THE FIRST WORLD WAR ORIGINS & OUTBREAK OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR IMPERIALISM Imperialism is defined as the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationship, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination. As the Moroccan Crisis has evolved out of an imperialist relationship of France and Morocco and Germany’s imperialist attitude as forwarded in its World Policy caused tensions between the great European powers, especially Germany and the Entente Cordiale, one can well say that imperialism was another long-term cause for WWI. (“external” nationalism / jingoism, belligerence… cf. Scramble for Africa / Fashoda Crisis; Germany’s rise to power… etc.) INDUSTRIALIZATION The so-called “Second Industrial Revolution” that occurred in Germany in the second half of the 19th century boasted her economy. It became a serious competitor of Great Britain in the European market and so increased tensions among the two countries. In addition to that many leading figures in German politics feared that resources and markets would soon prove insufficient and therefore Germany should look for markets outside of Europe. So Germany’s economic boast forwarded the decision to start pursuing a new foreign policy. As chancellor Bülow stated: “Our vigorous national development, mainly in the industrial sphere, forced us to cross the ocean.” NATIONALISM In general nationalism is the strong identification of a group with a nation. With regards to WWI nationalism can also be considered a cause. Pan-nationalism in the form of Pan-Slavism helped to stir up trouble in the Balkan, as Austria feared it to cause the unification of all Slav peoples, including the southern Slavs that lived in Austria-Hungary and the aim to achieve a nationalistic attitude among the German people was one of the reasons why Germany started to pursue her ‘World Policy’. MILITARISM Militarism itself can be defined as the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests. Concerning World War I, militarism can be regarded a cause of it. Not only was it one of the reasons for the Anglo-German Naval Arms Race, but militarist attitudes can be also found in Austria’s decision to go to war with Serbia, as well as Germany’s justification to only fight a “pre-emptive war”. Generally one can well say that militarism was a common policy among the great powers in Europe at the end of the 19th/beginning of the 20th century. This becomes even more obvious if one takes a look at imperialism in which a militarist policy is often used in order to achieve a country’s goals (e.g. conquering territory to establish a colony). GERMANY’S NEW COURSE/ WORLD POLICY/ “A PLACE IN THE SUN” / “SABRE-RATTLING” Germany’s fundamental change in foreign policy from a European-focused one to one that was enlarging its interest in non-European affairs on a large scale was Germany’s ‘New Course’. The policy was aimed at making Germany a world power and to increase its status level among the European countries. Another motivation behind World Policy was to solve domestic problems. It should increase the patriotism among the Germans at a time when the apparent factional divisions in German politics were widening and thereby was a means of uniting national opinion and neutralizing the opposition of the Social Democrats. World Policy included rising expenses for the expansion of the military and the belated striving of Germany for colonies. It was belated, because the colonies Germany was now able to acquire were the ones left over by the other great powers. As a result the German colonies acquired by 1914 were dotted about the globe, making them indefensible and cost more than 505 million marks. However, for Germany and especially her Kaiser the prestige was regarded as being more important. Germany deserved, according to the Kaiser, her “rightful place in the sun”, meaning that Germany would then belatedly join in the scramble for colonies (especially Africa). This New Course of Germany was watched by other colonial powers with anxiety. Being regarded as “sabre rattling” (meaning?), the new foreign policy convinced them of the dangerous reality of German militarism. The formation of the Entente Cordiale was only one of the results of Germany’s striving for colonial acquisition. In general this policy increased tensions among the great powers in Europe from its start and therefore the ‘New Course’ and all the factors that contributed to it can be regarded as long-term causes of WWI. NAVAL ARMS RACE The Anglo-German Naval Arms Race was triggered by William II’s ambition to expand the German navy to the size of the British fleet. In order to achieve this, four Fleet Acts were passed in the period between 1898 and 1912. The British naval supremacy being challenged, Great Britain started her own fleet expansion programme expanding the Royal Navy massively in the period from 1902 to 1910 (Dreadnought battleships, Superdreadnought…). Great Britain had a two power standard with regards to her fleet, meaning that the Royal Navy was to match the size of the next biggest two fleets. Before Germany started its naval expansion, these fleets belonged to France and Russia. The Naval Arms Race increased tensions between Germany and Great Britain, because Germany’s enlargement of her fleet was seen as a provoking, threatening action by Great Britain. The long competition concerning the military between Great Britain and Germany ruptured their relation further and therefore can be considered a long-term cause of WWI. KRÜGER TELGEGRAM The Krüger Telegram was a message sent by William II of Germany to Paulus Krüger, president of the Transvaal Republic (being?). He congratulated him for the repelling of a raid by 600 British irregulars, who intended to trigger an anti-government uprising by the primarily British expatriate miners. As the telegram became public, the British were furious about it, which resulted in a deterioration of British German relations. (Boers?) DAILY TELEGRAPH AFFAIR The Daily Telegraph Affair was a state affair in the German Empire in 1908. Triggering the scandal were a number of talks Kaiser William II had had with a British colonel. He summarized the talks to wild statements and diplomatically damaging remarks and sent this “interview” to the British newspaper Daily Telegraph. The newspaper sent the manuscript to Berlin to have it confirmed by William II before publication. However, this was the task of the chancellor of the Empire Bernhard von Bülow. As he was as absent as well as the press relations officer, the paper was confirmed by someone in the Department for Foreign Affairs without having been proofread. The reaction of both the British and the German public was devastating for William II. Some voices called for his abdication, his prestige was severely damaged and British German relations suffered as he had indicated that the Germans cared nothing for the British. (The British are mad as March hares…) ENTENTE CORDIALE The Entente Cordiale was the precursor of the Triple Entente and was established in 1904. France and Great Britain cleared colonial disputes between them, because the new German world policy caused nervousness among them. The treaty was aimed at preventing German expansion in Europe, but mainly to prevent any further involvement of Germany in colonial affairs. (Entente v. alliance?) TRIPLE ENTENTE The Triple Entente was the extension of the Entente Cordiale (1904) between France and Great Britain with the inclusion of Russia in 1907. The Triple Entente was created with the signing of the Anglo-Russian Entente in August 1907. This treaty settled the dispute between Russia and Great Britain about the supreme role in Central Asia. The Triple Entente was created as a counterweight to the Triple Alliance and thereby also to re- establish a balance of power in Europe. However, it can also be considered as one of the long-term causes for WWI, because with its creation the building of two opposing blocs had been completed. TRIPLE ALLIANCE The Triple Alliance was created in 1882 as an expansion of the Dual Alliance that had consisted of Austria-Hungary and Germany. Including Italy the alliance was created as a defensive one. If any of these countries was attacked by any other great power, the others would support their ally. However, support for an aggressive action was not compulsory. This was why Italy did not join Austria-Hungary and Germany when they declared war in 1914. The intention behind including Italy was to deprive France of a potential ally, thereby serving the purpose of keeping France isolated. This Alliance was part of the formation of bloc-alliances in Europe and therefore can be considered a long-term cause for WWI. FIRST & SECOND MOROCCAN CRISES The First Moroccan Crisis started in 1905 when Germany questioned Morocco’s status in order to ‘free’ it from French control and increase frictions between France and Great Britain. This was interpreted as a provocative action not only by France, but also by Great Britain and thereby caused a closer relationship between the two nations. The dispute was settled peacefully in the Algeciras Conference, in which France was supported by Great Britain, the U.S.A., Russia, Spain and Italy. Germany, being only supported by Austria-Hungary, gave in. The conference was a humiliation for Germany and increased the tensions between the Entente Cordiale (F + GB) and the Triple Alliance (A-H + G + (I)). In addition to that the conference increased the temptation by Germany to interpret the self-inflicted isolationism as an alleged “encirclement” of Germany by hostile nations.