THE ANGLO-GERMAN NAVAL RACE

and THE ARMS RACE

ON LAND

1900-1914

By the early twentieth century Britain had the largest Empire in the World and they also had the largest navy. In contrast, German’s strange was her army.

Germany and Britain had to be friends because there was

nothing to quarrel about.

He thought that disarmament was an idealistic absurdity. He hated the idea of Britain

been so much stronger on the oceans than Germany. He therefore orders a

massive increase in Germany navy.

A great race to build more and better warships started

The Kaiser’s policy of defence was very aggressive

German battle fleet quickly developed beyond the needs of

defence.

Kaiser dismissed Bismarck in 1890

and started a new naval policy.

by 1900 they doubled the fleet

The leading figure of the development of the German Navy

Great race to built more and better warships

By 1906 Britain launched the first of a new kind of super battleship called H.M.S Dreadnought

The German replay was to comment similar buildings

They were concerned that Germany would build more Dreadnoughts than Britain

So the naval competition went on until 1914.

While Britain and Germany were building up their navies, the major powers on mainland Europe were also building up their armies because they were sure that war was “ bound to come” sooner or later

There were serious financial difficulties in this arms race

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, France and Britain planned their movements and prepared for war even though the arms race was

publicly justified to prevent war.

- He become Kaiser at the age of 27 when German industry was growing fast and Germany was becoming a world power.

-He was very energetic and enthusiasm but very unpredictable.

- He was keen military parades and liked to be photographed with his

military uniform.- He was very ambitious for Germany. He

wanted Germany to be recognized as the greatest power in Europe by the older European countries.

- He was closely involved in Germany’s plan for war.

- When Germany was defeated in 1918 he fled to exile. He died in 1941.

KAISER WILHELM II

SOURCE ANALYSIS

1. Why did the Kaiser William II order an increase in the German Navy?

He hated the idea of Britain been so much stronger on the oceans than Germany.

2. What did the Kaiser mean by "The trident must be in our hands"?

3. Why did the conference brake down when it came to the question ofactual disarmament?

Any country wanted to be disarmed because they want to have more armament because that meant more power.

4. How did the Kaiser see the offer of a certain amount of disarmament from Britain?

He thought it was a trick, they were cheating him, lying to prevent German increased of naval power.

5. Which was the German reaction about the British "Dreadnought"?

They built their own battleship, similar to "Dreadnought". And many people in Britain became worried about the German naval threat. They were

concerned that Germany would built more Dreadnoughts than Britain.

6. Do you think this countries were acting unreasonably?

Yes, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, France and Britain planned their movements and prepared for war even though the arms race was publicly

justified to prevent war.

Britain had the largest navy because England is an island so it has more battleships.

7. Why do you think Britain had the largest navy?

TabathaTrinidad

Juana Particia Micaela