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To what extent was Wilhelm 2nd’s foreign policy responsible for
the outbreak of WWI? by Daniel van Flymen
I think there were several factors at work that caused the war. You could argue that each
Great Power that participated in the conflict had a hand in starting it. You could also say it was
started by disastrous German foreign policy in the Balkans, and the Triple Entente-Triple
Alliance systems. I agree that Austria-Hungary would have behaved differently in the Balkans
without German support if confronted with Russia.
Firstly, in the year 1890 Wilhelm 2nd inherited a system of alliances created and instructed by
Bismarck’s former policy, ‘the dual alliance.’ This alliance had Austria–Hungary, Italy and
Germany in one group. In fact Germany had a ‘re-insurance treaty’ with Russia just to reinsure
that the alliance would not be broken.
The alliance structure in Europe in 1914 wasn't the one Bismarck created. That one collapsed
almost immediately after Wilhelm sacked him. The "two armed camps" Bismarck created were
France and the rest of Europe. The whole point was to leave France isolated, without friends,
and in an inferior position in relation to Germany. It failed when the French signed a treaty
with Russia. After that, there were three "armed camps": Germany and its allies, France and
its allies, and the British Empire. It wasn't until the 20th century that Britain ended its isolation
with its alliance with Japan, and later aligned itself with France and Russia. That it did so was
Germany's fault. The reason Britain aligned with France, its traditional enemy, was the
German Navy. Barring the Navy, Britain would have had no reason to go to war with
Germany. As it was, the German Navy was clearly intended to be, and was, a huge threat to
Britain.
As regards to America in the war, until 1917, America was content to leave Europe to its own
affairs. The arrival of American troops offset the veteran soldiers coming from the Eastern
Front after Russia's withdrawal. It gave Germany a sense of urgency in ending the war before
the American troops could be decisive, and the British and French something to use to raise
their own troops' morale
Within the seventeen years that the alliance existed, everything changed due to Wilhelm’s
arrogant and powerful regime.
Three major things happened:
1)
Bismarck’s ideology of Germany playing a juggler and keeping everyone happy changed
into Wilhelm’s aggressive stance on foreign alliance.
2)
There was disparity of wealth, meaning the French got rich, Russia got poor.
3)
There was a different system of government; Russia was extremely autocratic while
France was a democracy. In 1898 Bismarck died! As a result Wilhelm did not renew the
‘re-insurance treaty’ with Russia, he began to befriend Turkey. Britain still remained in
Splendid Isolation while Russia and France were as well put into isolation. One of the
major factors or problems would be if Russia would join with France, France being an
enemy of Germany, unfortunately they did join.
Indeed Russia and France needed each other. Russia was jealous of France. Russia wanted
France’s wealth; therefore Russia formed an alliance with France. In 1894 they formed the
‘dual entente.’ Britain still remained in isolation while the triple alliance was still together.
Britain and Germany became involved in an alliance called ‘estrangement.’ Britain began to
look for allies, who encouraged her to look for Japan, Russia and France, but in 1902 the
‘Anglo Japanese’ alliance began. Still the ‘triple alliance’ stood while the ‘Anglo Japanese
alliance’ started. Britain had no colonial rival but would have support in the Far East from
Japan, which would protect British interests as she is in the ‘Japanese alliance.’ In 1904,
however Britain and France agreed to sign an agreement, which was known as the ‘entente
cordiale.’ After this situation, Britain began to get a little anxious. Her allies had bailed out on
her. Once again she began to seek for more allies. Soon messy clashes occurred with France
and Germany due to the cause of the ‘royal family’ although Britain was looking into the ‘triple
alliance.’
Many mistakes were made by Wilhelm 2nd. He made such quotes such as saying no to Britain
as the Kaiser wanted to expand in Africa. He wanted to be more powerful than Britain! From
this moment on Britain was out of isolation. After this the ‘Russo-Japanese’ war broke out.
Within nine months the Russian fleet had sunk.
Wilhelm’s final mistake was that he had visited morocco in the fall of 1905. He as well stated
that he would help Morocco escape from the colonial powers such as France. They both,
Britain and France had become upset and Russia had realised that she would have to support
them in an alliance as Germany had begun to be a threat to Europe. To say that Wilhelm’s
policy was a direct result of the war is incorrect; the policy led to the war but did not cause it.
Finally, in 1907, the final gap had been breached and Britain, Russia and France signed in
and became part of the ‘triple entente’ and as a result two major power groups were formed to
create the world wide destruction, World War 1.
Bibliography:
Main References:
Grade 11 History Notes
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWkaiser.htm
http://www.activehistory.co.uk/A-Level/ modern/wil/foreign_pol.doc
Links gathered from:
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/ww1.htm