FREE ESSAY ON WAS GERMANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OUTBREAK OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR?

WAS GERMANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OUTBREAK OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR?

The First World War was a devastating war that effected many places and also very many
lives. Because of the effects of the war people were determined to search for the country
that was to blame for all the disaster created. The outbreak was contingent on a
determining number of factors. These factors included nationalism that was being spread
throughout Europe during the time before World War I had started and the alliance system.
Although Germany was not all to blame for the outbreak of World War I, it did contribute
more than a fare share in its involvement in the alliance system, nationalism, the arms
race, and emulation between countries and colonies.
Previously, before the start of World War I, the dominating powers of Europe (Russia,
France, Great Britain, Austria-Hungary, and Germany) were experiencing various problems,
which caused the relationships between each power to be extremely edgy and undependable.
All five powers were just beginning to adapt to the industrial revolution within their
own country, which did not help the matter of dealing with other countries. At the same
time, a strong sense of nationalism was brewing throughout the countries of Europe
causing many more problems with how to deal with other countries when one's own citizen's
dislikes another's own.
Nationalism brought about competitive manners amongst Europe, causing aggressive results
at times. Because of the creation of the German Empire in 1871 Germany feared an attack
was coming due to the mass jealously of Germany's advancing industry and military
antecedents. By this time Germany seemed to be the most advanced in military and in
industry, so in order for self-defense of each European country, alliance agreements were
reached. Great Britain, France and Russia made the Triple Entente, while the opposing
powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy created the Triple Alliance.
Germany began becoming a country of extreme nationalism. It's people were wanting to
expand Germany's borders and to gain further and outside power, eventually taking over
Europe. Not only did the citizen's want this; they were encouraged by a leader, Otto Van
Bismarck, who told them about violence and to fight. Because of him the people truly did
believe that Germany could be made bigger and greater - it wouldn't only be a dream now.
This strong nationalism in turn led to the arms race. Germany and Britain were fighting
to obtain the world's best navy fashioning extensive numbers of ships, weapons, and naval
personnel. Not only was Germany and Britain involved in the arms race, every country was,
but only one showed more eagerness to fight the war - Germany. Statistics show that
Germany made immense changes to weapons, artillery, soldiers, and other military
particulars. Not only did they make changes to military aspects; extensive economic
changes were also accomplished.
Germany's eagerness for war may be a contributing factor to why they were the cause of
the outbreak in World War I. An example that shows exactly that is during the Moroccan
Crisis Germany showed unrestricted support for Austria-Hungary, which undoubtedly proved
that Germany was willing to advance in to war at any point in time. Germany did not once
consider that they would ever lose a war. They did not care, for they had nationalism
that they felt would make them immortal against anyone or anything. They would not only
fight for themselves they would be in picking at other county's business and supporting a
country just in order to cause a war - or so it seemed.
Ultimately, there were major factors that led to the outbreak of World War I, such as
economic pressure, nationalism, antagonism between countries and colonies, and the
alliance system. Not only Germany was guilty of the outbreak, but Germany did play a more
than major responsibility in the outbreak. Germany played more than dominant roles as
being the principal instigator in the arms race and in the creation of the alliance
system. Germany was a nation that felt they needed to advance and was prepared to do
anything to achieve that goal - even cause a war. Consequently Germany was not totally to
blame for the outbreak of the First World War, but it was most certainly the main
contributor, by a large margin, to the outbreak of the First World War.