... to her ally', would stand by Austria even should the Serbian conflict lead to war between Austria and Russia." (Fischer p.53)1 Fischer believes this "blank cheque" was strategically given in order to give the Austrians the confidence needed to attack ...

... two countries. Tensions were relieved by a resulting naval détente, which gave Germany false hopes about the intentions of Great Britain. This misconception was a key factor in the approaching war. The naval revolution and the naval race had a ...

... of the 1860s and 70s, and peace was simply uninspiring. However, the Kaiser and Chancellor were not ready to risk another war with a major power in Europe but instead would look to attack abroad, seeking vulnerable areas to claim ...

... the anvil"; Germany will either have to strike or be hit, which could be interpreted as Germany getting ready for battle. However the source may not necessarily be referring directly to war, just the fact that Germany felt they must ...

... was going on, and was secret, and so should have been an honest reflection of his views. It was also written at a relevant time, July 1914, at the end of the period mentioned and therefore able to look back ...

... figure in German foreign policy, therefore appears useful. It can be argued that Germany was acting defensively but source six suggests that perhaps Germany was not only acting defensively but being ambitious as suggested in source two, "she has beaten ...

... a strong navy there can be no welfare for us" (Prince Von Bulow, 1899). The main core of the Weltpolik was Bernard von Bulow, Johannes von Miguel and Alfred Von Tripitz. However is Weltpolitik essentially an element in the solution ...

... idea that Germany was only aggressive not warlike. Source two suggests that Bertie felt that Germany was more aggressive than warlike due to the situations she (Germany) was kept in. He stated in his secret memorandum that, "She wanted the ...

... war with Germany'. Nicolson is referring to the fact that the French had moved their entire naval fleet to the Mediterranean, by an arrangement which left Britain under obligation to defend the Channel and Atlantic coast of France. Certainly, after ...

... he had a very large pointed moustache to show his superiority and commanding nature. Having liberalism spoon fed into him from an early age caused him to blame his mother for his withered arm and rebel against her liberal ideas. ...

... conflict over the Balkans. Between 1875 and 1877 the Sultan of Turkey, whose empire covered this corner of Europe was faced with revolts in Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro. The Turks inflicted cruel treatments, for example the slaughter of ...

... military cutbacks were highly controversial. So controversial in fact was Britain's intervention in the Suez Canal conflict of 1956; which intervention left Britain humiliated and with an effect on its future foreign policy-making. General consequences. The consequences of Suez were ...

... Gorbachev's reforms the economy was spiralling out of control, the political situation was rapidly becoming more and more unstable and ethnic tensions were increasing. Surely, said the press in light of these developments, people will leave this 'sinking-ship'. Estimates escalted ...

... while demonstrating how Konrad Jarausch's article serves as a mediator between the two. In Fritz Fischer's Germany's Aims in the First World War it is evident that the blame is being laid almost entirely onto Germany. Not only however is ...

... declared in Europe. Wilson was more of an idealist than a war villain, and viewed this event as an opportunity for international peace. He did not believe that the war should end in a new balance of power, but rather ...

... unrest2. Further, newly found social, political and economical moods, of 'mixed character' began prevailing3, threatening the existing autocratic rule of the Tsar. Along with liberalism, anarchism, and conservatism, new ideas of socialism and change began to show colour. Years of ...

... Gambetta voiced the sentiment of the era, "to remain a great nation, or to remain one, you must colonize." Even before the 1870s national rivalries had played a direct role in European imperial expansion for the sake of national pride ...

... of other theories, each hypothesis is delivered by their proponents with such certainty and promise that it is easy to accept them without question. Traditionally Germany has received the majority of blame for starting the First World War. In 1919 German ...

... after that European powers grew in an ever increasing tempo. The huge difference between these two divisions was made possible in particular by the approaches to the difficulty in communication and administration, such as the introductions of global telegraph, railway ...

... for bringing us here, and looking after us, we are grateful, thank you so much. Miss Precious: Hey its ok, don't worry at all if you need anything, anything at all, just let me know, so what are we having for ...

... was unsatisfactory during these times. Another factor which led to his abdication was the growing unrest emerging throughout Germany. The German people had be told they would achieve a glorious victory but when it soon became clear they had lost ...

... out in 1914. Martel mentions nationalism as one of the main causes that drove the Serbian nationalists to assassinate the archduke. Nationalism was also what motivated Austria to take action against Serbia and what caused the feeling of brotherhood between ...

... to appease Germany they should look overseas and make colonial, naval or commercial concessions." Wilson and Lloyd George did not agree because Lloyd George was partially unhappy about point number two of the fourteen points. Point number two was, "free ...

... lasted anywhere from a matter of hours to several weeks, and were completely orchestrated by the troops partaking in them, with no approval or guidance from their governments. As historian Stanley Weintraub points out, the idea of the truce came ...

... and Grandson of Queen Victoria. Wilhelm's life as a child was one which involved extreme strictness mainly because of his Father's rigorously authoritarian approach. In 1898 His Father, Fredrick II died and immediately it resulted in Wilhelm becoming emperor of ...