The debate the First World War?

1. The debate the First World War?

2. Connector • Draw a spider diagram about who/what/why is responsible for the First World War

3. World War 1? Spider Diagram

4. The Historical Debate • A war of aggression and conquest? • A war to stabilise an unstable Reich? • A defensive war? • War dictated by military planning? • A chapter of accidents?

5. A war of aggression and conquest? • ‘the sole cause of the outbreak of the war in 1914 was the Schlieffen plan’ • “[The German] bid for continental supremacy was certainly decisive in bringing on the European War ...” • A.J.P. Taylor, The Struggle for Mastery in Europe (1954) • AJP Taylor The Struggle for Mastery in Europe 1848-1914 • Where as Austrian and British mobilisations were diplomatic moves Germany's was to start a war.

6. Source • “One of the most surprising features of the reception of the news of the war was the enthusiasm shown not only by the half-educated and [nationalistic] masses, but by intellectuals, too… Running through such responses was … the deliberate cultivation of values and qualities directly opposed to those of the liberal civilization of the day... One spectacular example was the French engineer-turned-philosopher, Georges Sorel. His work, Reflections on Violence (1908), attributed all great achievements to violence... It is not, therefore, in the diplomatic documents, or the plans of the war offices that the whole story of the origins of the war can be found. When they have been [read], there still remain important questions about mass psychology and spiritual weariness to be answered before we can confidently say how so great a conflict came about.” • J. M. Roberts in History of World War One (1978)

7. A war to stabilise an unstable Reich? (Leninist) • A historian called Fishcer • Stated that the war was a result of the structure of Wilhelmine Germany and the power allowed to the militaristic Junkers, who were anti democratic and anti modern • They felt their domestic position to be under threat from social democracy and their aspirations could be blocked by the power of Britain and France

8. Source • “What really marked out the decade before 1914 was a failure of statesmanship and hope. By 1912, most European governments had come to believe that a general European war was inevitable and that the problems which plagued them at home and abroad could no longer be settled by negotiation and diplomacy… In these circumstances, war seemed to offer an attractive way out ... The balance sheet in 1918 proved how wrong they had been.” • R. Henig, The Origins of the First World War (1989)

9. “A peaceable, industrious, sensible mass of 500 million [European people], was hounded by a few dozen incapable leaders, by falsified documents, lying stories of threats, and chauvinistic catchwords, into a war which in no way was destined or inevitable.” • Emil Ludwig, July 1914 (1929)

10. A defensive war? • Germany after World War 1 believed it was surrounded by a circle of Great Powers- Britain, France and Russia • The Germans believed they had no option but to break this ring • The aggression of the Serbian government (archduke source) • Austria had to meet this challenge and AH was Germany’s ally • Britain should have helped localise the conflict (the Balkans) but this would have been impossible because of Russia’s role • Germany concluded no single person was responsible for the outbreak • They instead published up to 40 volumes of documents to prove that Germany was innocent

11. Source A • “In the so called peace treaty, the unheard of demand for reparations and the unexampled exploitation of Germany was founded on the lie regarding Germany’s war guilt. Did Germany desire the war, did she prepare maliciously and begin it wantonly? Today every informed person inside and outside Germany knows that Germany is absolutely innocent with regard to the outbreak of the war. Russia, France and England wanted war and unleashed it” • German school textbook 1920’s

12. But…. • Britain should have helped localise the conflict (the Balkans) but this would have been impossible because of Russia’s role • They admitted errors of judgment on the part of German leaders ie. The Kaiser believing the Tsar would not support murderers of a royal throne or that Britain would not get involved in a European war • Germany efficiency in making paperwork defending themselves provoked other countries to publish their version of events

13. War dictated by military planning? • The Germans had no option but to invade France – the Schlieffen plan and Plan 14 • How is military different today to 1914

14. Source • Historians have both praised and criticised Schlieffen's plan. It has been called "a conception of Napoleonic boldness", but criticised for failing to take account of the development of railways. • Thus, while the German troops would have "to march on their own feet round the circumference of the circle, the French would be able to switch troops by rail across the chord of the circle" • It has been praised from a military and strategic point of view as it "offered a real prospect of forcing a decision in the west and avoiding the agonizing trench war deadlock of 1914-18" and accurately predicted French strategy in 1914. • However, from a broader perspective it has been condemned for its "immorality..., the political folly of violating Belgian neutrality, and the almost reckless indifference to British intervention.

15. “The situation in Europe had been dangerously tense for more than thirty years, Germany, ever stronger and more pugnacious, was detested by the French... Kaiser William II, the arrogant young Emperor, [followed] a policy based on strength instead of caution. Convincing himself that Germany was being denied her rightful 'place in the sun', the Kaiser embarked upon a vast programme of military and naval armament. For mutual protection, therefore, France and Russia drew closer together ...The German Emperor, who had neither brains nor manners, seemed to go out of his way to give and to take offence. He wrote rudely to his grandmother [Queen Victoria], openly sided with the Boers, and told Britain to mind her own business in Egypt instead of complaining about German plans to build a railway from Berlin to Baghdad. Above all, he built a powerful battle-fleet which could only be intended to challenge British sea-power. In this situation Britain could not afford to remain isolated, and . . . Balfour made an approach to France. .” • R.J. Unstead, A Century of Change (1963) Balfour was Prime Minister of Britain 1902-5.

16. A chapter of accidents? • In his War Memoirs, the British Prime Minister seemed to accept the blame: • “We muddled into war.” • David Lloyd George (1934)

17. Past paper • Read sources • Read question • Lets go!