Germany sought coalition with Austria-Hungary and Russia forming an alliance called the ‘Drei Kaiser Bund’ or the ‘three Emperors league’. This alliance was rival to France. Germany didn’t ask Britain to join in the alliance as it had a small army, and wasn’t particularly interested in getting involved in European disputes. France was deterred by this alliance and didn’t act for a long time.
When Kaiser Wilhelm I died Frederic William succeeded him, but he didn’t live for very long and, Frederic Williams’ son, Kaiser Wilhelm the II, inherited the throne. Wilhelm II not long after inheriting the throne stupidly insulted Russia. Russia affronted pulled out of the ‘three emperors league’ and joined with France. The rivals now appeared like this, France and Russia in opposition to Germany and Austria-Hungary.
After the building of the ‘dreadnoughts’ and the trespass of Germans onto the neutral soil of Belgium, England was Belgium’s protector; England got involved and joined with France and Russia.
Germany devised something called the Schlieffen Plan, devised by and named after General Von Schlieffen. This plan unfortunately involved the whole of Europe. The idea of the Schlieffen Plan was for Germany to knock out France in six weeks, then turn around and take out Russia. Six weeks was the length of time it would take Frances’ ally, Russia to get its army up and running. The plan was that when war was declared Germany would invade France through Belgium, encircle Paris then knock out the French troops that were heading for Germany through Alsace-Lorraine. Belgium was declared neutral in 1830 so it was unexpected for Germany to go though Belgium it get to France. The Schlieffen Plan was to be put into practice in 1914 the year before France would overtake Germany in the arms race.
Having decided that Germany would attack in 1914, the Germans needed and excuse to go to war. The Germans blew the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, in Austria-Hungary, completely out of proportion so that they had a reason to put the Schlieffen Plan into action.
The terrorist group the ‘Black Hand’ sought independence, and to promote their case into the public eye they decided to assassinate Franz Ferdinand. Gavrilo Princeps shot Franz Ferdinand. Serbia apologised to Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary, as Serbia had provided the arms that were used by the Black Hand. Franz Joseph accepted the apology and that Serbia played no part in the assassination. Germany, however, pressured Franz Joseph into declining the offered apology, thus blowing small event out of proportion. Germany pressured Austria-Hungary to set impossible demands that Serbia had to meet. If the demands weren’t met then Austria-Hungary would invade.
Serbia decided to ask Russia for help, Russia agreed to help as Serbia were orthodox Christians, and Russia felt responsible for other fellow orthodox Christians. Russia started to mobilise their army, so that if Austria-Hungary decided to invade Serbia they would be ready.
Germany realising that if Russia were mobilising now they had six weeks in order to put the Schlieffen Plan into action. So Germany invaded France. The Germans entered Belgium to get to France and it was Germanys fault that England got involved, as they came to protect Belgium. Belgium put up resistance and slowed down the Germans through Belgium. By the time the Germans had got to Paris the French troop, heading for Alsace-Lorraine had realised what was going on and had turned around to meet the Germans. The Russians had lots of time to get ready as the Germans were held up in Belgium, and the Russians invaded Germany.
The Schlieffen Plan was only supposed to be a war against France and was only supposed to take six weeks. It was an oversight, on the Germans part, that England got involved. This was supposed to be over quick and to ensure that the French wouldn’t try to reclaim Alsace-Lorraine.
Although Germany caused a lot of the tension in Europe that lead up to the world war several things were done unintentionally. Some of the tension in Europe was not caused by Germany. The problems between Russia and Austria-Hungary over Serbia and Bosnia weren’t caused by Germany. Russia provided Serbia with weapons, as they were fellow orthodox Christians and felt obliged to help them. Serbia sold the weapons onto Bosnia. The terrorist group the ‘Black Hand’, from Bosnia, then used these weapons to assassinate Franz Ferdinand. Germany was not responsible for this.
These arguments show that Germany could not be held solely responsible for causing the 1st world war, but in retrospect there are many reasons why German played a big part in the tension evident in Europe leading up to World War 1.
