Before the events of the events of 1914, Western nations were mass-producing weapons. This included chemical weapons such as tear gas, mustard gas and so forth. The western nations churned out large quantities at a rapid pace.
However the descent into war was not driven by weapons and the arms race: it was fuelled by the pervasive nature and culture of militarism that took part in much of Europe.
The culture of militarism was very strong in the German Empire in particular. This was mainly due to Kaiser Wilhelm’s obsession with power and his competitiveness with his British cousin King George the Fifth. He would stop at nothing to increase his military and his naval fleet.
Militarism emerged new technology in the late 1800’s that gave rise …show more content…
Britain had the largest navy and was the envy of Germany, yet Britain continued to add to her fleet.
Germany had a large army, as did Russia, however Kaiser Wilhelm II poured all the resources he could into making his armed forces the best equipped and strongest in the world. Under Admiral Tirpitz, (State Secretary of Imperial Naval Force from 1897) a long term ship building shipbuilding program began. The German naval law of 1898 increased the German warships from nine to twelve Cruisers. In 1900 Germany passed a naval law which doubled the battle fleet of Imperial Germany.
Meanwhile, Britain was developing her best warship during that time and that was the Dreadnought. Dreadnoughts were large ships during World War One. They had twelve inch guns and were heavily armed and protected with steel plating. They were propelled by steam turbines and were seen as a symbol of national power. Between 1909 and 1911 Germany completed nine …show more content…
Kaiser Wilhelm II in particular took great pleasure in anything that made him look better than his cousin King George V.
Militarism is not the only issue which led to World War One. Empire Building accelerated with a mad scramble for Africa by Britain, France and Germany.
Britain had the largest Empire which included Australia and India and France also had many colonies around the world. Germany was eager to catch up. Germany had only been a unified nation since 1871 and had some catching up to do. This only added to the rivalry between the countries and added to growing tensions.
In the years before 1914 land meant wealth. Germany sought to take colonies in Africa between those already settled by the British. This was seen as a tactical trick so that they would be landlocked making inland transportation impossible. These tactics sparked many conflicts, diplomatic and military between Germany and other people in Africa. These events were happening in the lead up to World War
However the descent into war was not driven by weapons and the arms race: it was fuelled by the pervasive nature and culture of militarism that took part in much of Europe.
The culture of militarism was very strong in the German Empire in particular. This was mainly due to Kaiser Wilhelm’s obsession with power and his competitiveness with his British cousin King George the Fifth. He would stop at nothing to increase his military and his naval fleet.
Militarism emerged new technology in the late 1800’s that gave rise …show more content…
Britain had the largest navy and was the envy of Germany, yet Britain continued to add to her fleet.
Germany had a large army, as did Russia, however Kaiser Wilhelm II poured all the resources he could into making his armed forces the best equipped and strongest in the world. Under Admiral Tirpitz, (State Secretary of Imperial Naval Force from 1897) a long term ship building shipbuilding program began. The German naval law of 1898 increased the German warships from nine to twelve Cruisers. In 1900 Germany passed a naval law which doubled the battle fleet of Imperial Germany.
Meanwhile, Britain was developing her best warship during that time and that was the Dreadnought. Dreadnoughts were large ships during World War One. They had twelve inch guns and were heavily armed and protected with steel plating. They were propelled by steam turbines and were seen as a symbol of national power. Between 1909 and 1911 Germany completed nine …show more content…
Kaiser Wilhelm II in particular took great pleasure in anything that made him look better than his cousin King George V.
Militarism is not the only issue which led to World War One. Empire Building accelerated with a mad scramble for Africa by Britain, France and Germany.
Britain had the largest Empire which included Australia and India and France also had many colonies around the world. Germany was eager to catch up. Germany had only been a unified nation since 1871 and had some catching up to do. This only added to the rivalry between the countries and added to growing tensions.
In the years before 1914 land meant wealth. Germany sought to take colonies in Africa between those already settled by the British. This was seen as a tactical trick so that they would be landlocked making inland transportation impossible. These tactics sparked many conflicts, diplomatic and military between Germany and other people in Africa. These events were happening in the lead up to World War