Alliances
Triple alliance:Germany-Austria-Hungary -Italy
Triple entente alliance:Russian-France -Britain
"We have conquered for ourselves a place in the sun. It will now be my task to see to it that this place in the sun shall remain our undisputed possession, in order that the sun's rays may fall fruitfully upon our activity and trade in foreign parts... The more Germans go out upon the waters, whether it be in journeys across the ocean, or in the service of the battle flag, so much the better it will be for us."
Because of the European alliances it caused China to enter war due to its treaty with Britain
Nationalism:Allied to this growing militarism was an intense nationalism in most of the Great powers. Weltpolitik or the desire for world power status was very popular in Germany. The French desire for revenge over Alsace and Lorraine was very strong. In Britain Imperialism and support for the Empire was very evident. This nationalism meant that there was little resistance to war in these countries. Many welcomed what it was felt would be a short victorious war. For example the outbreak of war was greeted by cheering crowds in Berlin, Vienna and Paris. As A P J Taylor wrote “the people of Europe leapt willingly into war.”
Alliances:Due to some powers having lower amounts of soldiers they formed alliances to have better protection,an example of an alliance betrayal is the Russian and German alliances then being overturned by Kaiser Wilhelm
Triple entente alliance:Russian-France -Britain
"We have conquered for ourselves a place in the sun. It will now be my task to see to it that this place in the sun shall remain our undisputed possession, in order that the sun's rays may fall fruitfully upon our activity and trade in foreign parts... The more Germans go out upon the waters, whether it be in journeys across the ocean, or in the service of the battle flag, so much the better it will be for us."
Because of the European alliances it caused China to enter war due to its treaty with Britain
Nationalism:Allied to this growing militarism was an intense nationalism in most of the Great powers. Weltpolitik or the desire for world power status was very popular in Germany. The French desire for revenge over Alsace and Lorraine was very strong. In Britain Imperialism and support for the Empire was very evident. This nationalism meant that there was little resistance to war in these countries. Many welcomed what it was felt would be a short victorious war. For example the outbreak of war was greeted by cheering crowds in Berlin, Vienna and Paris. As A P J Taylor wrote “the people of Europe leapt willingly into war.”
Alliances:Due to some powers having lower amounts of soldiers they formed alliances to have better protection,an example of an alliance betrayal is the Russian and German alliances then being overturned by Kaiser Wilhelm
This British postcard shows what would happen if the Kaiser took the 'place in the sun' that he wanted.