
Britain
13%
Russia
39%
Germany
73%

4. Gave ports access to the North Sea
Britain felt this was deliberately designed to allow German battleships to attack the Royal Navy
1895 Germany opened the Kiel Canal
By 1903 Germany had as many battleships as France (36) but less than Britain (63)
British newspapers were concerned...
1900 Germany Navy Law for building more battleships
Sir John Fisher in charge of Royal Navy
British ships were ordered home , old ships scrapped
The race to build warships had begun
1904 Britain knew she had to act
All of this reform led to the creation of a newly designed battleship – the HMS Dreadnought...
Q. Should Britain be concerned? Why? (e.g. What reasons could Germany have for building up a large navy?)

5. The HMS Dreadnought

6. Britannia rules the waves
In the 19th century Britain was the world’s greatest sea power
The navy played a vital role in protecting Britain from the threat of invasion and in trade and empire
In 1889 the British navy adopted the two power standard
This meant that Britain must have a larger navy than the fleets of the next 2 largest navies combined
At this time the next two largest navies were those of France and Russia
Germany was not considered to be a threat
Q. What was the Two Power Standard?

7. Germany builds a fleet
In 1897 Germany began to create a fleet of 19 battleships, 12 heavy cruisers and 30 light cruisers
These numbers were doubled by 1906
This was not enough to threaten Britain
However Britain responded by building more ships
A fierce naval race commenced

8. ALLIANCES

9. Causes of WWI - Alliances
Triple Entente:
Triple Alliance:
Great Britain
Germany
Austria-Hungary
France
Russia
Italy

10. The Alliance Systems in 1907
The Triple Entente
Great Britain
France
Russia
The Triple Alliance
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Italy

11. IMPERIALISM

12. Causes of WWI - Imperialism

13. German Interests in the Balkans
Oil from the Middle East.
Berlin-Baghdad Railway – this would pass through the Balkans.
Interested in seeing Austro-Hungary [ally] extend its influence. The railway would pass through Austro-Hungary and the Balkans on route to the Middle East.

15. Why was the Suez Canal important to Great Britain?

16. Colonial Rivalry Discussion: What is so important about colonies?
Q. What advantages do you think France and Britain had over Germany in terms of colonies? Why do you think this caused tension between them?
BRITAIN
FRANCE
GERMANY
ITALY
BELGIUM
NEXT PAGE

17. British Colonies
Britain had managed to get some of the most valuable land in Africa.
The most important gain was Egypt because of the Suez Canal.
This provided a much quicker and safer route to India – the “Jewel in the Crown” of the British Empire.
EGYPT
SUDAN
NIGERIA
BRITISH EAST AFRICA
RHODESIA
BECHUANALAND
SOUTH AFRICA

18. French Colonies
France had also built up a large colonial empire, mostly in the north west of Africa.
This had caused problems and there had been serious arguments over colonies such as Morocco and Tunis.
Arguments over colonies caused bad feeling between Britain and France.
ALGERIA
TUNIS
MOROCCO
FRENCH WEST AFRICA
FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA
MADAGASCAR

19. Germany demanded her “place in the sun” GERMAN SOUTH WEST AFRICA
German Colonies
Germany did not enter the race for colonies until very late and, as a result, much of the land gained was not very valuable.
Despite this, Kaiser William II was determined that Germany should have a major empire.
KAMERUN
GERMAN EAST AFRICA
Germany demanded her “place in the sun”
GERMAN SOUTH WEST AFRICA

20. NATIONALISM

21. Causes of WWI: Nationalism
Pan-Germanism  - movement to unify the people of all German speaking countries
Germanic Countries
Austria *
Belgium
Denmark
Iceland
Germany *
Liechtenstein *
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
Switzerland *
United Kingdom
* = German speaking country

22. Sarajevo

23. Archduke Franz Ferdinand: Invitation of Death!
In 1913 Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to the A-H throne) was appointed General of the Austro-Hungarian Army.
In 1914 he was invited by the Governor of the Austrian provinces of Bosnia-Herzegovina to watch his troops on manoeuvre.
A great romantic, the Archduke insisted on taking his beloved wife Duchess Sophie with him. His wish was granted.
F.F knew that the journey would be dangerous. As we know, a large number of people in B.H were unhappy with A.H rule and wanted union with Serbia.
The Black Hand viewed F.F as a serious threat to union between B.H and Serbia being achieved.

24. 1914
28th July: Austria declares war on Serbia.
29th July: Russia orders partial mobilisation of the Russian army to support Serbia.
25th July: Serbia refuses to accept 2 of the demands.
30th July: Russia order full mobilisation of the Russian army.
4th August: Germany invades Belgium. Britain tells Germany to withdraw. Germany refuses and at midnight Britain declares war on Germany.
23rd July: Austria sends an ultimatum to Serbia. There are 10 demands in it.
31st July: Germany tells Russia to stop mobilisation. Russia refuses.
5th July: Germany says she will support Austria in whatever action she takes against Serbia.
1st August: Germany declares war on Russia
3rd August: Germany declares war on France
28th June: Assassination of Archduke F.F and his wife at Sarajevo.

25. The Point of No Return: The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Austria blamed Serbia for Ferdinand’s death and declared war on Serbia.
Germany pledged their support for Austria -Hungary. · example of Pan-German nationalism
Russia pledged their support for Serbia. · example of Pan-Slavic nationalism

26. The Point of No Return: The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Germany declares war on Russia.
France pledges their support for Russia.
Germany declares war on France.
Germany invades Belgium on the way to France.
Great Britain supports Belgium and declares war on Germany.

27. Allied Powers:
Central Powers:
Germany
Great Britain
World War I
France
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Empire
Russia
Italy

28. The Treaty of London 1839: Why Britain declared war on Germany
As we know, the century leading up to WWI was one of territorial, economic and military alliances. Europe was divided into two camps.
In 1839 Britain had signed an international treaty guaranteeing that Belgium would always remain a neutral country, Germany too had guaranteed this.
Therefore, when Germany invaded Belgium, on 4th August 1914, Britain entered the war to defend Belgium’s right to be neutral.
Q: What treaty led to Britain entering the war?
Q: What was the purpose of this treaty?

30. ES2: Source Comparison Question
Source A:
Our Glorious Kaiser has ordered general mobilisation of the army and navy. Try as I might, I can’t convey the splendid spirit and wild enthusiasm that has come over us all. We have always felt that Russia was going to attack us and now the idea that we are going to be able to defend ourselves gives us unbelievable strength. Russia’s dirty intrigues are dragging us into this war; the Kaiser warned the Russians as late as 30th July. I still can’t imagine what it’s going to be like – putting the Russians, and hopefully the British Navy, in their places.
Source B:
Have you heard the Kaiser’s speeches? They are full of bluster of German militarism, full of phrases like “mailed fist” and “shining armour”. There is the same swagger and boastfulness running through every speech. He says “let us trample the Russians who challenge the supremacy of Germany in Europe and let us defeat Britain and take control of the seas! What will then be left? – nothing will be left except Germany: - ‘Deutschland uber Alles’”.
How far do Sources A and B disagree about the causes of World War One? 5 marks.