How did growing militarism lead to the First World War?

The Naval Race

As you saw from the video, Germany's

policy of Weltpolitik brought it into conflict
with Britain which responded to the threat
to its naval supremacy by abandoning its
policy of 'splendid isolation'. In 1902 it
made an alliance with Japan giving it an
ally in the Far East which allowed it to
bring back warships from this area. This
alliance was followed by an entente with
France. Although this entente was not a
formal alliance, it settled rivalry between
the two nations over colonial issues, and
set a new direction for Anglo-French
relations

In 1907, Britain and Russia reached an

agreement over their relationship with
Persia, Tibet and Afghanistan, again
reducing British concern over security in India and the Far East; France had already secured
Russia as an ally following Germany's failure to renew the Reinsurance Treaty of 1887. Now
Russia, France, and Britain joined together in the Triple Entente. German naval expansion had
thus forced Britain into seeking an agreement with its former colonial rivals, leaving Germany
concerned that it was becoming 'encircled'.

The other impact of the Kaiser's actions in creating a navy was that it started a naval arms race.
Two Navy Laws of 1898 and 1900 laid the basis for a powerful German battle fleet. Britain
responded by launching a super-battleship, the Dreadnought in 1906 and ordering the
construction of eight battle ships in 1909. The naval race also impacted on British attitudes; the
British public now saw Germany as the new enemy threatening Britain.

Tirpitz’s Risk Theory

The German admiral’s idea
that if enough ships were
built to rival Britain’s navy,
Britain would avoid conflict
and in fact actually try to
accommodate (work with)
Germany. It had the
opposite effect.
Fact box & military table
(left), p. 21 of textbook
The Arms Race & Military planning

The naval race discussed above was part of a more general arms race. Between 1870 and
1914, military spending by the European powers increased by 300 per cent. The increase in the
European population made it possible to have large standing armies and conscription was
introduced in all continental countries after 1871. In addition there was a massive increase in
armaments. Although there was some attempt to stop the arms build-up - for instance, at
conferences at The Hague in 1899 and in 1907 - no limits on arms production were agreed
upon.

In addition, every country in Europe had detailed plans regarding what to do if war broke out.
The most famous of these was Germany's Schlieffen Plan , but other countries also had plans
such as France's Plan 17.

The problem with these plans was that they reduced the flexibility of the Great Powers'
response to crises. This was particularly the case of the Schlieffen Plan which was based on
Germany fighting a two front war.
What was the Schlieffen Plan (overview)?

What were the problems with the Schlieffen Plan?

1. It was based on Russia’s actions, not Germany being ready
2. It was based on the assumption that Russia would take 6 weeks to mobilise
3. It also assumed that Germany could defeat France in 6 weeks

What were the outcomes of the Schlieffen Plan?

1. It did nearly succeed under General Moltke- the Germans were stopped in the first battle
of war, the Battle of the Marne in August 1914
2. It failed due to:
3. Poor communication between Headquarters (HQ) & the frontline
4. Better defence by the Russians than expected drew German soldiers away
5. It did not defeat France
6. It drew Britain into the war
7. It resulted in the development of trench warfare and subsequently stalemate

You have more information on militarism and the Schlieffen Plan in general on the website
which you can add into your revision tables when you come to review the topic.
 THE ALLIANCE SYSTEM

In part due to increasing militarisation and the threat that this brought, alongside growing
competition over empires and European prestige, a network of alliances developed offering
military protection and political support in the shifting allegiances of Europe.

Context: Background to the Alliance system

What is an alliance?

An alliance is a political, military or economic agreement, negotiated and signed by two or more
nations. Military alliances usually contain promises that in the event of war or aggression,
signatory nations will support their allies.

The terms of this support are outlined in the alliance document. They can range from financial or
logistic backing, like the supply of materials or weapons, to military mobilisation and a
declaration of war against the aggressor.

Alliances may also contain economic elements, such as trade agreements, investment or loans.

Origins of the alliance system

In many respects, the pre-war alliance network as a byproduct of European geopolitics. Europe
had long been a melting pot of ethnic and territorial rivalries, political intrigues and paranoia.

France and England were ancient antagonists whose rivalry erupted into open warfare several
times between the 14th and early 19th centuries. Relations between the French and Germans
were also troubled, while France and Russia also had their differences.

Alliances provided European states with a measure of protection. They served as a means of
guarding or advancing national interests while acting as a deterrent to war. They were
particularly important for Europe’s smaller or less powerful states.

Anti-Napoleonic alliances
During the 1700s, kings and princes regularly formed or re-formed alliances, usually to protect
their interests or to isolate rivals. Many of these alliances and alliance blocs were short-lived.
Some collapsed when new leaders emerged; others were nullified or replaced by new alliances.

The rise of French dictator Napoleon Bonaparte in the early 1800s ushered in a brief period of
‘super alliances’. European nations allied themselves either in support of Bonaparte or to defeat
him. Between 1797 and 1815, European leaders formed seven anti-Napoleonic coalitions. At
various times these coalitions included Britain, Russia, Holland, Austria, Prussia, Sweden,
Spain and Portugal.
After Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo in 1815, European leaders worked to restore normality and
stability to the continent. The Congress of Vienna (1815) established an informal system of
diplomacy, defined national boundaries and sought to prevent wars and revolutions. The
congress system worked for a time but started to weaken in the mid-1800s.

The late 19th century

Imperial interests, changes in government, a series of revolutions (1848) and rising nationalist
movements in Germany, Italy and elsewhere saw European rivalries and tensions increase
again in the mid-1800s.

During the late 19th century, European leaders continued to form, annul and restructure
alliances on a regular basis. The alliance system during this period is often attributed to German
chancellor Otto von Bismarck and his attitude of realpolitik.

From: https://alphahistory.com/worldwar1/alliances/

Alliances infographic
Key alliances

The Treaty of London (1839)

Note: this falls outside of your time period but is useful contextual information

Though not a formal alliance, this multi-lateral treaty acknowledged the existence of Belgium as
an independent and neutral state. Several of Europe’s great powers, including Great Britain and
Prussia, were signatories to this treaty.

Belgium had earned statehood in the 1830s after separating from southern Holland. The Treaty
of London was still in effect in 1914, so when German troops invaded Belgium in August 1914,
the British considered it a violation of the treaty.

The Dreikaiserbund or Three Emperors’ League (1873)

The Dreikaiserbund joined Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary into an alliance. Its terms
were very vague, but it served Bismarck’s purpose of keeping France isolated.

The Dual Alliance (1879)

Austria-Hungary and Russia came into conflict over events in the Balkans and the
Dreikaiserbund collapsed. In its place, Bismarck made a separate treaty with the Austrians. This
alliance was part of Bismarck’s system to limit the possibility of war between the European
powers, and was primarily defensive. Germany and Austria-Hungary agreed to assist one
another if Russia attacked them. Each country also agreed to remain neutral if the other was
attacked by another European country.

The Three Emperors’ Alliance (1881)

Russia, feeling isolated in Europe, turned back to Germany, and Bismarck drew up a revised
version of the Drieskaiserbund. Again, this offered Bismarck security. The terms of the alliance
included an agreement that if either Russia, Germany or Austria were at war with another
power, the others would remain neutral. The alliance also tried to resolve Austro- Russian
disputes in the Balkans.

The Triple Alliance (1882)

This alliance was between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. If any of the signatories were
attacked by two or more powers, the others promised to lend assistance.
The Reinsurance Treaty (1887)

The Three Emperors’ Alliance fell to pieces due to Balkan problems in 1885. Thus, this separate
treaty with Russia was drawn up in order to avoid any risk of a war on two fronts. Bismarck had
to make new arrangements to ensure that Germany stayed friendly with Russia.

From: https://www.thinkib.net/history/page/22812/1-first-world-war-causes-atl

The Entente Cordiale (1904)

Meaning ‘friendly agreement’, the Entente Cordiale was a series of negotiations and
agreements between Britain and France, finalised in 1904.
The Entente ended a century of hostility between the two cross-channel neighbours. It also
resolved some colonial disagreements and other minor but lingering disputes.
The Entente was not a military alliance since neither signatory was obliged to provide military
support for the other. Nevertheless, it was seen as the first step towards an Anglo-French
military alliance.

The Anglo-Russian Entente (1907)

This agreement between Britain and Russia eased tensions and restored good relations
between London and Saint Petersburg.
Britain and Russia had spent much of the 19th century as antagonists. They went to war in the
Crimea (1853-56) and later twice neared the brink of war.
The Anglo-Russian Entente resolved several points of disagreement, including the status of
colonial possessions in the Middle East and Asia. It did not involve any military commitment or
support.

The Triple Entente (1907)

This treaty consolidated the Entente Cordiale and the Anglo-Russian Entente into a three-way
agreement between Britain, France and Russia.
Again, The Triple Entente was not a military alliance – but the three Ententes of 1904-7 were
important because they marked the end of British neutrality and isolationism.

From: https://alphahistory.com/worldwar1/alliances/