European Rearmament

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German Rearmament

As part of his Weltpolitik (world policy), Kaiser Wilhelm II looked to rearm Germany.

Naval expansion

After 1898, the Kaiser expanded its navy as part of Weltpolitik (world policy)
It was hoped that this would lead to:
- industrial growth
- larger German empire
- increased German patriotism and be a symbol of strength to the world (especially to Great Britain).

Navy Laws

1898: First Naval Law which increased the navy by 7 battleships.
1900: Second Naval Law doubled the size of the navy to 38 battleships.
1906: Third Naval Law expanded the navy by another 6 battleships.

Alfred von Tirpitz

Alfred von Tirpitz, the new Navy Secretary, led the effort to build up the Germany navy.

Conscription

In the years leading up to 1914, all the Great Powers except Britain introduced conscription to increase the size of their military forces.
- Conscription means requiring certain people (usually men) to serve in the military.

British Rearmament

As a response to Kaiser Wilhelm's foreign policy, Britain also increased the size of its military.

Naval Defence Act

1889 AD: Britain passed the Naval Defence Act in response to Kaiser Wilhelm's military policies.
- This established the ‘two-power standard’.
- This meant that the Royal Navy could expand to match the number of battleships owned by the two largest naval powers (France and Russia) combined.

Dreadnoughts

By 1906, Britain felt threatened and began building a new type of super-battleship called the Dreadnought.
Germany began building Dreadnoughts too.
An ‘arms race' developed between the two countries.
- The British people resented Germany’s attempt to threaten British naval superiority.

1The Causes of the First World War

1.1The Alliance System

1.1.1The Threat of Germany & The Triple Alliance

1.1.2The Franco-Russian Alliance & the 'Entente'

1.1.3End of Topic Test - The Alliance System

1.2Crisis in Morocco and the Balkans

1.2.1The Crisis in Morocco

1.2.2The Crisis in the Balkans

1.2.3The Balkan Wars

1.2.4Impact on International Relations

1.2.5End of Topic Test - Morocco & the Balklans

1.3Anglo-German Rivalry

1.3.1Britain & Splendid Isolation

1.3.2Kaiser Wilhelm II's Foreign Policy

1.3.3European Rearmament

1.3.4End of Topic Test - Anglo-German Rivalry

1.4Outbreak of War

1.4.1Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

1.4.2The July Crisis

1.4.3The Schlieffen Plan and Belgium

1.4.4Reasons for the Outbreak of Hostilities

1.4.5End of Topic Test - Outbreak of War

2The First World War: Stalemate

2.1The Schlieffen Plan

2.1.1Reasons Behind the Schlieffen Plan & its Failure

2.1.2Stalemate

2.1.3End of Topic Test - The Schlieffen Plan

2.2The Western Front

2.2.1Technology

2.2.2Military Tactics

2.2.3The War of Attrition (1915-1916)

2.2.4The War of Attrition (1917)

2.2.5End of Topic Test - The Western Front

2.3The Wider War

2.3.1The War at Sea

2.3.2The War in the Air

2.3.3Other Theatres

2.3.4End of Topic Test - Wider War

3Ending the War

3.1Changes in the Allied Forces

3.1.1The Bolshevik Revolution

3.1.2Reasons for the Entry of the USA

3.1.3The Impact of US Entry on the War

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Changes in the Allied Forces

3.2Military Developments in 1918

3.2.1Tactics & Technology

3.2.2Ludendorff & the German Spring Offensive

3.2.3The Allied Advance During The Hundred Days

3.3Germany Surrenders

3.3.1The Impact of the Naval Blockade

3.3.2Abdication of the Kaiser

3.3.3Armistice

3.3.4The Contribution of Haig and Foch

3.3.5End of Topic Test - Developments & Surrender

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