However Fahn

However, the street celebrations that accompanied the British and French declaration of war gives historians the expose that the move was popular and politicians tend to go with the popular mood. Was much through to avoid the start of the war? By 1914, Europe had divided into both camps. The Triple attachment was Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary. The Triple Entente wasBritain, France and Russia. The alliance amongst Germany and Austria was natural. some(prenominal) spoke the same language German and had a similar culture. In previous centuries, they had both been part of the same empire the Holy roman Empire.Austria was in political trouble in the south-east of Europe the Balkans. She mandatory the might of Germany to back her up if trouble got worse. Italy had Joined these countries as sne teared their forefinger on ner northern border. Germany was mainland Europes most muscular country so from Italys bit of view, being an ally of Germany was an obvious move. Each m ember of the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria nd Italy) promised to help the separates if they were attacked by a nonher country. The Triple Entente was slight structured than the Triple Alliance. Entente means understanding and the members of the Entente (Britain, France and Russia) did non have to promise to help the other two if they got attacked by other countries but the understanding was that each member would support the others but it was not fixed. France was suspicious of Germany. She had a huge legions but a shortsighted navy. Britain had the worlds most powerful naw and a small army. France and Britain Joining together in an understanding was natural. Britain was in any case concerned about Germany because she was construct up a new and powerful navy. The inclusion of Russia seemed odd when Russia was so far from France and Britain.However, Russias purplish family, the Romanovs, was related to the British Royal Family. Russia also had a huge army and with Franc e on the west of Europe and Russia on the east, the essence sent to Germany was that she was confronted by two huge armies on either side of her borders. Therefore, it was not a sound move by Germany to provoke trouble in Europe that was the hoped for message sent out by the Triple Entente. Certain specific problems also helped to bring out suspicion throughout Europe. The first was Germanys fear of the huge British Empire. By 1900, Britain owned a quarter of the world.Countries such as Canada, India, siemens Africa, Egypt, Australia and New Zealand were owned by Britain as part of the British Empire. big businessman Victoria had been crowned Empress of India. Huge amounts of money were made from these colonies and Britain had a powerful military presence in all parts of the world. The Empire was seen as the status symbol of a country that was the most powerful in the world. Hence Britains title Great Britain. Germany clearly believed that a sign of a great power was possessio n of overseas colonies. The best had already been taken by Britain but Germany resolved to gain as much colonial rule as possible.Her main target was Africa. She colonised territory in southerly Africa (now Namibia) which no-one really wanted as it was useless desert but it did create much anger in London as Germanys new territories were attached South Africa with its huge diamond and gold reserves. In reality, Germanys African colonies were of niggling economic importance but it gave her the opportunity to demonstrate to the German hoi polloi hat she had Great Power status even if this did make dealing with Britain more fragile than was perhaps necessary for the economic returns Germany got from her colonies.A second issue that caused much friction between Britain and Germany was Germanys hope to increase the size of her navy. Britain pass judgment that Germany, as a large land-based country, undeniable a large army. scarce Germany had a very small coastline and Britain cou l d not accep na Germany needed a large navy. Postcard from 1912 of the Spithead review of Britains Navvy Britain concluded that Germanys desire to increase the size of her naw was to hreaten Britains naval might in the North Sea.The British government concluded that as an island we needed a large naw and they could not accept any challenges from Germany. As a result, a naval black market took place. Both countries spent vast sums of money building new warships and the toll soared when Britain launched a new type of battleship the Dreadnought. Germany immediately responded by building her equivalent. Such a move did little to improve relations between Britain and Germany. All it did was to increase tension between the two nations.