WWI: Militarism
Militarism: a policy in which military preparedness is of primary importance to a state.
Excerpt below is from World War I: A History in Documents:
!
A second prominent form of rivalry between nations
in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was military, and
spurred an arms race. Germany, France, Russia, and
Austria-Hungary invested large sums of money to expand
and modernize their armies, and then found themselves
forced to spend even more to keep abreast or ahead of
their rivalsʼ military expansion. Moreover, as the major
powers acquired colonies in Africa and Asia, they required
larger navies to protect distant possessions and the trade
routes to them. The escalating naval race between
Germany and Great Britain, for example, encouraged a
spiral of mutual suspicion, with alarmists on both side
exaggerating their own ill-preparedness and the otherʼs
hostile intentions.
Think About It:
• Were the European countries justified in competing
to increase their military strength? What might have
happened if they chose not keep up with their neighborsʼ stockpile of weapons,
ammunitions, and tools of war?
• Why would the British government post Public Warnings like the one posted above? How
would it make you feel to see public announcements like this at your neighborhood bus
stop?
The article below is from the September 6, 1914, New York Times and was written by the Imperial
Russian Vice Consul in New York City, Baron Korff.
“Allies’ Fight Directed Against German Militarism”
The assassination of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand of Austria at Sarajevo, in light of
present conditions, appears to be the
pretext which led to the present great
European war, involving the Empire of
Germany and Russia, the Kingdoms of Great
Britain and Belgium, and the Republic of
France. It is rather difficult for the average
American to find the real causes that have
led to this struggle of nations, as they like
solely in the conditions and latest
developments of the political life of Middle
WWI: Militarism
Europe generally, and Germany and Austria
particularly.
Germany’s colonial acquisitions
created a new era in her policy, and, if I may
be permitted to so express myself, changed
completely the face of the German Empire.
The protection and development of her
colonial possessions and her commerce
required a strong navy. England’s
competition of the commerce controlled by
Germany started the tremendous growth of
England’s naval power, and gave Germany
second place. Her rivalry with England
compelled Germany to increase her army,
too, and we observed how from a quiet,
inoffensive, modest State Germany
gradually became very strong and
endeavored to play the first violin in the
concert not only in Europe, but also of the
whole world... The military and economical
developments of Germany induced her to go
further in her tendency to enlarge her
territory.
Think About It:
• The newspaper article claims that Germanyʼs militarism was one of, if not, the main cause
that led to the outbreak of World War I. However, Germanyʼs need for an increased military
was fueled by its need to protect its colonial empire. This situation makes it difficult to
decide whether it was competition over colonial holdings or the increase of military strength
that really began the First World War. Which do you think had more influence over
encouraging the European countries to war?
The bar graph below indicates the amount of money that was being spent by France, Great Britain,
Germany, and Russia from 1890-1914.
Think About It:
• According to the graph,
what change occurred in
each country between 1890
and 1914?
• How did this change
influence the coming of the
war?