Should any one nation be held responsible for the outbreak of the First World War?

History Essay

By Edward Smirnoff

From 1870 to 1914 was a time in history where tensions were high between the major nations of Europe. The major reasons for these tensions to occur were:

The Imperial Rivalry where Europeans colonised parts of Africa and Asia for reasons such as economy and ideological reasons. The Arms Race where Germany began building a large navy as a sign of strength. The British saw this as a threat of invasion and therefore began to build a larger navy themselves. Nationalism Larger countries wanted to expand their boundaries, while groups such as the Serbs, Slavs, Czechs, and the Bulgarians wanted their independence from Austria – Hungary, Russia and the Ottoman Empire. Alliance System where Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary became known as the Triple Alliance and France, Russia and Britain became known as the Triple Entente. The situation in the Balkans where wars were constantly fought between the Balkan countries, also Austria wanted to use the land to expand, Russia wanted an outlet to the Mediterranean through the lands and so did not like the power Austria had in the Balkans because it saw herself as a natural leader of the Balkans as the people living there were Slavs and from the same background. Serbia was the strongest Balkan country and did not let Austria to expand.

The situation and the tensions between countries was steadily rising until in an atmosphere of hostility a spark lit the fuse and the war itself began, but some countries were more aggressive than others creating an hostile atmosphere and encouraging countries to go to war almost as though war is what was wanted. At the end of this war, Germany was found and blamed to be the country guilty for the outbreak of the First World War for among other acts, invading Belgium. But how could you say that Germany alone should be blamed for the invasion of Belgium and to what extent is it reasonable to blame Germany for it? I will now argue my opinion.

Germany was a united country and a new power in Europe. This new empire was created and unified by Otto Von Bismarck in 1871 who used war skilfully and could convince others of his good intentions. He unified Germany by fighting three wars: Prussia v Denmark in 1864, Prussia v Austria and other (what is now) German states in 1866 and Prussia v France (the Franco-Prussian War) in 1870. This emergence of the German Empire had not only upset the balance of central Europe which was maintained for long by the Holy Roman Empire by the merging, the conquering and expanding, but it had humiliated some countries among these, the French because their provinces of Alsace and Lorraine were taken from them by the Germans in the Franco-Prussian war. The French wanted these lands back. Bismarck was getting worried that France will seek revenge for their humiliation. He calmed the rest of Europe down by convincing that Prussia’s ambition was not to expand further, but to consolidate it’s gains. He then made a series of treaties with Russia, Austria and Italy (to among other reasons, isolate France). The outcome was that Germany would be neutral in case of an war where Austria-Hungary and Russia fight, he promising Austria-Hungary support in the area of Balkans (the Dual Alliance is forged between Germany and Austria-Hungary) and he promises Austria-Hungary and Italy war support against any other country (the triple Alliance was forged between Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary). These treaties made it possible to maintain peace for almost forty years, and who knows would Bismarck be in charge in 1900 maybe WWI would not occur. I would say that Bismarck would not want to lead Germany to war, actually the opposite, I think that he got what he wanted, he unified Germany and so he would try to hold peace as long as he had the power, and so he did.

Before I go any further on arguing my opinion about why Germany holds most blame for the outbreak of the war and in what way, I see it is important to understand the complete situation and I will there for analyse some events going on before the war.

This is a preview of the whole essay

These treaties were between Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy and Russia still existing after Bismarck had gone off from power and Kaiser Wilhelm II took over. This meant that France was still isolated and there was a situation going on between Austria-Hungary and Russia in the area known as the Balkans. Both Russia and Austria-Hungary wanted to have more influence in that area over many years plus that Austria-Hungary wanted to expand itself into it and Russia wanted an outlet to the Mediterranean Sea through that area. Both countries had the right to have influence in that area because it was a Slavic aria with Slavic people living it, Russia believed that because it itself was a Slavic country it should stand up for it’s fellow Slavs and has the right to influence them. Austria-Hungary had Slavic people living in Austria-Hungary itself so she believed that if she did not have an influence in that are, the Russian influence would lead to Slavic people to form a Slav state and the Slave people in Austria-Hungary would overthrow the system and the Austrian empire would break up. Austria-Hungary and Russia were in tensions between each other over this area and it was in this area the spark lit the fuse to the First World War.

Austria-Hungary wanted more land. In 1908 it had seized Bosnia and Herzegovina. Russia of course opposed the expansion of Austria-Hungary because among other reasons, it would cut of it’s trade in the Mediterranean. Germany on the other hand wanted trade in the Mediterranean through her Ally Austria and so encouraged her to expand. Russia could was directly threatened by Germany to stop opposing the expand and Russia humiliatingly accepted because she was not ready for war.

Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany wanted to increase his powers. I think that had to challenge Britain taking over her trades and perhaps her colonies in order to do something about this will, and so he did. In 1898, Britain was felt threatened by Germany when the building of a larger naval fleet began from the German side to rival the that of the British. Britain feared a German invasion and started to build a larger navy. The Arms race began. This shows the power hunger of Germany.

In the Moroccan Crisis in 1911 where chaos rose in Morocco, a small country under French control when Germany once again wanted to show it’s power by sending a gunboat to Morocco.

The Triple Alliance created by Germany forced France into action. In 1894 France sign an Alliance with Russia because both needed an ally in case of war plus, France promises to support Russia in their claims in the Balkans. France saw this as an opportunity to get even with Germany after their humiliation in 1970. Later Britain signs the Cordial Entente with France and in 1907 the Anglo-Russian Entente because she did not want to see France and Russia be destroyed, that would directly threaten Britain of German invasion. Europe was now split into two sides, the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance. These alliances originally created by Germany made it possible for the First World War to break out, but even on this stage, it could be prevented.

On the Sunday 18th June 1914 in Sarajevo a Serbian terrorist organisation known as “The Black Hand” successfully attempted to assassinate the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. It would seem that it would be irrational to have a war due to such a relatively insignificant event but the Austrians felt that in an age where an insult could not be left un avenged, someone must be blamed. The Archduke himself did not want war, ironically his death caused the very thing he was trying to avoid. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the attack due to the out coming believe that the terrorist organisation was from Serbia. Austria-Hungary saw this as an opportunity to attack Serbia, show the strength of the Hapsburg family and weaken the Slav nationalists who wanted to break up the Austrian Empire, but she could not attack on Serbia without the support from Germany due to that Serbia is backed by Russia. Already on July 6th the German Foreign Minister told the Austrians

“Austria must judge what is to be done with Serbia. But whatever Austria’s decision, you can count upon it that Germany will stand by you as an Ally” He added, “If war must break out, better now than in one or two years time when the Triple Entente will be stronger”

(A. J. P. Taylor, “Understanding History”1993 pg. 8)

Germany had a difficult situation in front of them. If they backed down and refused to support Austria-Hungary, they would be accused for not living up to their word and if they would support Austria then they could be accused for the outbreak of a world war. After the assassination, Germany encouraged Austria to go to war with Serbia. Russia announced it’s support for Serbia. The British asked for an international conference to sort out the crisis. Austria-Hungary ignored it.

On 23 July 1914 Austria sent a protest to Serbia. It was an ultimatum containing completely unacceptable terms that Austria offered Serbia, in order to commence a war. To a great surprise, Serbia agreed to all but one of the conditions on the ultimatum. Even here war could be avoided, but although all this, Austria-Hungary with the support of Germany attacked Serbia.

Russia with the support of France got involved. Russia had two schemes for mobilisation, part mobilisation or full mobilisation. Russia chose full mobilisation due to that it would be unwise to leave troops elsewhere when understanding the ones used will not be enough. The mobilisation of the Russian troops on its boarders were not an act of war, but only a threat of war. Germany opposed this mobilisation and ordered Russia to back down. Russia has been humiliated by Germany once and would not see to be it again. Russia did not back down and Germany had no a reason to declared war on Russia and this was the full mobilisation of the Russian army at its boarders. Germany declared war on Russia 1 August.

Germany’s plan was to attack France through Belgium, encircling Paris and disabling France quickly enough to later fight the Russian army which is expected to mobilise in not less than a week. without the fear of France. This plan was called “The Schlieffen Plan. The result of this plan was that as soon as Germany declared war on Russia it invades Belgium two days after. By doing so, it violated a treaty from 1839 where Britain saw Belgium as an ideal place to launch an invasion at her and there for guaranteed Belgium safety from attack. Britain demanded Germany to withdraw its troops from Belgium. Germany did not withdraw and that gave Britain no other choice than to declare war on Germany.

So should any one nation be held responsible for the outbreak of the world war? Well all countries were involved to a certain extend except for the neutral ones, but out of the two aggressive (Austria and Germany), Germany was certainly the most. Germany was involved in both the imperial rivalry and it started the Arms Race to either show its strength or power, or to invade Britain, either way she was acting very aggressively, Kaiser Wilhelm in particular when he supported Austria Hungary in their occupation of Serbia. He could have done this for two reasons, either he wanted war, or he trusted Austria-Hungary not to go to war. Either way, as A.J.P. Taylor says

“If they wanted a peaceful solution, they would have approached the British at once. Instead, they did nothing, hoping to keep Britain neutral in a continental war.”

(“Understanding History” 1993 pg 8)

The war came about because of a spark that lit the fuse in an hostile atmosphere, this was the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand which itself should not have lead to war. It was the mismanagement of a crisis. This mismanagement as I see it is the fault of Austria-Hungary. If Austria-Hungary would seek revenge in another form other than war, then a full scale European war would not come about. We can blame Austria for feeling that a war must be fought in order for her major powers to be proven.

Then again, if we look on the creation of alliance systems as the key to the outbreak of war, then Germany is entirely to blame. It was under Bismarck that the system of alliances began, where he formed the Triple Alliance with Italy and Austria-Hungary, and it was what had forced the Triple Entente to be forged, and a war to breakout between so many countries.

Then again during the Arms race the spending on armaments between 1872 and 1912 were: France 150%, Austria-Hungary 175%, England 185% Italy 190% Russia 260% and Germany with as much as 340% This shows the power hunger of Germany and if not that, it defiantly shows that she in one way or another had war in mind.

I would also say that the lack of good communications played a good role in the outbreak of war. Germany was feeling threatened because of Russian full mobilisation. Would the communications between these two countries been better then maybe Germany would understand the need of Russia to fully mobilise because Russia is such a big country and mobilisation takes so much time, so the better option was to fully mobilise once then to have to do it partly many times.

Anyway the conclusion I have come to is that Germany should be blamed for most of what has happened. It should definitely be blamed for the hostile atmosphere created in Europe because it was Germany’s fault that the alliance systems have been created, letting the war to outbreak. Although I believe it was Austria-Hungary’s aggressive will to revenge on Serbia and that it was very mismanagement in a crisis, Germany should be blamed for encouraging Austria-Hungary to advance or even supporting them for such an act in the first place. And finally I think Germany is to blame for its aggressive behaviour in the way that they have not consulted Britain in the first place when they supported Austria-Hungary in attacking Serbia, also when they were invading Belgium. Also I think Germany is to blame for its aggression and power hunger, when they started the Arms Race, their showing of the dominance of Germany when they sent a battle ship to the Morocco in the Moroccan crises. Every road leads to almost as though Germany wanted a war and tried to prove to the world the dominance of Germany already when Bismarck created it by war in 1970.

Germany was on the whole very aggressive and was involved and is to blame for in the Arms race, causing the hostile atmosphere, giving Austria-Hungary unconditional support in the Balkans crisis and the invasion of Belgium.

Bibliography

Child, John, Hodge T, Taylor D. Understanding History. Oxford Ltd: Heinaman Educational, 1993.

Starvrianos L.S. Balkan Crisis And The Treaty Of Berlin: 1878. 1996. 13 Oct. 2002.

<http://www.suc.org/culture/history/berlin78/>

Simkin, John Encyclopaedia of the First World War. 1997. 13 Oct. 2002.

<http://www.spartacust.schoolnet.co.uk>

German News, The Magazine. 1998. 13 Oct. 2002.

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