The arms race between European powers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed to increased tensions and a belief that war was inevitable.
1) Germany significantly increased its army and military spending after 1870 while also building a large navy to challenge British naval supremacy. This threatened other European countries and led to an intensifying arms race on land and sea.
2) The introduction of powerful new battleships like the British Dreadnought in 1906 accelerated the naval arms race as older ships were made obsolete. By 1914, Britain and Germany had completed many of these advanced battleships as they sought naval dominance.
3) The costly arms race increased military control over governments and led many to believe that war would
The arms race between European powers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed to increased tensions and a belief that war was inevitable.
1) Germany significantly increased its army and military spending after 1870 while also building a large navy to challenge British naval supremacy. This threatened other European countries and led to an intensifying arms race on land and sea.
2) The introduction of powerful new battleships like the British Dreadnought in 1906 accelerated the naval arms race as older ships were made obsolete. By 1914, Britain and Germany had completed many of these advanced battleships as they sought naval dominance.
3) The costly arms race increased military control over governments and led many to believe that war would
The arms race between European powers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed to increased tensions and a belief that war was inevitable.
1) Germany significantly increased its army and military spending after 1870 while also building a large navy to challenge British naval supremacy. This threatened other European countries and led to an intensifying arms race on land and sea.
2) The introduction of powerful new battleships like the British Dreadnought in 1906 accelerated the naval arms race as older ships were made obsolete. By 1914, Britain and Germany had completed many of these advanced battleships as they sought naval dominance.
3) The costly arms race increased military control over governments and led many to believe that war would
The arms race between European powers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed to increased tensions and a belief that war was inevitable.
1) Germany significantly increased its army and military spending after 1870 while also building a large navy to challenge British naval supremacy. This threatened other European countries and led to an intensifying arms race on land and sea.
2) The introduction of powerful new battleships like the British Dreadnought in 1906 accelerated the naval arms race as older ships were made obsolete. By 1914, Britain and Germany had completed many of these advanced battleships as they sought naval dominance.
3) The costly arms race increased military control over governments and led many to believe that war would
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Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.
uk / 1 CAUSES OF WORLD WAR ONE The Arms Race
Introduction Increased military rivalry before 1914 helped cause the war by creating: a. The development of joint war plans between members of the same alliance system – leading to a “domino effect” in 1914. b. An increase in military control over the government (esp. Germany/Russia) c. A belief that war was inevitable
1. The Arms Race on Land (Germany v. Russia and France)
▪ After 1870, Britain was the only country that did not have conscription (compulsory military service) and a standing army1. ▪ After 1890, tensions led to a general arms buildup. ▪ Between 1908 and 1913, the military spending of European powers increased 50 percent. ▪ Between 1870 and 1914, the armies of France and Germany doubled. ▪ In 1913, Germany increased her standing forces by 170,000 men, Russia lengthened her term of conscription from three to three and a half years, and France lengthened hers from two to three years – a controversial move opposed by the socialist Jean Jaures (pictured), who was assassinated in 1914 for “unpatriotically” refusing to support the war.
From your studies, outline the significance of the following dates.
What happened Why it increased tension 1870- 1871
1890 Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany came to the throne. He dismissed Bismarck and France was scared of Germany’s growing land decided to start building up his armed forces to build an Empire in Africa (“A place in forces; Britain was scared of Germany’s the sun”). growing navy; both were scared of her ambitions in Africa. 1908
1912- 1913
1914
1 A standing army is a professional one on permanent standby (i.e. not relying on volunteers) Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 2
2. The Arms Race at Sea (Germany v. Britain)2
Britain had “ruled the waves” since Nelson defeated Napoleon in the Battle of Trafalgar and needed to do so to protect her Empire. Kaiser Wilhelm was keen to have his own colonial empire (“A Place in the Sun”). So he authorised Admiral Tirpitz to build a large navy, passing two Naval laws (1898, 1900). Britain was initially unconcerned. However, the British introduction of the Dreadnought [“fear nothing”] in 1906 made all other battleships obsolete. These ships were fast, mobile and equipped with 360-degree guns. They also used watertight compartments to limit damage when they were hit (the “Titanic” copied the same design!)
Figure 1: The "Dazzleship" design confuse U-Boat commanders in World War One!
The rivalry between Britain and Germany to build these new battleships turned into an arms race. The expense of producing them nearly led to civil war in England (the Lords refused to accept taxes on the rich which the government and the general public considered necessary to pay for the ships). • By 1914 Britain had completed 19 dreadnoughts to Germany’s 13! Reasoning Skills 1. Complete these sentences using your knowledge from earlier studies: ▪ Colonial Rivalry led to the arms race because…
▪ The Alliance System led to the arms race because…
2. Why might the arms race lead to Britain declaring war on Germany sooner rather than later?
2 Start by watching the short video clip (3m) to provide some background – http://goo.gl/nUil0k Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 3
Comprehension questions Complete these questions after going back through your notes. 1. Why did the Kaiser want to have a large navy? 2. Why did the British find this so threatening? 3. Why did the introduction of the Dreadnought make other battleships obsolete? 4. What were the results in England of the Arms race? Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 4 The Arms Race - Sourcework SOURCE D At first the British ignored the German naval build-up, but the Second Naval Law of 1900, which called for a doubling of the German battleship fleet by 1916, opened their eyes. An important reason for the German naval initiative was to challenge Britain by becoming a major threat. Britain responded to this in 1906 by launching the battleship HMS Dreadnought which could out-gun and out-race any battleship afloat. Not surprisingly, the Germans were horrified. These fears were made worse by the Anglo-Russian Entente of 1907. The Germans felt they were being surrounded by a coalition of hostile powers. This ‘encirclement’ theory was an important motive for Germany’s aggressive tendencies in the early 1900s. The naval race was part of the general arms race. Germany set the pace. In 1874, she had an army of 400 000; by 1914, it had risen to 800 000. A massive increase in armaments followed. More destructive weapons were developed. Germany and Austria-Hungary secretly specialised in the production of enormous howitzers and mortars. Military expenditure intensified after 1910 with Germany and Austria- Hungary doubling their spending on arms. From a recent history book. 1. Study Source D. Who does the author of this source think was responsible for the increasing tension between Britain and Germany? Explain your answer using the source.
Max. Option 1 Blames one country [1] with quotes [1] and / or background knowledge [1] 3 Option 2 Blames several countries [+2] with quotes [+ 1 or 2] and / or background 6 knowledge [+ 1 or 2]
SOURCE E Building a battle-fleet was necessary if we wanted to become a sea- power. Sea power was needed to protect trade, as other states had realised long before we did. Our surrounded and threatened position convinced me that no time was to be lost in turning ourselves into a sea-power. It would be a mistake, however, to think that the English would have treated us any better, and have allowed our economic growth to have proceeded unchecked if we had no fleet. Admiral von Tirpitz writing in his memoirs which were published in 1919. Von Tirpitz was the member of the German government in charge of the navy until 1916 when he resigned. SOURCE F What did Germany want this great navy for? Against whom, except us, could she use it? There was a deep and growing feeling that the Germans meant mischief. Moreover, we realised that reluctance on our part to build ships would be seen by Germany as a sign of weakness. Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 5 Winston Churchill writing in 1933. Churchill was the member of the British government in charge of the navy from 1911 to 1915. 2. Study Sources E and F. Is one of these sources more reliable than the other? Explain your answer using the sources and your knowledge.
Level 1 Answers based on provenance (purpose of each writer) or content (how 1-3 complete / objective their account is) Level 2 Answers based on provenance (purpose of each writer) and content (how 3-5 complete / objective their account is) *Award marks within the band based on the quality of quotes / background knowledge used.
