Germany+to+blame?

=Introduction=

German responsibility in the outbreak of World War one can be assessed by their motives in projecting the daunting and imperialist policy of Weltpolitik throughout the continient, engaging themselves in weakening relations between countries, and their hunger to prove the superiority of German military and naval forces.
 * Table of Contents**
 * 1) Introduction
 * 2) Pre-War Responsibility
 * 3) //Weltpolitik//
 * 4) //Arms Race//
 * 5) //Alliance System//
 * 6) //Antagonizing France//
 * 7) //Intimidating Britain//
 * 8) Wartime Responsibility
 * 9) //'Blank Cheque'//
 * 10) //Aggression Towards America//
 * 11) //Violation of Belgian Neutrality//
 * 12) Gallery
 * 13) Bibliography

=Pre-War Responsibility=

The responsibility of the Germans in the outbreak of the war is shown through their pre-war actions of instituting the domineering policy of Weltpolitik, producing a mass army and strategic tactics, making and breaking agreements with allies, and antagonizing France and Britain.

Weltpolitik The Germans imperialist policy of Weltpolitik was designed with the goal of, in Kaiser Wilhelm’s words, earning her rightful ‘ place in the sun ’. This aggressive philosophy made most European countries exceedingly uncomfortable, especially due to Germany’s rising military and industrial power. According to the leaders in charge of implementing Weltpolitik, the German empire was suffering in the shadow of the major European countries of France and Britain. In order to secure their desired position of power in the world, Germany needed to expand their land past the borders of the country; colonies. This meant vying for power of Northern Africa, ultimately causing hostilities with France. Gaining world market access and building an unbeatable navy were also crucial to their success; the creation of a powerful navy would challenge Britain’s world power standing. Germany portrayed Weltpolitik with an attitude that suggested that they were entitled to anything and everything they thought necessary to improve the empire, but had little regard for the impact their actions had on the rest of Europe. The most blatant example of their disregard for the effects of their movements was the violation of Belgian neutrality as means of reaching France in the Schlieffan Plan.

Arms Race By equipping themselves with a powerful military force, Germany was ready to fight. As the army began growing in numbers, their neighbors shifted uncomfortably with the thought of facing the German army alone. Around this time, many treaties were constructed between France, Russia and Britain. Because the Germans began making military strategies before the war began, and before any mobilization had taken place, it can be said that their premeditated actions were expectant of a war. With the creation of the Schlieffan plan, the prize of General Chief of Staff, Count von Schlieffen, assumed that war would take place. Expecting Russia to mobilize first, the plan was designed to send the army at full force into France and attack Paris. The seizure of Paris was allotted around 30 days, as they assumed Russia would need this time to gather and assess their entrance into the war.The plan displayed the hunger for power possessed by Germany, and their willingness to risk many things. The first, and obvious violation, was crossing through Belgium’s neutral land to enter France. Surely surrounding countries would respond to their brazen indifference to Belgian neutrality. Also, the plan assumed that Russia’s mobilization would take 30 days, and that France would be easy to overthrow.


 * Alliance System**

The complicated alliance system, created by former German chancellor Bismarck, was another factor that contributed to Germany’s blame in the outbreak of the war. The Germans anticipated war far before the crisis began. Bismarck allied with Austria-Hungary and Italy and created the Triple Alliance, which promised military support in the event of war. They thought it necessary to cement this alliance in order to ‘maintain peace’, but there were other motives involved.The Germans enticed Italy to join the alliance, in spite of apprehension towards Austria-Hungary, and in turn, claimed that Italy would benefit from land gains in the Balkans. The very creation of these ties illustrates Germany’s ultimate goal of war. Previous alliances with Russia were not renewed when Wilhelm II came into power, which cost the Germans their friendly relations with Russia, and greater hostilities with France. Because of Weltpolitik and Germany’s growing industrial, economic and military might, many European countries began pondering her motives, which is referred to as the German Question. Their dominance threatened to disrupt the balance of power in Europe, which had been meticulously regulated. Conscious of their disrega rd for the rest of Europe’s economic situation, the Germans forged forward with creating trade ties. Because they were seeking the war, the Germans created alliances and encouraged the outbreak of war.


 * Antagonizing France**

In their efforts to increase the borders of the German empire, officials began advocating for land in Northern Africa. In the first Moroccan Crisis of 1905, Germany became outraged at France’s growing dominance in Morocco, and insisted they uphold an ‘open door policy’. Chancellor von Bulow had become wary of France and Britain’s growing relationship, and sought to meddle with ties they had constructed. During the Algeciras Conference, meant to settle the matter of who would control Morocco, France emerged as the greater power; they had British, Italian, Russian and U.S. support, whilst the Germans were left humiliated. This gave them incentive to push for the outbreak of war. Continually jealous of the understanding between France and Britain, Kaiser Wilhelm II was insistent interfering with their efforts. In 1911, during the Second Moroccan Crisis, Germany made the Entante Cordiale nervous about the possibility of a military base in Atlantic waters. Germany was humiliated once again, and were given a small piece of land as compensation. Relations with France were ultimately ruined. Germany concluded that when war broke out, seizing the metropolis of Paris would spark the fuse.


 * Intimidating Britain**

German relation with Britain began to deteriorate with Alfred von Tirpitz ’s steadfast belief in building up the German Navy to a point where it would rival the British fleet. When the First Navy Law was passed, Tirpitz began his crusade of reinforcing the power of the navy. This created tension between the nations; Germany’s coastline was minimal, and their army vast and aggressive. Britain concluded that Germany would become much too powerful if her navy and army both were unbeatable. At this point, Germany was blatantly attempting to disrupt the balance of power that resided over Europe. Although Britain acknowledged this balance, they were used to being at the top of the economic spectrum. Germany agitated them by dangling Tirpitz’s Navy Law under their noses, causing Britain to engage in a heated arms race that established the simmering hostilities between the nations. The birth of the Dreadnought in Britain challenged Germany to create the equivalent. Because of Germany’s constant interjections into the foreign affairs of countries other than itself, the Germans can be blamed for antagonizing needlessly, all culminating in the outbreak of the war. =Wartime Responsibility= Germany was responsible for many instigative actions in the early days of the war, as well as several violations of international law.

With the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June 1914, the Austro-Hungarian empire had at last an excuse to declare war on Serbia. Serbia had destabilized Austro-Hungarian influence within the Balkans, and the already shaky empire was eager to attack the weaker Serbians in what they mistakenly believed to be a quick, decisive victory. The Austro-Hungarian Chief of Staff/Commander-in-Chief, Conrad von Hotzendorf was eager to launch an attack against Serbia without declaring war first. Prime Minister Tisza stood in his way, aware that conflict with Serbia had the potential to escalate as a consequence of Serbia's alliance with Russia, and Russia's alliance with France, and France's implied alliance with Britain. But Germany stepped forward, offering what would become known as "the blank cheque" to Austria-Hungary on July 6, 1914, effectively promising unconditional German support no matter how Austria-Hungary chose to deal with Serbia. The note indicated a general agreeableness towards going to war with France and Russia, if not Britain. Encouraged by the support from what was at the time the most powerful nation in Europe if not the world, Austria-Hungary issued their impossibly demanding ultimatum to Serbia.
 * Blank Cheque**

America initially had no interest in entering World War I. In August 1914, just as war was breaking out, American President Woodrow Wilson issued a declaration of neutrality. The war was on Europe, and of seemingly little consequence to America, other than as an economic benefit as the shifted into the role of goods supplier for the allies. But on May 7th, 1915, German U-boats patrolling the Atlantic fired torpedoes upon the British passenger ship Lucitania, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of women and children. 128 of the casualties were Americans. Outraged, Wilson demanded the Germans cease attacking passenger ships, but still held back from declaring outright war. He repeatedly warned that America would not tolerate unrestricted submarine warfare. In January 1917 Germany announced it would destroy all ships heading to Britain. Wilson broke off diplomatic ties to Germany, but still hoped to avoid conflict by arming American merchant vessels to deter German fire. The plan was a complete failure, and the American ships were sunk almost immediately. The final blow came in February 1917, when British intelligence handed over the Zimmerman telegram to the Americans, and war was at last declared.
 * Aggression Towards America**

Germany sent assurances to Belgium in 1911 and 1913 promising their neutrality, despite the ominous mobilization of German troops along the border. Immediately after war broke out, Britain sent an demand to Germany on August 3, 1914, warning them from invading Germany. In the same day Germany issued a 12-hour ultimatum to Belgium ordering that the German troops should be allowed to march through without resistance. Should Belgium not comply, she would be treated as an enemy. Granting Germany's wish would have meant effectively sacrificing its own status as a neutral country, and so Belgium refused, responding to Germany the next day with the message that they were "firmly resolved to repel every infringement of its rights by all the means in its power." At 4:00 PM the same day, Belgium appealed to England, France and Russia to co-operate as the powers which had guaranteed Belgium's neutral status. Outraged, Britain sent another message to Germany demanding that Belgium's neutrality not be violated, and when no reply was forthcoming, war was declared. Germany's violation of Belgium's neutrality went against international law, effectively breaking a policy that had been guaranteed by Britain, France, Austria, Russia and Germany for the past 75 years.
 * Violation of Belgian Neutrality**

=Gallery=

[[image:http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/art/hg/detail/hg_11afe.jpg caption="hg_11afe.jpg"]]
Map of Southern Europe German Propoganda Schlieffen Plan Bismarck

=Bibliography= Gilbert, Martin. //The First World War//. First. New York, New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1994. Print. Grenville, J. //A History of the World in the 20th Century//. Enlarged. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Belknap Press of Harvard University, 1980. Print. Pope, Stephen. //The Dictionary of the First World War//. New York; St. Martin's Press, 1995 Thomson, George. //The Twelve Days//. First. New York: G.P.Putnam's Sons, 1964. Print. Tuchman, Barbara. //The Guns of August//. First. New York: Random House, 1962. Print. "The German Problem" from Maxwell University Faculty. [|?]:faculty.maxwell.syr.edu/jbennett/124f04/A040915-101.doc+%27the+german+problem%27+ww1&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a "Causes of the First World War" [] "Sir Edward Grey's Speech to Parliment 1909" http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~jobrien/reference/ob71.html