WWI LECTURE
Militarism
➔ Military expenditures
➔ German steel production increased by 329% b/w
1890-1913. By 1910, Germany became Europe’s leader in
terms of industry.
● By 1914, before WWI, France produced 200k
artillery shells a day.
● Shows a transition in the economy preparing for
war.
● Neo-mercantilism (look in readings)
◆ Troop concentration
● 426,000 military/navy personnel, by WW1 had
891,000 personnel (Germany)
● 367,000 military/navy, by WW1 had 523,000
personnel.
◆ Warship tonnage
● Britain had 650,00 tonnes (1880), by 1910 over 2
million tonnes.
● Germany, 88,000 tonnes in 1880, by 1914 1.3
million.
◆ Army divisions
● Roughly 18,000 personnel per division
● (minus Great Britain) Conscription already began
before WW1 in Europe.
● France passed a 3 Year Law in 1913, increasing
mandatory military service among men.
● HMS Dreadnought, by 1906, faster and heavily
armed, which began the naval race between Germany
and Britain.
○ Led to Germany’s Second Naval Law of 1900,
which saw navy size increase by 197% between
1900 and 1914.
○ Once the war began, Britain had 29
Dreadnoughts, and Germany only had 14.
, ◆ How were countries building up their militaries to
prepare for war? If they weren’t prepared, would they
have gone to war?
◆ Will to war (readiness and want)
◆ INCLUDE SCHLIEFFEN PLAN (made in 1894- 20 years before
the outbreak of WW1)
● Finished in 1905- its fault (Russia was able to
mobilize faster than thought.)
Alliances
➔ Otto von Bismarck and Realpolitik - came up with alliances
◆ To protect Germany from enemy attack, and to prevent
war. Which gave Germany friends and deterred enemies.
➔ FRANCO PRUSSIAN WAR
◆ Ended in 1871, treaty of Frankfurt.
● Gave Germany the win to the war, and gave Germany
Alsace-Lorraine - fueled France’s hatred.
➔ TRIPLE ALLIANCE
◆ Made specifically to spite/hurt France- which is why
it's the Central Powers (AH, Italy, Germany, Ottoman
Empire).
◆ Incredibly calculated by Bismarck.
➔ REINSURANCE TREATY
◆ Germany threw money at Russia for an Alliance.
➔ KAISER WILHELM II
◆ Became Kaiser, but did NOT get along with Bismarck.
◆ Cancelled the Reinsurance Treaty, which led Russia
right to,,,, FRANCE (who also offered money).
● Led to Franco-Russian Alliance (1894)
● Coincidentally the same year the Schlieffen Plan
was created.
➔ FRANCE + BRITAIN
◆ Alliance formed (even though they fight a lot)
● Entente Cordiale (1904)
◆ Treaty of London (1839) b/w Belgium and Britain.
◆ Gave Belgium neutrality for the future, and Britain
promised to protect Belgium.
Militarism
➔ Military expenditures
➔ German steel production increased by 329% b/w
1890-1913. By 1910, Germany became Europe’s leader in
terms of industry.
● By 1914, before WWI, France produced 200k
artillery shells a day.
● Shows a transition in the economy preparing for
war.
● Neo-mercantilism (look in readings)
◆ Troop concentration
● 426,000 military/navy personnel, by WW1 had
891,000 personnel (Germany)
● 367,000 military/navy, by WW1 had 523,000
personnel.
◆ Warship tonnage
● Britain had 650,00 tonnes (1880), by 1910 over 2
million tonnes.
● Germany, 88,000 tonnes in 1880, by 1914 1.3
million.
◆ Army divisions
● Roughly 18,000 personnel per division
● (minus Great Britain) Conscription already began
before WW1 in Europe.
● France passed a 3 Year Law in 1913, increasing
mandatory military service among men.
● HMS Dreadnought, by 1906, faster and heavily
armed, which began the naval race between Germany
and Britain.
○ Led to Germany’s Second Naval Law of 1900,
which saw navy size increase by 197% between
1900 and 1914.
○ Once the war began, Britain had 29
Dreadnoughts, and Germany only had 14.
, ◆ How were countries building up their militaries to
prepare for war? If they weren’t prepared, would they
have gone to war?
◆ Will to war (readiness and want)
◆ INCLUDE SCHLIEFFEN PLAN (made in 1894- 20 years before
the outbreak of WW1)
● Finished in 1905- its fault (Russia was able to
mobilize faster than thought.)
Alliances
➔ Otto von Bismarck and Realpolitik - came up with alliances
◆ To protect Germany from enemy attack, and to prevent
war. Which gave Germany friends and deterred enemies.
➔ FRANCO PRUSSIAN WAR
◆ Ended in 1871, treaty of Frankfurt.
● Gave Germany the win to the war, and gave Germany
Alsace-Lorraine - fueled France’s hatred.
➔ TRIPLE ALLIANCE
◆ Made specifically to spite/hurt France- which is why
it's the Central Powers (AH, Italy, Germany, Ottoman
Empire).
◆ Incredibly calculated by Bismarck.
➔ REINSURANCE TREATY
◆ Germany threw money at Russia for an Alliance.
➔ KAISER WILHELM II
◆ Became Kaiser, but did NOT get along with Bismarck.
◆ Cancelled the Reinsurance Treaty, which led Russia
right to,,,, FRANCE (who also offered money).
● Led to Franco-Russian Alliance (1894)
● Coincidentally the same year the Schlieffen Plan
was created.
➔ FRANCE + BRITAIN
◆ Alliance formed (even though they fight a lot)
● Entente Cordiale (1904)
◆ Treaty of London (1839) b/w Belgium and Britain.
◆ Gave Belgium neutrality for the future, and Britain
promised to protect Belgium.
