The Great War - History Book Chapter Page 5
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26Yet another troubling development throughout the early years of the 20th century
was the rise of a dangerous European arms race. The nations of Europe believed
that to be truly great, they needed to have a powerful military. By 1914, all the
Great Powers except Britain had large standing armies. In addition, military
experts stressed the importance of being able to quickly mobilize, or organize and
move troops in case of a war. Generals in each country developed highly detailed
plans for such a mobilization.
The policy of glorifying military power and keeping an army prepared for war
militarism
was known as
. Having a large and strong standing army made citizens
feel patriotic. However, it also frightened some people. As early as 1895, Frédéric
Passy, a prominent peace activist, expressed a concern that many shared:
P R I M A R Y S O U R C E
The entire able-bodied population are preparing to massacre one another; though no
one, it is true, wants to attack, and everybody protests his love of peace and
determination to maintain it, yet the whole world feels that it only requires some
unforeseen incident, some unpreventable accident, for the spark to fall in a flash . . .
and blow all Europe sky-high.
FRÉDÉRIC PASSY, quoted in Nobel: The Man and His Prizes
Tangled Alliances
Growing rivalries and mutual mistrust had led to the creation
of several military alliances among the Great Powers as
early as the 1870s. This alliance system had been designed
to keep peace in Europe. But it would instead help push the
continent into war.
Bismarck Forges Early Pacts
Between 1864 and 1871,
Prussia’s blood-and-iron chancellor, Otto von Bismarck,
freely used war to unify Germany. After 1871, however,
Bismarck declared Germany to be a “satisfied power.” He
then turned his energies to maintaining peace in Europe.
Bismarck saw France as the greatest threat to peace. He
Kaiser Wilhelm II
believed that France still wanted revenge for its defeat in the
1859–1941
Franco-Prussian War. Bismarck’s first goal, therefore, was
Wilhelm II was related to the leaders
to isolate France. “As long as it is without allies,” Bismarck
of two nations he eventually would
engage in war. Wilhelm, George V of
stressed, “France poses no danger to us.” In 1879, Bismarck
Great Britain, and Nicholas II of
formed the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-
Russia were all cousins.
Hungary. Three years later, Italy joined the two countries,
The kaiser thought a great deal of
forming the
Triple Alliance
. In 1881, Bismarck took yet
himself and his place in history.
another possible ally away from France by making a treaty
Once, when a doctor told him he
with Russia.
had a small cold, Wilhelm reportedly
responded, “No, it is a big cold.
Shifting Alliances Threaten Peace
In 1890, Germany’s
Everything about me must be big.”
Kaiser
foreign policy changed dramatically. That year,
He also could be sly and deceitful.
Wilhelm II
—who two years earlier had become ruler of
After forcing the popular Bismarck to
Germany—forced Bismarck to resign. A proud and stub-
resign, Wilhelm pretended to be
upset. Most people, however,
born man, Wilhelm II did not wish to share power with any-
including Bismarck, were not fooled.
one. Besides wanting to assert his own power, the new
kaiser was eager to show the world just how mighty
Germany had become. The army was his greatest pride. “I
For more on
RESEARCH LINKS
Wilhelm II, go to
and the army were born for one another,” Wilhelm declared
shortly after taking power.
842
Chapter 29
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