The Origins of the First World War - Sources Questions

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Hiten Patel        As History Coursework        12MM

The Origins of the First World War

Part A

How far do sources support the idea that Germany was warlike and aggressive in its foreign policy in the years 1899 – 1914?

In the context of World War I, the term Weltpolitik refers to Germany’s foreign policy in the years leading up to 1914. The nature and intent of this policy has often been debated amongst historians; arguments have arose – was Germany aggressive in its foreign policy, or was it defensive, or both. The six sources alone provide contrasting views and explanations concerning Germany’s behaviour prior to the outbreak of war.

At first sight, the violent language used in source five suggests that Germany had an aggressive foreign policy;

     ‘O Germany, hate now!...transform the neighbouring countries into deserts’. However, as a piece of historical evidence, the poem by Heinrich Vierordt carries little weight. It simply shows one man’s opinion on how Germany should conduct itself in the upcoming war. One cannot deny the fact, that this view was shared by many Germans after the outbreak of war in 1914. Nevertheless, Vierordt played no significant role in Germany’s political or military life. Therefore, his views would not have dictated the nature of Weltpolitik. On this source alone, we cannot assume that Germany had a belligerent foreign policy.

Different interpretations of Weltpolitik are presented in sources two and three. Both are secret memorandums by members of the British Foreign Office. In source two, Francis Bertie has described Germany’s position in Europe, and suggests that she is embarking on impreialisation and expansion;

     ‘The Belgians are well aware; she (Germany) has designs on the Belgium Congo. There is no indication that Germany intended to achieve this through aggressive means. Bertie has instead, painted a picture of a devious Germany;

     ‘Drove her (Austria) out of Germany, eventually making her a rather humble ally’. In source three, Lord Sanderson gives the impression that Germany was at times, clumsy in its foreign policy.  Bertie’s observations of Weltpolitik do not support the idea of an outright aggressive German foreign policy, and neither do Sanderson’s.

The two sources, however, do not deny the notion of an aggressive government. The deceitful (source two) and disagreeable (source three) actions of Germany could be perceived as war planning. However, the origins and nature of both sources undermine their relevance to our study. Both are secret memorandums, but this does not guarantee their accuracy, it simply indicates that the author was making objective judgments. Bertie’s and Sanderson’s thoughts, like that of Vierordt would not have influenced the nature of Weltpolitik, as they were not in a position to do so.  The fact that they are both British weakens their significance further. Their views could easily have been influenced by the European rivalries, which were developing at this time.

Germany’s expenditure of armaments rose in the years 1880 – 1914 as shown in source six. In the case of the navy, the amount spent rose dramatically. This source suggests that Germany was committed to militarization, which could be seen as aggressive. By 1914, they we’re certainly prepared for war; so too were the other nations. This table does support the idea of an aggressive and warlike Germany; even more so, it demonstrates an aggressive and competing Europe in the years 1880 – 1814.

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Source one is a speech given by Prince von Bulow, the Chancellor of Germany, in December 1899. In the speech, von Bulow has stated his intentions for Germany to strengthen its army and expand its boundaries. Although there is no evidence of aggressive behaviour on Germany’s part, this source does illustrate an aggressive tendency, which existed 15 years before the First World War broke out. Unlike the previous sources, these intentions would have influenced the nature of Weltpolitik, as von Bulow was in a position to dictate the route that Germany would take. The German parliament was the reason ...

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