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How Did Germany Cause Ww1

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WWI was a horrific and terrible event, caused by a spark that became out of control.
WWI began in 1914, after Otto Von Bismarck decided that he disliked the placement of Germany between Russia and France. Because of this, he created an alliance with Austria-Hungary, swearing to protect them. That alliance, which was caused because of Germany’s need for more land, led to Germany protecting Austria-Hungary against Serbia. So when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28th, and when Russia declared war on Austria-Hungary, Germany joined in the fighting. This ultimately led to WWI, after Britain and France joined in the fighting. However, what was the real underlying cause of WWI? Although it is fought about, WWI was caused by Germany’s …show more content…

Germany was always stuck between some of the most powerful nations on the earth, France, Britain, and Russia. Because of this, they always wanted to be as powerful and to be seen as a force to reckon with. Its sense of nationalism overpowered their thoughts, and they wanted to show the world that they were a nation, and that they could not be stopped. This is easily seen in document A of European alliances, showcasing the fact that Germany, although smushed between France and Russia, was around the size of France and Britain put together, and is even more apparent in Bernhard von Bülow’s speech The Hammer or the Anvil. “...We don’t want our own feet tramped by any foreign power… We don’t ever again want to become… the ‘slaves of humanity.’” (The Hammer or the Anvil, Bülow) Germany had just become a nation, and wishes to fight to stay one. They never want to be trampled on by France, Britain or Russia ever again. They believe they are a powerful nation, a begin preparations to become even more …show more content…

Their need for more land, which was considered power, made them paranoid and obsessive. Regardless of the other causes, Imperialism was the true underlying cause of WWI. In the chart adapted from Colin Nicolson’s The First World War, there is an obvious difference between the population of colonies of Germany and of France and Britain. Germany, only having 1,139,000 sq. miles, had the least of the three, and therefore had the least power in 1913. Because of this, Germany striked a deal with Austria-Hungary, forming an alliance, to form their needs as a nation. If Germany never felt they needed more power, they would’ve never made an alliance, and would’ve never started a war that would become out of control. They always needed power, and it was power that drove them to make alliances and fight back. Although there are technically multiple causes for WWI, imperialism is the underlying cause for them all. If Germany never needed more power, they never would’ve went looking for it. Austria-Hungary and Serbia would’ve still went to war, but Germany would not have been involved. WWI was an event that we could’ve avoided, but because of the power-hungry Otto Von Bismarck, we didn’t. World War One will always be a tragedy that will forever haunt the minds of

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