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The Great Powers of Europe: Rise and Tension Before World War I

This analysis explores the geopolitical landscape of Europe leading up to World War I, highlighting the roles of major powers such as Germany, France, Great Britain, Russia, and Austria-Hungary. It delves into Germany's rapid industrialization and authoritarian regime under Bismarck, France's struggle with political divisions, and Great Britain's expansion of suffrage and fears of losing power. Additionally, the impact of nationalism, the arms race, and critical diplomatic crises are examined, illustrating the delicate balance of power that ultimately led to conflict in 1914.

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The Great Powers of Europe: Rise and Tension Before World War I

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  1. World War I 5 May 2010

  2. THE GREAT POWERS IN EUROPE • Germany • Rapid industrialization and modernization after unification • Bismarck extends vote to all adult males • weakens the middle-classes • introduces socialist legislation to pre-empt socialist politicians • essentially an authoritarian regime • emperor at the helm • Parliament/military filled with upper-middle-class, aristocratic leaders • brought a new balance of power to the Continent • strengthened the cause for imperial ventures

  3. THE GREAT POWERS IN EUROPE • France • French found new competition with/second place power position to Germany difficult • Political and cultural conflicts develop, including the Paris Commune, another revolution • political division between monarchists and republicans on the national stage

  4. THE GREAT POWERS IN EUROPE • Great Britain • Increased suffrage by 1884 • almost all males had the right to vote and could do so democratically • Had difficulty extending resources and infrastructure to the empire in both the isles and abroad • feared the growing economic strength of the U.S. and Germany in the late 19th Century

  5. THE GREAT POWERS IN EUROPE • Russia and Austria-Hungary • Both weakened by nationalism • very ethnically diverse empires • Russia remained economically “backwards” • Stays authoritarian • Alexander’s successors resist all forms of social change • Russia’s weakness (politically, economically, militarily) exposed in Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 • Austro-Hungarian Empire deeply divided along ethnic lines • efforts to maintain empire by force in Balkans creates political tension in Russia that would have disastrous effects

  6. The West Outside of Europe • The United States • late 19th Century a period of dramatic economic/social growth • Immigrants poured into the country, fueling industrialization • 40 million between 1880 and 1920 • By 1900 is the world’s leading industrial power • absence of government intervention and immigration

  7. The Concert of Europe • Established in 1815 at the Congress of Vienna • Quadruple Alliance • Russia • Prussia • Austria • Great Britain • Collective Defense Metternich

  8. Europe, 1815

  9. Europe, 1900

  10. The Arms Race • Wilhelm II and German aggression • Realpolitikversus Weltpolitik • Global role for Germany • Navy • Empire • Influence • Military Buildup • The Navy • Wilhelm II models his fleet after Royal Navy • England develops new class of ships, “Dreadnought” • New Mobilization speeds • France: 3 days • Germany: 2 days

  11. The Arms Race • Land forces • Germany: 4, 800,000 men • Britain: 380,000 men • Russia Rebuilds • 1905 defeated by Japanese • Refortification and new railways to the West • Between 1904 and 1913 • French and Russian arms expenditures increase 80% • German arms expenditures increase 120% • Austro-Hungarian expenditures increase 50% • Italian expenditures increase 100% • Britain raises naval spending from $50 million in the 1870s to $130 million in 1900

  12. “New Imperialism” and Crisis • First Moroccan Crisis • Wilhelm II in Tangiers, March 1905 • The Bosnian Crisis • Annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary, October 1908 • Serbia seeks aid from Russia, Austria-Hungary from Germany • Second Moroccan Crisis • German “Panther” sent to port at Agadir, July 1911 • Sparks fear in Britain, anger in France • France subsequently establishes a full protectorate over Morocco

  13. Diplomacy and New Tensions • New Alliance Systems • Three Emperors’ League, 1873 (A-H, R, G) • Dual Alliance, 1879 (G, A-H) • Triple Alliance, 1882 (+Italy) • Strong ethnic ties between Germany and Austria-Hungary • Italy wants territory in Greece, Turkey, and the Balkans • Entente Cordiale, 1904 • Triple Entente, 1907

  14. The Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente

  15. The Outbreak of War • Sarajevo, 28 June 1914 • Austrian Crown Prince Assassinated by Bosnian nationalist • 28 July Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia • Belgium, 4 August 1914 • Tensions escalated by tensions with Russia over Austro-Serbian conflict • Preemptive Strike as Germans push to Paris

  16. 1914 • Germany invades Belgium. • Britain declares war on Germany. • Russia Invades Prussia, 17-19 August • New allies • Japan joins the Allied forces 23 August • Turkey joins the Central Powers 29 October • War spreads to the seas • Battle of the Marne, 6-10 September 1914 • French push Germans back 45 miles • Germans capture industrial North in France • Marks the beginning of the trench deadlock

  17. 1915 • Total War • Women take up men's jobs. • Nurses, clerks, postal workers, government workers, auxiliary soldiers, police officers, bus and railway conductors • 3 out of 4 munitions workers women • Stalemate continues on the Western Front. • London attacked from the air by German Zeppelins • Bombardments begin 19 January • The Lusitania passenger liner is sunk, with 1,200 lives lost. • 7 May • American passengers aboard, creates diplomatic crisis between US and Germany

  18. 1916 • Conscription for men aged between 18 and 41 in Britain. • A million casualties in ten months: Germany aims to 'bleed France white'. • Battle of Verdun, 21 February-July 1916 • 400,000 casualties on each side • Battle of the Somme, 1 July-13 November • British and French attack on Germans • Bombard the German line for one week with 1.6 million shells • 20,000 British soldiers dead the first day; 60% of the Officers involved that day die • Total Losses: Britain, 420,000; France, 195,000; Germans, 650,000.

  19. 1916-1917 • At sea the Battle of Jutland takes place. • 31 May to 1 June • Largest naval battle at that time • No apparent victor • United States joins the war and assists the Allies. • US declares war on Germany on 6 April • First US troops land in France, 26 June

  20. 1917 • Battle of Passchendaele, 31 July-6 November 1917 • 2 week bombardment, 4.5 million shells from 3,000 guns. • Early august to 20 September: stalemate (weather) • Casualties: Allied, 325,000; German, 260,000 • Five-mile gain • German Army retreats to the Hindenburg Line. • Tank, submarine and gas warfare intensifies.

  21. 1918 • Germany launches major offensive on the Western Front. • March 1918 • Allies launch successful counter-offensives at the Marne and Amiens. • 600,000 US troops cross Atlantic • 355,000 British Reserves sent to Continent • Armistice signed on November 11, ending the war at 11am.

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