Free Essay

‘German Aggression Was Responsible for the Outbreak of a General European War in August 1914.’ How Far Do You Agree with This Judgement?

In:

Submitted By tommym98
Words 1222
Pages 5
It is heavily debated that the display of German aggression inevitably contributed to the outbreak of general European tensions, and war in 1914. The use of strategies such as the Anglo-German Naval Race, as stated in Joll’s source, highlighted the aggression by Germany prior to war. Moreover, this type of tactic also demonstrated the desire and hunger Germany obtained for continental power, another factor towards European tensions. The sources in question both support and contest the set statement, to an extent. Sources 1 and 3 by Corrigan and Joll, respectively, argue how Germany’s use of tactics agitated European powers, thus causing war. However, Source 2 by Turner disagrees with the statement, arguing how other European powers were to blame for the outbreak of general war. Nevertheless, all sources will be taken into account and analysed with the support of other relevant in the build-up to war, before reaching a final judgement.
Corrigan’s source thoroughly argues how Germany used the tactic of aggression to stipulate war. Corrigan includes the historian within the source, Fischer, to highlight how Germany were to blame for general war. Fischer states that “at least as early as 1906, Germany had in place a plan for an aggressive war based on the premise that Germany would have to fight Russia and France simultaneously”. The quote demonstrates how Germany aimed to use methods of aggression to agitate other nations. Additonally, the quote also implies how Germany had been planning for war for a substantial period of time; “as early as 1906”. Furthermore, this indicates how Germany had planned to use the war via aggression to agitate other European nations; “Fischer is adamant that Germany’s foreign policy aims were focused on annexation”. This further highlights Germany used aggression to gain power, as well as create general war. Similarly, Source 2 by Turner also states how Germany “courted a great war”, again highlighting Germany’s proposal of war in order to gain power. Moreover, Corrigan and Turner also demonstrate Germany’s support to Austria-Hungary in war with Serbia; “pushing Austria-Hungary into premature declaration of war”. However, Corrigan fully conforms to the statement, arguing how Germany indeed caused general war through continuous aggression, whereas Turner argues that as well as Germany, other nation contributed to the outbreak of war. An example of German aggression that inevitably contributed to the outbreak of war was the Agadir Crisis in 1911. The crisis demonstrated European tensions between the UK and France against Germany for using naval power to invade Agadir Port. As a result, this led to Britain and France threatening to use violence upon Germany, causing an expansion in European tensions. Another example that is evident of Germany aggression is the German policy of Weltpolitik. The 1891 policy sought German expansion, becoming confrontational towards other European nations. Again, this demonstrates how Germany would confront and agitate other nations, contributing to the tensions between European countries before sparking a general war.
On the other hand, Turner argues how German aggression did not contribute to the outbreak of general war. Turner states that Germany provoked Austria-Hungary to declaring war on Serbia. Nevertheless, Turner also argues how other nations contributed to war. Turner states “The crisis got out of control because Bethmann pushed Austria into premature war with Serbia. French General Staff drove Russia along the fatal path of mobilisation”. The quote infers how despite that Germany may have provoked Austria-Hungary into “premature war”, they were not the only nation causing general war. The fact that France forced Russia into “fatal mobilisation” suggests that most people ignored other nation’s flaws and their contributions to war, scapegoating Germany in the process. Furthermore, this also argues how Germany’s aggressive Schlieffen Plan was not fully responsible for general war. Furthermore, the 1905-06 Moroccan Crisis was also evident of how other nations as well as Germany were to blame for war. The crisis led to a Russian betrayal of Germany, prioritising the Triple Entente instead. As a result, Germany vowed revenge, leading to aggressive strategies to take place. Despite this indicating that German aggression was at hand, it is implied that Russian betrayal was a cause of this aggression – evident that other nations were not just at blame for war, but also the consistent aggression by Germany. Despite this, Joll supports Turner, also arguing how Germany had a concrete determination of being involved in war despite the efforts of other nations. However, Turner states how Germany wanted to “avert crisis” whereas Joll contests this, using the arms race as an example of how German aggression inevitably led to general war. On the other hand, despite Turner implicating Germany’s intentions of war, events such as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 indicate how other nations used their own aggression to cause war. The assassination in Sarajevo sparked international outrage. Moreover, the event displayed how nations such as Austria-Hungary and Serbia caused European war, thus concluding that German aggression was not the sole perpetrator of the outbreak of general European war.
Despite this, it is evident that German aggression caused European war. Joll contrasts with Turner, arguing how the German strategy of aggression via the arms race led to general war; “Arms race, in which all major powers were involved contributed to the sense that war was bound to come, sooner rather than later”. The quote implies that the use of the Arms Race was a major factor towards the inevitable war, also highlighting the aggression of Germany. Additonally, the source indicates the turbulent effect of the arms race on the nation; “it caused serious financial difficulties for all governments involved”. This demonstrates the severe impact of German aggression and how it had some severe flaws, despite hoping that the race would “make for peace rather than war”. A prime example of the consequences of German aggression was the July Crisis in 1914. The crisis led to severe consequences between Germany and other nations. The unconditional support by Germany for Austria-Hungary aka ‘blank cheque’ led to an increase in the chances of armed conflict and higher chances of war occurring. Overall, this is evident that Germany’s involvement in other nations conflict only spurred the chances of war. In support of Joll, Corrigan and Fischer also highlight how German aggression was creating war. Moreover, the historians also concluded how Germany were adamant that the war would create two things in German favour – power via annexation and armament. However, Joll highlights the financial consequences of German aggression, as well as state that the arms race was for peace whereas Corrigan differs, arguing nevertheless, Germany used aggression no matter what the consequence.
Overall, it is evident that German aggression played a part in the outbreak of general European war in 1914, as well as the involvement of other nations. Through events such as the Agadir Crisis and Weltpolitik, it Is evident that Germany increased the possibility of war through dependence of aggression. However, the roles of other nations such as France and Russia also prolonged the chances of war. With this in mind, the provocation of Austria-Hungary and aim for continental expansion demonstrated the urge and sought by Germany for war. However, events such as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Moroccan Crisis also increased European conflict, again concluding to the outbreak of general war.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

History Ib Review Notes

...Scandinavian and Slavic origin and settled in that region out of ± 800 AD Byzantine Empire A major legacy of the Byzantine Empire for the Russians was the eastern orthodox or Greek Orthodox Church With the decline of Byzantium came a wave of conquest from the East, the Mongols until the 15th century (Tatars). To a large extent, the Mongols allowed Russians to maintain their way of life: - Slavic based languages including writing system (Cyrillic) - Orthodox religion The Russians adopted much from Asian culture and this led western Europeans to think less of the Russians Geographically Russia was isolated from the rest of Europe: - Entirely land locked (mostly) - Huge Plains of Eastern Europe prevented overland travel During these early years there were a series of muscovite princes based in Moscow and called themselves Tsars. By the 17th century the Romanov family became the ruling dynasty: - Alexander I (1801-1825) - Nicholas I (1825-1855) - Alexander II (1855-1881) - Alexander III (1881-1894) - Nicholas II (1894-1917) Under the rule of Peter the Great (1689-1728) Russia grew greatly in size and entered the European World www.ibscrewed.org The Russia of 1800 was one of the greatest autocracies in Europe where: - The Tsar’s rule was absolute - There was a small, but powerful landowning elite - The vast majority of the population existed in a state called serfdom Serfdom: refers to the legal...

Words: 32400 - Pages: 130

Premium Essay

Mcmitler

...Adolf Hitler (German: [ˈadɔlf ˈhɪtlɐ]; 20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was the leader of the Nazi Party (NSDAP), Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and Führer ("leader") of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1945. He was effectively dictator of Nazi Germany, and was a central figure of World War II in Europe and the Holocaust. Hitler was a decorated veteran of World War I. He joined the precursor of the NSDAP, the German Workers' Party, in 1919 and became leader of the NSDAP in 1921. In 1923, he attempted a coup in Munich to seize power. The failed coup resulted in Hitler's imprisonment, during which time he dictated his autobiography and political manifesto Mein Kampf ("My Struggle"). After his release in 1924, Hitler gained popular support by attacking the Treaty of Versailles and promoting Pan-Germanism, anti-Semitism, and anti-communism with charismatic oratory and Nazi propaganda. Hitler frequently denounced international capitalism and communism as being part of a Jewish conspiracy. Hitler's Nazi Party became the largest elected party in the German Reichstag, leading to his appointment as chancellor in 1933. Following fresh elections won by his coalition, the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act, which began the process of transforming the Weimar Republic into Nazi Germany, a one-party dictatorship based on the totalitarian and autocratic ideology of National Socialism. Hitler aimed to eliminate Jews from Germany and establish a...

Words: 13618 - Pages: 55

Premium Essay

Politics

...REVISION BOOK ARAB –ISRAELI What was Zionism * The longing for a homeland for the Jews. * It is the international political movement supporting the re-establishment of a homeland for the Jewish people.’ * ‘The historic homeland of the Jews was in the land of Israel.’ * ‘Since its establishment, Zionists continue to support it.’ * ‘It encourages the migration of Jews to Israel.’ * ’40% of Jews live in Israel and this % is rising.’ * ‘Zionism wants to strengthen and protect Jews and the State o What problems faced Palestine in 1945 Civil disruption.‘ * Large numbers of Jews wanted to go to Palestine.’ * ‘The US was supporting a state of Israel.’ * ‘Should immigration be allowed?’ * ‘Campaigns of violence by the Irgun.’ Why did Britain decide to hand Palestine over to the United Nations * ‘It did not want to stay.’ * ‘Because of the cost.’ * ‘There was violence.’ * ‘Because of its view of Zionism.’ * ‘The pressure from the Irgun.’ * ‘Because of the guerrilla campaign. Explains why * ‘At the end of the war Britain was under great pressure to change its policy and allow in survivors of the holocaust. They refused and this brought about violent protest.’ * ‘The Irgun deliberately attacked and killed British soldiers including the explosion at the King David Hotel. The violence from the Irgun was intended to persuade the British to leave.’ * ‘Because...

Words: 87832 - Pages: 352

Premium Essay

Novel

...BY FIELD-MARSHAL ERICH VON MANSTEIN Edited and translated by ANTHONY G. POWELL Foreword by CAPTAIN B.H. LIDDELL HART Introduction to this Edition by MARTIN BLUMENSON DEM ANDENKEN UNSERES GEFALLEN SOHNES GERO v. MANSTEIN UND ALLER FÜR DEUTSCHLAND GEFALLENEN KAMARADEN CONTENTS INTRODUCTION by Martin Blumenson FOREWORD by Captain B. H. Liddell Hart AUTHOR'S PREFACE TRANSLATOR'S NOTE Part I. The Campaign in Poland 1. BEFORE THE STORM 2. THE STRATEGIC POSITION 3. THE OPERATIONS OF SOUTHERN ARMY GROUP Part II. The Campaign in the West INTRODUCTORY NOTE 4. THE ECLIPSE OF O.K.H. 5. THE OPERATION PLAN CONTROVERSY 6. COMMANDING GENERAL, 38 ARMY CORPS 7. BETWEEN TWO CAMPAIGNS Part III. War in the East 8. PANZER DRIVE 9. THE CRIMEAN CAMPAIGN 10. LENINGRAD - VITEBSK 11. HITLER AS SUPREME COMMANDER 12. THE TRAGEDY OF STALINGRAD 13. THE 1942-3 WINTER CAMPAIGN IN SOUTH RUSSIA 14. OPERATION 'CITADEL' 15. THE DEFENSIVE BATTLES OF 1943-4 APPENDIX I APPENDIX II APPENDIX III APPENDIX IV MILITARY CAREER GLOSSARY OF MILITARY TERMS ILLUSTRATIONS MAPS Key to Symbols used in Maps 1. German and Polish Deployment, and Execution of German Offensive. 2. Southern Army Group's Operations in Polish Campaign. 3. The O.K.H. plan of Operations for German Offensive in the West. 4. Army Group A's Proposals for German Operations in the West. 5. 38 Corps' Advance from the Somme to the Loire. 6. 56 Panzer Corps' Drive into Russia. 7. Situation of Northern...

Words: 214033 - Pages: 857

Premium Essay

Bas Bhat

...CRIME, PROCEDURE AND EVIDENCE IN A COMPARATIVE AND INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT This book aims to honour the work of Professor Mirjan Damaška, Sterling Professor of Law at Yale Law School and a prominent authority for many years in the fields of comparative law, procedural law, evidence, international criminal law and Continental legal history. Professor Damaška’s work is renowned for providing new frameworks for understanding different legal traditions. To celebrate the depth and richness of his work and discuss its implications for the future, the editors have brought together an impressive range of leading scholars from different jurisdictions in the fields of comparative and international law, evidence and criminal law and procedure. Using Professor Damaška’s work as a backdrop, the essays make a substantial contribution to the development of comparative law, procedure and evidence. After an introduction by the editors and a tribute by Harold Koh, Dean of Yale Law School, the book is divided into four parts. The first part considers contemporary trends in national criminal procedure, examining cross-fertilisation and the extent to which these trends are resulting in converging practices across national jurisdictions. The second part explores the epistemological environment of rules of evidence and procedure. The third part analyses human rights standards and the phenomenon of hybridisation in transnational and international criminal law. The final part of the book assesses Professor...

Words: 195907 - Pages: 784

Premium Essay

Work, Culture and Identity in Mozambique and Southafrica 1860-1910

...Acknowledgments ix Acknowledgments This book owes a great deal to the mental energy of several generations of scholars. As an undergraduate at the University of Cape Town, Francis Wilson made me aware of the importance of migrant labour and Robin Hallett inspired me, and a generation of students, to study the African past. At the School of Oriental and African Studies in London I was fortunate enough to have David Birmingham as a thesis supervisor. I hope that some of his knowledge and understanding of Lusophone Africa has found its way into this book. I owe an equal debt to Shula Marks who, over the years, has provided me with criticism and inspiration. In the United States I learnt a great deal from ]eanne Penvenne, Marcia Wright and, especially, Leroy Vail. In Switzerland I benefitted from the friendship and assistance of Laurent Monier of the IUED in Geneva, Francois Iecquier of the University of Lausanne and Mariette Ouwerhand of the dépurtement évangélrlyue (the former Swiss Mission). In South Africa, Patricia Davison of the South African Museum introduced me to material culture and made me aware of the richness of difference; the late Monica Wilson taught me the fundamentals of anthropology and Andrew Spiegel and Robert Thornton struggled to keep me abreast of changes in the discipline; Sue Newton-King and Nigel Penn brought shafts of light from the eighteenthcentury to bear on early industrialism. Charles van Onselen laid a major part of the intellectual foundations on...

Words: 178350 - Pages: 714

Free Essay

Globalisation

...el-Ojeili CONFRONTING GLOBALIZATION: Humanity, Justice and the Renewal of Politics FROM LEFT COMMUNISM TO POSTMODERNISM: Reconsidering Emancipatory Discourse Also by Patrick Hayden AMERICA’S WAR ON TERROR CONFRONTING GLOBALIZATION: Humanity, Justice and the Renewal of Politics COSMOPOLITAN GLOBAL POLITICS JOHN RAWLS: Towards a Just World Order THE PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN RIGHTS Critical Theories of Globalization Chamsy el-Ojeili Department of Sociology, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand Patrick Hayden School of International Relations, University of St Andrews, UK © Patrick Hayden and Chamsy el-Ojeili 2006 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The authors have asserted their rights to be identified as the authors of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. First published 2006 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS and 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y...

Words: 100030 - Pages: 401

Premium Essay

Learning Theory

...Preface to the second edition - xii Introduction - 1 About this book - 1 Approaching theory - 6 Slop and think: reviewing your study of literature to date - 8 My own 'stock-taking' - 9 1 Theory before 'theory' - liberal humanism - 11 The history of English studies - 11 Stop and think - 11 Ten tenets of liberal humanism - 16 Literary theorising from Aristotle to Leavis some key moments - 21 Liberal humanism in practice - 31 The transition to 'theory' - 32 Some recurrent ideas in critical theory - 34 Selected reading - 36 2 Structuralism - 39 Structuralist chickens and liberal humanist eggs Signs of the fathers - Saussure - 41 Stop and think - 45 The scope of structuralism - 46 What structuralist critics do - 49 Structuralist criticism: examples - 50 Stop and think - 53 Stop and think - 55 39 Stop and think - 57 Selected reading - 60 3 Post-structuralism and deconstruction - 61 Some theoretical differences between structuralism and post-structuralism - 61 Post-structuralism - life on a decentred planet - 65 Stop and think - 68 Structuralism and post-structuralism - some practical differences - 70 What post-structuralist critics do - 73 Deconstruction: an example - 73 Selected reading - 79 4 Postmodernism - 81 What is postmodernism? What was modernism? - 81 'Landmarks' in postmodernism: Habermas, Lyotard and Baudrillard - 85 Stop and think - 90 What postmodernist critics do - 91 Postmodernist criticism: an example - 91 Selected reading...

Words: 98252 - Pages: 394

Free Essay

Kiki

...fact, we concoct an explanation that makes it appear less random, and more predictable, than it was. The astonishing success of Google was a black swan; so was 9 / 1 1 . For Nassim Nicholas Taleb, black swans underlie almost everything about our world, from the rise of religions to events in our own personal lives. A BLACK SWAN Why do we not acknowledge the phenomenon of black swans until after they occur? Part of the answer, according to Taleb, is that humans are hardwired to learn specifics when they should be focused on generalities. We concentrate on things we already know and time and time again fail to take into consideration what we don't know. We are, therefore, unable to truly estimate oppor­ tunities, too vulnerable to the impulse to simplify, narrate, and categorize, and not open enough to rewarding those who can imagine the "impossible." For years, Taleb has studied how we fool our­ selves into thinking we know more than we actually do. We restrict our thinking to the irrelevant and inconsequential, while large events continue to surprise us and shape our world. Now, in this reve­ latory book, Taleb explains everything we know about what we don't know. He offers surprisingly simple tricks for dealing with black swans and ben­ efiting from them. Elegant, startling, and universal in its applica­ tions, The Black Swan will change the way you look at the world. Taleb is a vastly entertaining writer, with wit, irreverence, and unusual...

Words: 158140 - Pages: 633

Free Essay

Aviation Security

...Submitted to the Division of Graduate Studies of the Royal Military College of Canada by Jacques Duchesneau, C.M., C.Q., C.D. In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy April 2015 ©Jacques Duchesneau © This thesis may be used within the Department of National Defence but copyright for open publication remains the property of the author. ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE OF CANADA COLLÈGE MILITAIRE ROYAL DU CANADA DIVISION OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH DIVISION DES ÉTUDES SUPÉRIEURES ET DE LA RECHERCHE This is to certify that the thesis prepared by / Ceci certifie que la thèse rédigée par JACQUES DUCHESNEAU, C.M., C.Q., C.D. AVIATION TERRORISM Thwarting High-Impact Low-Probability Attacks complies with the Royal Military College of Canada regulations and that it meets the accepted standards of the Graduate School with respect to quality, and, in the case of a doctoral thesis, originality, / satisfait aux règlements du Collège militaire royal du Canada et qu'elle respecte les normes acceptées par la Faculté des études supérieures quant à la qualité et, dans le cas d'une thèse de doctorat, l'originalité, for the degree of / pour le diplôme de PHILOSOPHIÆ DOCTOR IN WAR STUDIES Signed by the final examining committee: / Signé par les membres du comité examinateur de la soutenance de thèse __________________________, Chair / Président __________________________, External Examiner / Examinateur externe __________________________...

Words: 155225 - Pages: 621

Premium Essay

Impact of Nigeria's Bilateral Investment Agreements in Oil and Gas on the Right to Health and the Right to a Healthy Environment: a Case Study of the Niger Delta”

...Impact of Nigeria's Bilateral Investment Agreements in Oil and Gas on the Right to Health and the Right to a Healthy Environment: A Case Study of the Niger Delta” Full Name of Student (Your student registration number) A XXXXXXXXXXX DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE REQUIREMENT OF DEGREE OF XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX UNIVERITY Declaration I hereby declare that research thesis is my original work and has never been used presented for any degree or diploma in any university or institution. Where material is obtained from published or unpublished works, this has been fully acknowledged by citation in the main text and inclusion in the list of references. Table of Contents Declaration 2 Table of Contents 3 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 11 1.1 Background of the study 11 1.2 Statement of the Problem 27 1.2 Research Aims 29 1.3 Research Objectives 30 1.4 Research Questions 31 1.5 Justification of the Research 32 1.6 Research Methodology 42 1.6.2 Research design 45 1.6.2 Target population 45 1.6.3 Sampling 46 1.6.4 Data collection 46 1.6.5 Data presentation 46 1.7 Definition of terms 46 1.8.2 Environment 47 1.8.3 The right to health and the right to a healthy environment...

Words: 88297 - Pages: 354