The Fall Of Germany In World War I

The Fall of Germany in World War I

None of the European power wanted World War I, but they feared
Germany. Germany was newly unified, and was beating the European
powers in population and Industry. France wanted to recover the
Alsace-Lorraine. Britain was a country used to being on the ocean, so
they felt threatened by Germany's colonial expansion and William II's
insisting on a large navy. Russia and Austria feared pressure on their
unstable empires. In 1887 William II refused to renew the Reinsurance
treaty with Russia, but continued the Triple Alliance of Germany,
Austria-Hungary, and Italy. In 1894 Russia made an alliance with
France, and Great Britain settled it's differences with France in the
Entente Cordiale in 1904 forming the Triple Entente.

The assassination, with Serbian Knowledge, of the liberal
Austrian archduke Francis Ferdinan in Sarajevo in June 1914 was the
spark that set off the war. Germany assured Austria full support,
which resulted in an Austrian ultimatum that Serbia could not accept.
Austria declared war on Serbia. Russia mobilized to defend Serbia,
then Germany declared war on Russia. Germany also declared war on
France. Germany wanted a quick defeat of France. To avoid the French
frontier, German forces moved through neutral Belgium thinking they
would take Paris by surprise. The Germans encountered more resiezce
than expected in Belgium, giving France time to prepare. [Caidin 207]
This violation of international ...

The Fall Of Germany In World War I

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