1. How did nationalism and militarism contribute to the tensions in Europe prior to 1914?
Prior to 1914, nationalism became more popular among the ethnic groups who still wanted to achieve the goal of being an independent nation. However, it wasn’t just one or two ethnic groups, but several who had struggled for a long time in attempt to win their independence. As a result, the ethnic groups with their ideal of nationalism contributed to the increased tensions within Europe, but militarism played a role too. Militarism involved large armies and the powerful influence of military leaders. Even though the increasing size of the armies and military machines threatened each European country against another, it was the military leaders’ thinking of rigid plans that led to European leaders to make decisions focusing on the military rather than other reasons that would benefit them. These decisions eventually heightened the tensions within Europe to such a point …show more content…
The trench warfare was a routine, to first begin with an artillery barrage, then to have soldiers with their bayonets to face a suicidal task in invading the enemy’s trench as machine guns fired. Soldiers would hear the piercing screams of dying men as they slept in squalid conditions, but the psychological aspects injured the soldiers more than the physical injuries. The thought and reality that the exact same events would repeat themselves again, in which friends are lost and the meager chance of one dying increases each day, meant a lose hope and morale. Often times, wars were won due to the soldiers’ spirits and determination, but the trench warfare diminished those aspects hence the battle becomes a stalemate. Therefore, each day spent by the soldiers in those trenches meant torture because they never knew when they were going to die even though they were knowledgeable of how each day
Prior to 1914, nationalism became more popular among the ethnic groups who still wanted to achieve the goal of being an independent nation. However, it wasn’t just one or two ethnic groups, but several who had struggled for a long time in attempt to win their independence. As a result, the ethnic groups with their ideal of nationalism contributed to the increased tensions within Europe, but militarism played a role too. Militarism involved large armies and the powerful influence of military leaders. Even though the increasing size of the armies and military machines threatened each European country against another, it was the military leaders’ thinking of rigid plans that led to European leaders to make decisions focusing on the military rather than other reasons that would benefit them. These decisions eventually heightened the tensions within Europe to such a point …show more content…
The trench warfare was a routine, to first begin with an artillery barrage, then to have soldiers with their bayonets to face a suicidal task in invading the enemy’s trench as machine guns fired. Soldiers would hear the piercing screams of dying men as they slept in squalid conditions, but the psychological aspects injured the soldiers more than the physical injuries. The thought and reality that the exact same events would repeat themselves again, in which friends are lost and the meager chance of one dying increases each day, meant a lose hope and morale. Often times, wars were won due to the soldiers’ spirits and determination, but the trench warfare diminished those aspects hence the battle becomes a stalemate. Therefore, each day spent by the soldiers in those trenches meant torture because they never knew when they were going to die even though they were knowledgeable of how each day