Why were Germany and her allies unsuccessful in WWI
During WWI both sides had lost a lot of men but not the sacrifice that Germany and her allies took by losing the war. There are many reasons that Germany and her allies lost the war. The failure of the Von Schlieffen Plan, the lack of good alternative strategies, the ineffectiveness of her Alliance System, the limitations of German’s economy and geography and lastly the entry of the USA. These factors and events made Germany and her allies lose the war, get defeated really bad and lose a huge amount of men.
The failure of the Von Schlieffen Plan was the plan of the Germans, to go through Belgium to attack France and take Paris. The Germans, wanted to destroy France, to take them out of their way. After defeating France, they would put all their focus on Russia. Although, the Germans weren’t able to go through Belgium that easy, because they invited a neutral country and also England helped Belgium. After the failure of the Von Schlieffen Plan, the lack of good alternative strategies was an important problem, that caused Germany and the allies the war. The Germans, although they were the strongest country in WWI, they didn’t use their power in a useful way. They didn’t have any military strategies, whenever they attacked a country on a battle, they use high risk attack, and if it field, they didn’t know what to do afterwards. They just waited there until they could make a high risk attack again.
The allies of Germany didn’t really help them in the war. Germany was the strongest one, although she didn’t have strong back up countries to help them. The only other strong ally was Austro-Hungary. Although Austro-Hungary and Germany did have a good lack of communication. Germany had to give more to her allies, than receive from them. This was a huge disadvantages.
Nationalism was a huge factor for Germany. Her economy was only based in the nationalism of the country. They didn’t really have a normal tax system. They mostly relied on people to give them money and goods. Germanys economy wasn’t that great although she was doing ok in the world. Another disadvantage was that their weapon companies weren’t owned by German itself, and they didn’t and they didn’t even know who to pay exactly to get more weapons. Germany’s geographic place was a disaster for them. They were located in the middle of Europe and they were surrounded by the allies powers, so they had to fight on a lot of open fronts.
The entry of the USA in the war, made things even more harder for Germany and her allies. The USA was a strong country with a lot of supplies and men. When they joint war , they decreased the moral of the allies as they were fresh and exited soldiers, ready to fight for their country. As the USA was sending 20,000 troops to France, the Germans were running of supplies, money, men and resources.
I believe it was obvious that the Germans, would lose because they had many disadvantages and so few advantages. The biggest problems of the allies side was the ineffectiveness of her Alliance System and there geographic place. Although they were really strong, they couldn’t fight against so many countries that were surrounded to her.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
To what extent was nationalism a cause of WWI
The Crisis in the Balkans, the assasination of the heir of the Austrian throne and the Germany's need to take "a place in the sun" were some serious facts that contributed to the First World War. These three facts showed in some way the feeling of Nationalism and ambitions for every country to become the most powerful state in the world. This created tention in Europe and thus the World War.
The rise of nationalism in the nineteenth century had made the Balkan states hungry for independence. The Ottoman Empire and the Great Powers had vested interests in the area. Russia regarded itself as a defender of the Slav people. It actually wanted to protect its own interests in the region by ensuring that its ships had clear access through the Mediterranean Straits, while access to potentially hostile powers was denied, like was Austria, which wanted to increase its own control over the region. In 1875 there were uprisings in Bosnia and Herzegovina. If the Ottomans had been forced to withdraw, Russia and Austria would have battled for power over the region. This would have put Germany into the impossible position of having to choose sides even though it needed to keep the support of both. In 1876 Austria and Russia drew up a plan to divide the Balkans in the event of a Turkish defeat. The Turks were not defeated, and Russia invaded Turkey in April1877. Germany did not supported Russia. Both Austria and Britain were alarmed at Russia’s actions and the threat of war loomed over Europe. In 1878 a congress was held in Berlin and Russia gained land which it had lost in 1856 but the other decisions were less to its liking. Austria gained control over Bosnia-Herzegovina, Britain gained control over Cyprus while Bulgaria was divided. Russia felt robbed by foreign powers which had not even fought in the recent conflict.
The assassination, in June 1914, to the heir of the Austrian Throne, who was shot in Sarajevo by a Serb extremist, nationalist, war was seen as inevitable, at least by the German military and swift action seemed the best option. Germany offered Austria a “Blank Cheque” after the assassination – a promise of support no matter what happened. Without this guarantee, Austria would have hesitated to declare war on Serbia and risk fighting Russia.
From 1890-1914 Germany continued to flourish. She became an agricultural, manufactured, industrial power in Europe. By 1914 Germany produced two-thirds of Europe’s steel and over half its coal. She also led the way in the newer industries of Electrical goods, chemicals and steel. Agricultural production was more patchy, but overall by 1914 was producing a higher yield of crops than anywhere else in the world. The population was expanding. This provided a vast labor force and also a very strong military force. The Navy’s expansion proved more popular because it symbolized German growth. The Sheer size of the German Empire also provided a substantial home market for manufactured goods, and expertise of the German Banking System which granted generous long-term loans which in turn boosted investment. People in Germany felt that they needed and deserved a “place in the sun”, by which they vaguely meant some kind of acknowledged supremacy like that of the British. Neither the British nor the French, the leaders of modern Europe since the seventeenth century, could share wholeheartedly in such German aspirations. Kaiser’s Wilhelm II ambitions to project Germany onto the world stage, as Germany was, by this time a world power in terms of her economic strength and the government wanted this to be reflected outside of Germany. Nationalism as well as the policy of Weltpolitik created tensions in Europe which certainly contributed to the First World War.
The rise of nationalism in the nineteenth century had made the Balkan states and European countries hungry for independence and created tensions in Europe which certainly contributed to the First World War.Therom 1890-1914 Germany continued to flourish. She became an agricultural, manufactured
The rise of nationalism in the nineteenth century had made the Balkan states hungry for independence. The Ottoman Empire and the Great Powers had vested interests in the area. Russia regarded itself as a defender of the Slav people. It actually wanted to protect its own interests in the region by ensuring that its ships had clear access through the Mediterranean Straits, while access to potentially hostile powers was denied, like was Austria, which wanted to increase its own control over the region. In 1875 there were uprisings in Bosnia and Herzegovina. If the Ottomans had been forced to withdraw, Russia and Austria would have battled for power over the region. This would have put Germany into the impossible position of having to choose sides even though it needed to keep the support of both. In 1876 Austria and Russia drew up a plan to divide the Balkans in the event of a Turkish defeat. The Turks were not defeated, and Russia invaded Turkey in April1877. Germany did not supported Russia. Both Austria and Britain were alarmed at Russia’s actions and the threat of war loomed over Europe. In 1878 a congress was held in Berlin and Russia gained land which it had lost in 1856 but the other decisions were less to its liking. Austria gained control over Bosnia-Herzegovina, Britain gained control over Cyprus while Bulgaria was divided. Russia felt robbed by foreign powers which had not even fought in the recent conflict.
The assassination, in June 1914, to the heir of the Austrian Throne, who was shot in Sarajevo by a Serb extremist, nationalist, war was seen as inevitable, at least by the German military and swift action seemed the best option. Germany offered Austria a “Blank Cheque” after the assassination – a promise of support no matter what happened. Without this guarantee, Austria would have hesitated to declare war on Serbia and risk fighting Russia.
From 1890-1914 Germany continued to flourish. She became an agricultural, manufactured, industrial power in Europe. By 1914 Germany produced two-thirds of Europe’s steel and over half its coal. She also led the way in the newer industries of Electrical goods, chemicals and steel. Agricultural production was more patchy, but overall by 1914 was producing a higher yield of crops than anywhere else in the world. The population was expanding. This provided a vast labor force and also a very strong military force. The Navy’s expansion proved more popular because it symbolized German growth. The Sheer size of the German Empire also provided a substantial home market for manufactured goods, and expertise of the German Banking System which granted generous long-term loans which in turn boosted investment. People in Germany felt that they needed and deserved a “place in the sun”, by which they vaguely meant some kind of acknowledged supremacy like that of the British. Neither the British nor the French, the leaders of modern Europe since the seventeenth century, could share wholeheartedly in such German aspirations. Kaiser’s Wilhelm II ambitions to project Germany onto the world stage, as Germany was, by this time a world power in terms of her economic strength and the government wanted this to be reflected outside of Germany. Nationalism as well as the policy of Weltpolitik created tensions in Europe which certainly contributed to the First World War.
The rise of nationalism in the nineteenth century had made the Balkan states and European countries hungry for independence and created tensions in Europe which certainly contributed to the First World War.Therom 1890-1914 Germany continued to flourish. She became an agricultural, manufactured
Monday, September 13, 2010
IB history "To what extent was Germany already at war with Europe by 1914?”
From 1890-1914 Germany continued to flourish. She became an agricultural, manufactured, industrial power in Europe. By 1914 Germany produced two-thirds of Europe’s Steel and over half its cool. She also led the way in the newer industries of Electrical goods, chemicals & steel. Agricultural production was more patchy, but overall by 1914 was producing a higher yield of crops than anywhere else in the world. The population was expanding. This provided a vast labor force and also a very strong military force. The sheer size of the German Empire also provided a substantial home market for manufactured goods, and expertise of the German banking System which granted generous long-term loans which in turn boosted investment.
The policy of Weltpolitik (world policy) emerged in 1897 consisting of three main strands: Acquire more colonial territory, create a German-dominated economic zone in central and Eastern Europe and expand the navy.
Germans foreign policy among Kaiser’s obsessive and unpredictable personality led to considerable errors of judgment, such as Daily Telegraph Affair, The first Moroccan crisis in 1905-1906, and the Second Moroccan crisis in 1911, where Germany was again demonstrating of her handed methods and her strength.
The assassination in June 1914, to the heir of Austrian throne, who was shot in Sarajevo by a Serb extremist, war was seen as inevitable, at least by the German military and swift action seemed the best option. Germany offered Austria a “blank Cheque” after the assassination, a promise of Support no matter what happened. Without this guarantee, Austria would have hesitated to declare war on Serbia and risk fighting Russia.
Kaiser’s ambitions to project German join the world stage, as Germany was, by this time a world power interns of her economic strength and the government wanted this to be reflected outside of Germany. The Blicy of Weltpolitik created tensions in Europe which certainly contributed to the First World War. But also recognize other factors for example: the legacy the role of Weltpolitik, the growth of Russian power nationalism in the Balkans and the inadequacy of German policy during the July crisis of 1914.
The policy of Weltpolitik (world policy) emerged in 1897 consisting of three main strands: Acquire more colonial territory, create a German-dominated economic zone in central and Eastern Europe and expand the navy.
Germans foreign policy among Kaiser’s obsessive and unpredictable personality led to considerable errors of judgment, such as Daily Telegraph Affair, The first Moroccan crisis in 1905-1906, and the Second Moroccan crisis in 1911, where Germany was again demonstrating of her handed methods and her strength.
The assassination in June 1914, to the heir of Austrian throne, who was shot in Sarajevo by a Serb extremist, war was seen as inevitable, at least by the German military and swift action seemed the best option. Germany offered Austria a “blank Cheque” after the assassination, a promise of Support no matter what happened. Without this guarantee, Austria would have hesitated to declare war on Serbia and risk fighting Russia.
Kaiser’s ambitions to project German join the world stage, as Germany was, by this time a world power interns of her economic strength and the government wanted this to be reflected outside of Germany. The Blicy of Weltpolitik created tensions in Europe which certainly contributed to the First World War. But also recognize other factors for example: the legacy the role of Weltpolitik, the growth of Russian power nationalism in the Balkans and the inadequacy of German policy during the July crisis of 1914.
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