Cambridge IGCSE History Core Content Topic 6

Causes of WWI


1.    Describe the system of alliances which existed between European countries in 1914. [5]
It was the balance of power.
Europe was divided into two armed camps.
There was the Triple Alliance (1) of Germany, Austria–Hungary and Italy.(1)
There was the Triple Entente (1) consisting of Britain, France and Russia. (1)

2.    Describe the colonial rivalry that existed between Germany and other powers by 1900. [5]
The Kaiser wanted a place in the sun’.It would be a status symbol showing Germany’s greatness and gaining it respect.
It brought competition.
Britain and France already had large empires compared to Germany and Kaiser
Wilhelm II was determined to build up the German Empire. This caused conflicts with Britain.
A large empire would provide Germany with raw materials and a market for her growing
industries. It would need a large navy to protect it and this could bring it into conflict with the
British and French navies.
Colonial rivalry encouraged the Kaiser to congratulate Kruger in his famous telegram.
Britain and France were not worried about the territory taken by the Germans. It proved
to be a burden to Germany. Britain and France already had the most desirable colonies.

3.    Describe the Anglo-German naval rivalry that existed in the early years of the twentieth century. [5]
Britain had been undisputed ruler of the seas since the Battle of Trafalgar.
Britain’s navy guarded its Empire.
In 1898 Kaiser Wilhelm announced his intention to build a powerful German navy.
In 1900 Germany announced the Naval Law to double the size of her fleet.
Britain felt threatened by this and became very suspicious of Germany’s action
The Kaiser thought it was needed to protect Germany’s growing trade and empire.
Britain launched HMS Dreadnought in 1906, a new class of warship.
Germany responded and the naval race worsened.

4.    Describe the part played by Germany in the arms race in the early years of the twentieth century. [5]
5.   Why did Britain feel increasingly threatened by Germany’s policies after 1890? [7]
Britain became concerned that Germany began, in 1898, to build a fleet of battleships to rival the British Navy. In 1906 Germany began to build its version of the Dreadnought, a new type of battleship.
Most of the German navy would be based in the North Sea and therefore a direct threat to
Britain. Britain’s navy was spread across the globe protecting Britain’s much bigger empire.
Germany already had a fine army in 1890, but the new Kaiser stepped up its development
with increased guns, shells, bullets and other weapons more than the other Great Powers. It
had modern steel works to produce the weaponry.
Kaiser Wilhelm ll was determined to build up the German Empire and ‘gain a place in the sun’. A large empire would provide Germany with a market for her growing industries. It was also a status symbol showing Germany’s greatness and gaining respect. This was going to cause tension between Britain and Germany.
The Kaiser wanted to influence affairs in North Africa and he wanted to test the strength of
the Entente Cordiale. When Wilhelm visited Tangiers in 1905 and said Morocco should be independent of France, Britain supported France; this was confirmed at Algeciras.

6.    What was the Entente Cordiale of 1904? [5]
It was an agreement between Britain and France aimed to settle differences.
It was an agreement to deal with rising tension.
Britain had followed an isolationist policy but now needed allies.
In 1904 a friendly agreement was signed between Britain and France.
Britain feared the threat of Germany and Russia.
France saw it as support against Germany.
France gave Britain a free hand in Egypt. Britain gave France a free hand in Morocco.
A reaction to the Triple Alliance.

7.    Why did the Alliance System create tension between the Great Powers at that time? [7]
8.    Describe the Moroccan crisis of 1905. [5]
9.    Why was the first Moroccan crisis (1905–6) important? [7]
France had control of Morocco.
The Kaiser did not gain international support.
‘It was a test for the Entente Cordiale. Britain and France had agreed the Entente Cordiale in 1904 giving France a free hand in Morocco. The Kaiser wanted to test the strength of the Entente to try and cause a split as he did not believe Britain would stand by France over Morocco.
The Kaiser had hoped to have influence himself in Morocco. He failed to stop France from
extending her North African Empire. Germany was building up her African Empire in central and Southern Africa and Wilhelm wanted to show that Germany was an important power in North Africa as well.
The Kaiser suffered an embarrassing defeat at the Algeciras Conference with only Austria-Hungary supporting him.

10.  Why was there a crisis over Morocco in 1911? [7]
11.  Why did the Kaiser become involved in Morocco in 1905 and 1911? [7]
12.  Why did the two crises in Morocco increase tension between European powers? [7]
The two Moroccan crises increased tension in Europe because Germany directly interfered over French affairs in Africa…. (+Show William II’s actions)… (+explain why his actions made relations worse.)

The second reason why the Moroccan crises increased tension was because Britain became involved…
Show how Germany had to back off and was humiliated, (+ why this worsened relations (Germany determined to take revenge. The Entente between Britain and France grew stronger against German aggression)…

The third reason was that both crises involved powers’ display of military strength…. (+Show how)… (+why it made the tension worse.)

The Kaiser interfered over Morocco. He sent a gunboat to Agadir in 1911.
Britain and France stood together.
The Kaiser was testing the strength of the Triple Entente.
The Kaiser visited Morocco. In a speech he said Morocco should be independent of France. France was supported by Britain and would not back down.
The Kaiser suffered an embarrassing defeat at the Algeciras conference with only
Austria-Hungary supporting him. He blamed Britain for this defeat as they had supported France.
The Kaiser, in 1911, again tried to break the Entente Cordiale by sending a gunboat to Agadir. Britain believed he was trying to set up a naval base in Morocco and saw this as a threat.

13.  Why was the tension between the Great Powers increased by the Bosnian Crisis of 1908? [7]
Austria annexed Bosnia in 1908. This angered Serbia because under Pan-Slavism, Serbia desired to make Bosnia part of greater Serbia but Austria-Hungary added Bosnia to its own empire. Therefore tension between Austria-Hungary and Serbia was heightened.
Serbia asked Russia to help and Russia called for an international conference to discuss Austria’s action.
Austria’s refusal to attend was backed by Germany, who demanded that Russia accepted Austria’s seizure of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Russia had to back down as their army was no match for the German forces.
Russia was humiliated but was unlikely to back down in the future. This showed the hostility between the Triple Alliance and Russia as well.
Germany was now fully committed to supporting Austrian policy even if it meant war.
Russia drew closer to France and Britain.

14.  Why did the crisis over Bosnia-Herzegovina not bring war to Europe? [7]
15.  Describe the Balkan Wars of 1912-13. [5]
The armies of the Balkan League (Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria and Montenegro) drove Turkey out of Europe.
 Austria was alarmed by this as Serbia had emerged as the strongest Balkan state.
 Austria wanted to crush Serbia but the Great Powers, fearing a major European war, forced a peace settlement on the victorious states. Powers helped Albania to gain independence.
 In a second Balkan War, Bulgaria lost the land it had gained and wanted revenge on Serbia and Greece, so she raged a war against other members of the Balkan League
 Austria sought to crush the Serbians who were supported by Russia.

16.  Describe the events of 28 June 1914 leading to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. [5]
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were on a formal visit to Sarajevo.
The heir to the Austrian throne was killed during a tour in Sarajevo.
A group of students called the Black Hand traveled from Serbia to assassinate the heir of Austria.
A hand-bomb was thrown at the Archduke’s car, but it rolled back and injured bystanders.
After visiting the town hall, the couple went to see the injured and the planned route was changed but the driver took the wrong direction. He stopped in front of Princip. Princip shot the Archduke and his wife.
Both died almost immediately and Pincip was arrested.

17.  Why did France begin to mobilise its forces in early August 1914? [7]
‘To meet their Treaty obligations.Increased tension.
 To defeat Germany and to support Russia. To put their military plans into operation.
 The Germans had the Schlieffen Plan under which they would quickly attack France and defeat her.
 A German army had marched into Belgium on 3 August 1914.
 Germany declared war on Russia and so as part of Triple Entente support, France mobilised.
 France viewed Germany with some mistrust following events in Morocco.
 France’s long-term fear of Germany, stemming from 1871.’

18.  ‘Germany’s actions were the main source of tension Europe from 1890 to 1905.How far do you agree? [8]
19.  ‘It was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand that made European war certain.’How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [8]
20.  ‘The main reason for Britain going to war in 1914 was the German invasion of Belgium.’How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [8]
21.  How far was German militarism the most important cause of war in 1914? Explain your answer. [8]
22.  ‘The Anglo-German naval race was the most important cause of war in 1914.How far do you agree? [8]
23.  ‘In August 1914 a German army marched into Belgium.Was this action the main reason for the First World War? Explain your answer. [8]
24.  How far was Germany to blame for the coming of war in 1914? Explain your answer. [8]
25.  How far did the actions of Austria-Hungary cause the First World War? [8]
26.  ‘The Balkan Wars, 1912-13, were more responsible for the First World War than the assassination of Franz Ferdinand.How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [8]
27.  ‘The most important reason why Britain went to war in 1914 was the German invasion of Belgium.How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [8]
28.  ‘Naval rivalry was the main cause of the First World War.How far do you agree? [8]

Following the assassination at Sarajevo of the heir to the A-H throne, Austria declared
war on Serbia despite the Serbs not wanting war. This brought Russia into conflict as it
supported the Serbs and was determined not to back down this time. Germany
supported its ally Austria-Hungary by declaring war on Russia and then France. This
was the immediate cause of war.
      OR
  The Alliance system was a major cause of war as it created two armed camps – The
Triple Alliance against the Triple Entente. A dispute between one of the members of
each camp could well involve other members. An example was in Bosnia where Russia
was furious at the actions of Austria but backed down when Germany supported Austria.
This humiliated Russia who were not likely to back down again and who moved closer to
Britain and France. After the assassination Germany supported Austria against the Serbs.
  The Kaiser adopted a more aggressive approach to the rest of the world. He ended
friendly relations with Russia and as a result other countries saw Germany as a threat.
  Germany had grown equal to Britain in wealth and industry and wanted an Empire like
Britain. The Kaiser’s aggressive attitude suggested he might take parts of the Empire’s
of Britain and France (Morocco) and this was seen as a threat.
  Germany entered the arms race, building up a navy to challenge British supremacy.
There was a race to see who could build the largest battleships. Germany’s army was
already powerful and Britain feared German world domination if it had the strongest navy as well.
  There was intense rivalry in the Balkans where the Balkan League had been formed,
with Serbia emerging as the strongest Balkan state. This alarmed Austria who was
determined to crush the Serbians who were supported by Russia. Austria was supported by Germany.
  Germany invaded Belgium to get to France and Britain entered the war as they had
agreed to guarantee Belgium’s neutrality by the Treaty of London signed in 1839.