TOPICS:
The alliance system and international rivalry, 1905–14
The growth of tension in Europe, 1905–14
The Schlieffen Plan and deadlock on the Western Front
The war at sea and Gallipoli
The defeat of Germany
Two features of the alliance system
1. Mutual and official agreement of protection
+ support in political negotiations -> brought advantages due to power and influence
+ B F R - Entente / AH I G - Alliance
+ troops & naval support in outbreak of war
+ official agreements of protection
2. Led to increased tension between Great Powers - contributing to WW1
+ e.g. France & German rivalry over Alsace-Lorraine
+ e.g. Austria Hungary & Russia disagreement over future of Slavs in Eastern Europe
+ tension exacerbated by alliance system, lead to 1914 WW1
Two features of the naval/Anglo-German race
1. Introduction of dreadnoughts.
+ British HMS Dreadnought: dec 1906
+ invention of biggest, fastest, most powerful battleship
+ made all other warships obsolete
+ add speed/aggression to naval race
+ When Germany built their first Dreadnought in 1907, Britain felt inclined build a super
Dreadnought to stay ahead
+ could carry 800 sailors / blow up enemy ship 32km
- By 1914 Britain had 29 and Germany had 17
+ aggression built tension b/w GP
2. German need to challenge Britain navy
+ Britain = island w large empire = need to protect from European aggr. = need a superior
navy
+ BUT Germany desired to gain more land & expand (Kaiser was envious of Britain’s power)
+ 1905: naval production increased
+ 1905: setting up of German Naval League
Two features of the Triple Entente (1907)
1. a friendly understanding b/w Britain, France, Russia
+ alarmed by strong central bloc by Triple Alliance in 1882
+ 1894: France made alliance with Russia
, + 1904: France and Britain Entente Cordiale (‘Friendly Relationship’)
+ 1907: triple entente formed
+ settled military and imperial differences between them
+ Pact to defend themselves against other countries
+ hoped to expand outside Europe by invasion/treaty agreements
+ increase prosperity by trading overseas
DEP
2. Tensions with other nations in Europe deepened
+ Triple entente made in retaliation to Triple Alliance
+ aimed to defend each other against other potential enemies
+ ensure safety from attacks
+ they had a 'moral obligation' to support one another
+ TE alarmed Germany as was surrounded by allies
+ rather than acting as deterrent, alliances increased war probability
DESMOD
Two features of Triple Alliance (May 1882)
1. New membership created splitting six Great Powers
+ Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
+ lasted until outbreak of WW1
+ Pact to defend themselves against other countries
+ hoped to expand on mainland Europe
+ increase prosperity by trading overseas
2. Tensions with other nations in Europe deepened
+ Triple entente made in retaliation
+ aimed to defend each other against other potential enemies with military support
+ ensure safety from attacks
+ rather than acting as detergent, alliances increased war probability
Two features of the Schlieffen Plan (December 1905)
1. Aimed to avoid Germany having to fight a war on two fronts. (1905)
+ December 1905: Plan by Count Alfred von Schlieffen (senior general of the German army)
+ Germany’s two main enemies on land were France in West & Russia in East
+ thus, Germany may have to fight war on two fronts simultaneously.
+ Germany's army would have to be divided in two
+ unlikely to lead to victory for Germany
+ in order to avert such, Schlieffen made a plan
2. In order for it to work, it assumed that Russia would be slow to mobilise.
+ Germany presumed Russia would take 3 months to mobilise due to its large area and poor
road/rail systems = extra time for German army
+ instead it only tools 6 weeks to mobilise
+ 10% of German army would keep the French engaged in a side attack
+ 90% would invade at high speed through neutral Belgium and Holland
The alliance system and international rivalry, 1905–14
The growth of tension in Europe, 1905–14
The Schlieffen Plan and deadlock on the Western Front
The war at sea and Gallipoli
The defeat of Germany
Two features of the alliance system
1. Mutual and official agreement of protection
+ support in political negotiations -> brought advantages due to power and influence
+ B F R - Entente / AH I G - Alliance
+ troops & naval support in outbreak of war
+ official agreements of protection
2. Led to increased tension between Great Powers - contributing to WW1
+ e.g. France & German rivalry over Alsace-Lorraine
+ e.g. Austria Hungary & Russia disagreement over future of Slavs in Eastern Europe
+ tension exacerbated by alliance system, lead to 1914 WW1
Two features of the naval/Anglo-German race
1. Introduction of dreadnoughts.
+ British HMS Dreadnought: dec 1906
+ invention of biggest, fastest, most powerful battleship
+ made all other warships obsolete
+ add speed/aggression to naval race
+ When Germany built their first Dreadnought in 1907, Britain felt inclined build a super
Dreadnought to stay ahead
+ could carry 800 sailors / blow up enemy ship 32km
- By 1914 Britain had 29 and Germany had 17
+ aggression built tension b/w GP
2. German need to challenge Britain navy
+ Britain = island w large empire = need to protect from European aggr. = need a superior
navy
+ BUT Germany desired to gain more land & expand (Kaiser was envious of Britain’s power)
+ 1905: naval production increased
+ 1905: setting up of German Naval League
Two features of the Triple Entente (1907)
1. a friendly understanding b/w Britain, France, Russia
+ alarmed by strong central bloc by Triple Alliance in 1882
+ 1894: France made alliance with Russia
, + 1904: France and Britain Entente Cordiale (‘Friendly Relationship’)
+ 1907: triple entente formed
+ settled military and imperial differences between them
+ Pact to defend themselves against other countries
+ hoped to expand outside Europe by invasion/treaty agreements
+ increase prosperity by trading overseas
DEP
2. Tensions with other nations in Europe deepened
+ Triple entente made in retaliation to Triple Alliance
+ aimed to defend each other against other potential enemies
+ ensure safety from attacks
+ they had a 'moral obligation' to support one another
+ TE alarmed Germany as was surrounded by allies
+ rather than acting as deterrent, alliances increased war probability
DESMOD
Two features of Triple Alliance (May 1882)
1. New membership created splitting six Great Powers
+ Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
+ lasted until outbreak of WW1
+ Pact to defend themselves against other countries
+ hoped to expand on mainland Europe
+ increase prosperity by trading overseas
2. Tensions with other nations in Europe deepened
+ Triple entente made in retaliation
+ aimed to defend each other against other potential enemies with military support
+ ensure safety from attacks
+ rather than acting as detergent, alliances increased war probability
Two features of the Schlieffen Plan (December 1905)
1. Aimed to avoid Germany having to fight a war on two fronts. (1905)
+ December 1905: Plan by Count Alfred von Schlieffen (senior general of the German army)
+ Germany’s two main enemies on land were France in West & Russia in East
+ thus, Germany may have to fight war on two fronts simultaneously.
+ Germany's army would have to be divided in two
+ unlikely to lead to victory for Germany
+ in order to avert such, Schlieffen made a plan
2. In order for it to work, it assumed that Russia would be slow to mobilise.
+ Germany presumed Russia would take 3 months to mobilise due to its large area and poor
road/rail systems = extra time for German army
+ instead it only tools 6 weeks to mobilise
+ 10% of German army would keep the French engaged in a side attack
+ 90% would invade at high speed through neutral Belgium and Holland
