'Germany started the First World War

        One of the main reasons that Germany has been blamed for the start of the First World War was due to the issue of Germany’s ‘blank cheque’ to Austria-Hungary in 1914. It has been argued that Austria-Hungry was a weak independent power, which had relied upon German support in the case of war. It has been argued that had Germany vetoed the idea of war, then Austria-Hungry would have introduced a list of demands that would have appeased both Serbia and Russia and avoided war. Germany’s support for the war could be seen in 1914, in a meeting between the German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg and the Austrian-Hungarian Ambassador. During the meeting, it was reported that Emperor Wilhelm II had advised Vienna to take ‘warlike action’ and ‘march into Serbia’. The Austrian government pushed the issue of war, however the Austrian government knew that a Balkan war would expand into a wider conflict, therefore it is extremely unlikely that had Germany not issued the ‘blank cheque’ in Potsdam in July, Austria would have declared war.

        One of the other factors that led to the beginning of the First World War was the extensive and complex alliance system, which had been in place among the major European powers in 1914. The European powers believed in theory that the existence of alliances and treaties would maintain the balance of power. It was believed that alliances posed as a check upon the European powers, as the existence of an ‘opposition of an equally formidable rival, or of a combination of several countries forming leagues of defence.’  However, in retrospect the existence of the alliance system is the main reason behind why many of the European powers became involved in the War. The alliance system led to introduction of two separate forces within Europe, which increased the hostility and fear within European foreign policy. In 1914, Germany believed that Austria-Hungry was their only dependable and trustworthy ally who had to be supported at all costs, which was an important motive for Germany’s decision to join the War. Germany felt this feeling of external isolation due to a series of secret alliances, which had been made by the other European powers. In1902, Italy had signed a secret alliance with France, in which she declared her neutrality in the event of a Franco-German War. In addition to this, Britain also made ententes or sphere of influence agreements with France and Russia. In 1909, the German Chancellor Bethmann believed that Germany had been ‘encircled’ by the other European powers. The importance of the alliance system can also be seen in the involvement of Britain and France within the War. France became involved as a consequence of its long-standing alliance with Russia, while Britain became a part of the War due to a treaty that had been signed with Belgium to ensure the neutrality of the country. Therefore, it can be argued that without the extensive alliance system, the First World War would have been a mere international dispute, which involved only Austria and Serbia.

        Another factor, which helped to create the atmosphere of hostility and distrust in 1914, was the newfound beliefs of Imperialism. In the final two decades of the nineteenth century, it was believed by all the European governments that in order to ‘remain a great nation or to become one, you must colonise.’ From the 1880’s onwards, the pace of imperialist competition increased in direct relevance to that of Africa and the Far East. The Imperialist nature of the period led to the newly unified Germany and Italy to feel the need to acquire colonies in order to build their reputation and to provide a uniting point for national sentiment at home. The eventual ‘scramble for Africa’ led to the result of many European conflicts and to future hostilities between them, as well as a basis upon which alliance systems were based. The dispute over Morocco in 1906 and 1911 between Germany and France further increased the hostilities felt by the French towards Germany due to the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine.

In the early twentieth century, Germany realised her inadequacy in terms of her Colonies in Africa and the Far East, as they gained no naval bases, ocean lanes, or coaling stations. Germany felt that in order for the country to grow as a successful industrial nation then colonial possessions were necessary in order to provide raw materials, which were needed in industry and to furnish markets for manufactured goods and for opportunities for capital investments. Germany felt discriminated by due to its lack of resourceful colonies and blamed its misfortunes upon the French and British, as they claimed the two nations stood in their way of Colonisation. This belief led to the Pan-German League, which was a movement by the German public who believed that Germany should be granted a ‘place in the sun’. The group organised the deliverance and introduction of books and pamphlets, which outlined the necessary actions that needed to be undertaken  by the German government within Europe in order to achieve the unification of the German people and what was wanted by the German public elsewhere in the world. It was noted by the other European powers that in order to achieve these aims, the German government would implement them at the expense of other European nations, and if required were willing to use violence and war to accomplish its task. It is therefore, not surprising that the other France, Britain, and Russia drew together and formed the Triple Entente as a line of defence. This shows that the ideas of Imperialism, led to the growth of hostility between the European powers and the introduction of German war aims in order to expand its colonies.

        Another important factor that has to be considered when evaluating the causes of the First World War has to be the Anglo-German relationship. The relationship between the two nations during the period 1980-1914, was one of suspicion and hostility. The main reason behind this hostility was the Arms Race, which had taken place between the two countries and the introduction of Germany’s Weltpoltik. The arms race was propelled by various groups of German nationalists who had been camapaigning in order to enlarge their battlefleet as they believed that their naval protection had to be increased for German commercial interests in Latin America, China and other parts of the world. The appointment of Tirpitz as Secretary of the Reichsmarineamt led to the introduction of the idea that Germany was to build a naval army and battlefleet that was to be directly aimed against Britain. This can be seen in evidence from his first meeting with the Kaiser in 1897 “For Germany the most dangerous enemy at the present time is England. It is also the enemy against which we most require a certain measure of naval force as a political power factor...The military sitituation against England demands battleships in as great a number as possible.” The quick and glorious growth of the German naval fleet led to the fear of the British government, which pushed Britain closer towards the French and Russians. The situation between Germany and Britain was further aggravated by the rejection of all suggestions from Britain in terms of limited naval armaments. The situation between the two countries led to a more clear distinction between the European powers into two groups of the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance.

        

        In conclusion, the question of whether Germany started the First World War can only be assessed after weighing up the importance of all the causes, which led to the War. Although, Germany played a significant part in the beginning of the Cold War, it can be argued that the First World War was a consequence of the all the factors added together. A true assessment of this question is summed up by Fischer, as he says that all the European powers bare the blame but “as Germany willed and coveted the Austro-Serbian war, and in her confidence in her military superiority, deliberately faced the risk of conflict with Russia and France, her leaders must bear a substantial share of the historical responsibility for the outbreak of general war.’  

References.

Books:

• Imanuel Geiss: The Outbreak of the First World War and German War Aims (July, 1966)
• Paul Kennedy: The Rise of Anglo-German Antagonism 1860-1914 (1985)
• Edward E. McCullough: How the First World War Began: The Triple Entente and the Coming of the Great War of 1914-1918.( 1999)
• H. W. Koch: The Origins of the First World War (1985)
• David Stevenson: The Outbreak of the First World War: 1914 in Perspective.
• Z. S. Steiner & K. Neilson: Britain and the Origins of the First World War.
• J. Joll: The Origins of the First World War (1991)
• Fritz Fischer: War of Illusions: German Policies from 1911 to 1914 (1975)
• Leon Brunschvig: Mythes et Réalités de l’Impérialisme colonial Français (1960)

Articles:

• Bernadotte E. Schmidt: The origins of the First World War 

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