The Great War
...l kinship of the various Slav peoples across Europe,” which generally implied the encouragement of Slav nationalism in Austrian ruled territories for the purposes of weakening the Austrian Empire and preparing the newly unified Slav states for possible future Russian annexation (Bentley, 973). Russia’s obligation to defend Serbia was its reason for entering the war, but it was its empirical history in the face of contemporary adversity, economic competitiveness, and its imperialistic ambitions which determined the magnitude of the war for Russia and the World. All of the countries involved in the First World War were involved in the international correspondences following Austria’s ultimatum to Serbia. The leaders of each nation understood the alliance system they had constructed in the aftermath of previous wars and expressed a desire for a peaceful resolution to the impending global crisis. Compromises were proposed that focused on the postponement of Austrian military mobilization and the exploration of further diplomatic avenues (doc. Archives 50-67). Understanding the issues hindering a peaceful resolution to this conflict lies in the examination of the historical confrontations these three countries shared: Russian Pan-Slavism inspired Serbian nationalism which led to the assassination of the Austrian heir. The Great War sometimes referred to as the “war to end empires,” contributed to the fall of four dynasties. The Russian, Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and German empires all lost territories to the birth of nine new nations. The strains of “total” war also tested the Russian public’s already diminished faith in their Tsar’s ability to rule effectively. The Great War did not spark the beginning of the Russian revolution, but it did provide the added economic strain and militaristic distractions that the previously, short-lived revolution of 1905 lacked. After establishing itself as an industrial power during the mid-late nineteenth century, The Russian Empire experienced several transformations which resulted in the westernization and consequently weakening of its long-standing tsarist dynasty. Civic complications intensified along with class tensions, which were fueled by the expanding mal-distribution of wealth and the intense strain on municipal resources created by The Industrial Revolution. “This negative assessment of state policy in the 1890’s readily reinforced attitudes of the educated public.” As typified by among others Leo Tolstoy who “…generally placed a low premium on economic development, widely viewed as attainable only at the common people’s expenses” (Freeze, 205). The once politically isolated Russian Empire sought stability in its outer regions by emulating the highly successful Napoleonic model of centralized administration. The reigns of Alexander III (reigned 1845-94) and Nicholas II (reigned 1868-1918) “marked a departure from traditional policies of maintaining regional diversity in favor of bureaucratic uniformity, directed toward systematization, tightening, and expansion of the administrative system” (Evtuhov, 147). These efforts were an attempt to control and suppress another prevailing obstacle to the success of the Empire and the maintenance of tradition, the legacy of the Post Napoleonic Era: Nationalism. The Rise of Nationalism combined with the civil unrest created by industrialism, eroded the power of the European monarch and forced rulers to make difficult decisions. Under these circumstances, war may be the only thing possible of restoring the public’s faith in the monarch, unless of course it’s the very vehicle in which the regime is ended. Germany In the Moroccan Crisis of 1905, Germany threatened France with war which caused all the European countries to asses how much power they had. This assessment of power had not occurred since the Balkan crisis of 1887. In 1888 Kaiser Wilhelm the second had started to aggressively build up his naval army. The Moroccan Crisis showed Germany many things about their army although it did result in war. The crisis brought forth the weaknesses of the countries that surrounded Germany. In 1905 France declared that they were planning to over throw the government of Morocco by taking power form the Sultan of Morocco. This was a violation of the Treaty of Madrid that stated that all European countries had the right to Morocco. Germany did not want to have problems with France or Britain at the time due to Kaiser Wilhelm was still building his naval fleet, but wanted to show their power. Between 1891 and 1905 Alfred von Schlieffen the chief of the German General staff made a plan in which Germany could fight to fronts named the Schlieffen Plan. There were many alliances that were in place before 1914 which forced Germany to attack all sides. In 1908 Austria-Hungary supported Bosnia and Herzegovina succession out of Russia. Russian armies were so weak they could not do any thing to stop it. Sine 1878 Austria-Hungary depended on backing from Germany before it did any actions within the Balkans. Germany approved the action knowing that the Russian army was too weak to counter act. Germany backed Austria-Hungary with the knowledge that Russia could declare war, but were not deterred by this fact. Also Germany knew that this war would involve all of Europe due to the alliances that were already in place yet they still backed the action. The European countries avoided this war due to Russia not being able to afford a war at the time. General Rediger suspected that Germany was trying to set off a war, and stated it in 1908 he said that Germany “wanted by means of it to touch off a great European war, in order to decide all pending questions together.” Also when this statement was reported to Kaiser Wilhelm the second he responded with “So, from a military point of view this would be the best moment to settle accounts with the Russians.” Germany on March 21, 1909 declared that they would back any action that Austria-Hungary took to secure Bosnia and Herzegovia and wanted Russia to state to they accepted the annexation. Herr Izvolsky accepted the annexation and issued a formal document renouncing all claims to the annexed region. In 1911 Germany proposed a bill that would start an arms race throughout the European nations. The second Moroccan crisis began shortly after this arms race began. Alfred von Kederlen-Wachter, secretary of the Foreign Office in Berlin, began to voice his plans about sending troops to Fez in Morocco. Germany wanted land within Morocco, and wanted to force the French to give to them based on Algeciras treaty of 1906. The German troops went to Morocco to be the force that would make France gave them land. Britain came to the aid of France during the crisis as did Russia. Germany gained the region of the Congo from the French which was not what they wanted. France The rise of nationalism can be one of the causes of blame for why France decided to enter World War I. By uniting small states, major powers were created. Nationalism encouraged support for the military of France. Their military numbers grew considerably decades before the war, showing growing military power within the country. This strength was also seen by 1907 in the alliances between France, Britain, and Russia. Unfortunately, this powerful treaty made France hesitant about entering war because of bringing its allied countries. France and the Triple Entente could not avoid going to war when Germany decided to attack Paris by cutting thru Belgium. Other factors may also be considered to explain why France became involved, including the balance and struggle for control between other major powers. France had interests in expanding their empire. Other countries feared that if France gained more territory, it would increase its power within Europe. Countries were afraid to face another potential Napoleon. This is confirmed in a battle against Germany. Germany did not expect France to be hard to defeat when planning to attack as part of Germany's The Schlieffen Plan. The commander of the French armies, General Joseph Joffre, stationed his men near the Marne River, attacking Germany in the Battle of the Marne. This battle was important because their victory against Germany proved that France had more power than Germany thought. Britain Britain was the rising leader of the Industrial Revolution through the 19th century and into the 20th century. This power generated by industrialization was also seen through Britain’s colonization efforts in Africa and Asia and with its strong alliances among other European countries. Britain was faced with many factors that threatened its power within Europe, leading in into World War One. Britain had increasing tensions with Germany before the outbreak of World War I that made it an easier decision to enter the war. Britain talked with Japan to try and limit growing German colonization in Asia that could impede on British colonial territory. “Britain was very suspicious of any nation that seemed to threaten the balance of power on the continent” so as not to disturb their own rise in power in Europe (Bentley and Ziegler, 2003, 975). Also, Germany and Britain were in a naval race to build the best naval fleets. Britain buil...