How successful was German foreign policy between 1871-1904? D and below

1
How successful was German foreign policy between
1871-1904?D and below to know the alliances
system and how this caused WWIB aim to analyze
how far changes to alliances and Weltpolitik
caused WWIA/A aim to analyze how far Germany
and other countries caused WWI when considering
alliances and Weltpolitik

• Starter
• There are 4 established causes of WW1
• Militarism
• Alliances
• Imperialism
• Nationalism
• Look at the 10 events and decide which category
  the fall into
• Ext. Which of these suggest the blame of WWI lies
  with Germany and which suggests that it lies with
  Britain?

2
In 1906, Britain launched the first Dreadnaught, the most modern ship of its time. It was quicker and carried bigger guns than other ships. The Germans knew that they might one day have to fight both France and Russia, so in 1905 they drew up a plan to avoid this the Schlieffen Plan. This was that Germany would invade France via Belgium (a neutral country) and quickly gain control. Then its army would turn and fight Russia. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was made up of many countries. The different nationalities within the empire wanted independence. However, the Emperor wanted to keep all of his empire. In 1882, Germany Italy and Austria-Hungary formed the Triple Alliance. They promised to help each other if attacked. Britain promised to protect Belgium if it was attacked by Germany.
Germany was jealous of Britains empire. The Kaiser (Emperor) wanted an empire as well. In 1907, Germany was proud of its navy. Germany wanted it to be as good if not better than, Britains. So the Nassau Class was built to compete with the British Dreadnought. Russia wanted to take land from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so they were enemies. In 1907, France, Russia and Britain formed an alliance called the Triple Entente, which said they would help each other if attacked. Serbia wanted all the Slav people in the Austro-Hungarian Empire to be free and independent. Many Russians were also Slavs, so Russia promised to help Serbia against Austria-Hungary.
3

• However, this view is very world focused and as
  A-Level historians our focus needs to be on
  Germany and the role that it specifically played
  in the start of WW1. There are 5 major different
  schools of historical thought on the issue.

Fritz Fischer Germany held the most
responsibility as they had an unquestionable
desire to achieve German dominance in Europe
Wehler Domestic issues (such as growth of Social
Democrats and Zabern affair) forced Prusso-German
elites to pursue war as a means of deflecting
public opinions to so called escape forwards
theory.
Strurmer It was an offensively conducted
defensive war based on exposed geosrategic
position of Germany
Critics of Fischers Thesis Historians have
criticised Fischers thesis and place blame with
the Austro-Hungarians, Russians, the general
defensive climate in Europe, imperialism, the
Eastern Question, and the arms race.
Pogge von Strandmann It was a calculated war that
Germany believed it could win in order to
strengthen Germanys domestic and diplomatic
situation
Divide your A3 sheet into 5 and write headings of
these 5 theories.
4
1) Did the break up of the Bismarck system of
alliances after 1890 set in motion a chain of
events that led to WW1?Bismarckian alliances up
to 1890

1. Triple Alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary
   and Italy 1882
2. The Reinsurance Treaty (1887) linked Germany and
   Russia
3. 1887 Britain signs Mediterranean Agreements with
   Italy and Austria

• C and below
• Write definitions for each of these alliances
  from Access to History pp. 48-53
• What was Bismarcks aim up to 1890?

• B and A/A
• Using your reading draw lines on the tracing
  paper over the countries to represent the
  different alliances
• How did Bismarck achieve his aims up to 1890?

5
1) Did the break up of the Bismarck system of
alliances after 1890 set in motion a chain of
events that led to WW1? 1890-1904 Did
Bismarck diplomacy collapse?

1. 1890 Reinsurance Treaty lapses
2. Franco-Russian Alliance 1894
3. Kruger Telegram 1896 Britain and Germany fall
   out
4. The British realised their policy of splendid
   isolation, that their role as the strongest
   naval and imperial power meant they didnt need
   any allies, was weakening. They tried to make an
   Anglo-German agreement from 1898-1901, partly as
   Bulow believed that Britains rivalry with France
   and Russia would bring them close to war and
   Germany didnt want to alienate Russia.
5. 1902 Anglo-Japanese Alliance
6. 1904 Anglo French Agreement (Entente Cordiale)

• C and below
• Write definitions for each of these events from
  Access to History pp. 48-53
• How did Bismarcks diplomacy collapse?

• B and A/A
• Using your reading draw lines on the tracing
  paper over the countries to represent the
  different alliances
• Why did Bismarckian diplomacy collapse?

6
1) Did the break up of the Bismarck system of
alliances after 1890 set in motion a chain of
events that led to WW1? 1904-1914 Europe on the
brink of war

• 1905 Russo Japanese War
• 1907 Britain signs entente with Russia creating
  the Triple Entente with France
• Austria supports Turkey in Balkans 1908

• C and below
• Write definitions for each of these events from
  Access to History pp. 48-53
• How did this development in alliances make war
  more likely?

• B and A/A
• Using your reading draw lines on the tracing
  paper over the countries to represent the
  different alliances
• Can we blame WWI on the ending of Bismarckian
  diplomacy?

7
How successful was German foreign policy from
1871 to 1904?
Can you add any evidence to any of your theories?
8
Weltpolitik Access to History

• What was it/aims?
• What did it mean for international affairs?
• Which historical views does it link to?

9
Grade RAW Mark Percent a B
A 55 78 23 31
B 49 70 21 28
C 43 61 18 24
D 37 53 16 21
E 31 44 13 18
10
Objectives Who will it upset and why? Achievements
The expansion of the Navy
Large colonial empire in central Africa
Economic domination of central Europe
Use page 55
11
Splendid isolationism

• Britain, largely due to its economic and naval
  superiority, had no need to sign alliances in the
  19th century. However, by 1900 it was isolated
  and coming under increasing pressure from France,
  Russia and Germany so isolation appeared less
  attractive.
• However, Germany failed to take advantage of the
  situation. While Britain pushed for an
  Anglo-German agreement between 1898-1901, Bulow
  was convinced that Britains rivalry with France
  and Russia would end in a war. Therefore
  negotiations lapsed
• The growing commercial and naval rivalry led to
  the growth of negative public opinions in both
  countries towards each other
• The signing of the Anglo-Japanese agreement
  (allowing Britain to strengthen the navy in the
  north sea by withdrawing ships from the pacific)
  and the Anglo-French agreement (aimed at settling
  colonial disputes and encourage diplomacy)
  weakened Germany considerably. They could no
  longer rely on Anglo-French hostility to
  strengthen their own hand.

Why did Britain and Germany dislike eachother?
12
Challenge the Historian

• Ferguson argues that................ which is
  supported by the fact that ..........
• However, it could be argued that .............
• Fundamentally ....................................
  ....

13

• Did German foreign policy fail between 1890 and
  1904? Explain your answer
• Read pp. 58-66 and make notes on the crises and
  tensions of 1904 to 1911.