The Origins of the First World War by James Joll & Gordon Martel

Author:James Joll & Gordon Martel [Joll, James & Martel, Gordon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781138846357
Publisher: TaylorFrancis
Published: 2022-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

In fact, he was soon faced with demands for naval increases that he was unable to resist, with the kaiser declaring that ‘My and the German people’s patience is at an end’16 and expressing the greatest contempt for any arguments that financial considerations might limit naval expansion. Meanwhile, the nationalist associations – now joined by a new one, the Wehrverein, committed to strengthening the army and preparing all sections of the nation, especially the young, for war – were becoming increasingly strident in their criticisms of the government. By 1913 a new increase of the army was added to that of the navy.

From 1911 until the outbreak of war – and indeed until his fall in 1917 – Bethmann Hollweg was faced with repeated calls for his resignation; the punning slogan ‘Bethmann soll Weg’ (Bethmann Must Go) was a kind of German parallel to the British Conservative Party’s ‘BMG’ (Balfour Must Go) campaign against their leader Arthur Balfour in the autumn of 1911. Indeed, in March 1912 Bethmann had offered his resignation to the kaiser because the latter, in one of his recurrent fits of anti-English panic, had telegraphed direct to the ambassador in London that, if the English were to strengthen their North Sea fleet by withdrawing ships from the Mediterranean, this would immediately lead to Germany’s mobilization. By the time Bethmann’s resignation was offered the kaiser had calmed down, but the episode gave the chancellor the opportunity to summarize his policy: any failure in the attempt to reach agreement with Britain must be attributable to the English, otherwise

not only will our relationship with England significantly deteriorate, but also French chauvinism which is already virulent will be encouraged to form the wildest hopes. France will become so provocative and overbearing that we shall be compelled to attack her. In such a war France will certainly have the help of Russia and doubtless also England … I cannot take the responsibility of working for such a situation. If a war is forced on us, then we will fight it and with God’s help not be defeated. But for us to provoke a war without our honour or vital interests being affected I would regard as a sin against Germany’s destiny, even if we could hope as far as we can foresee for victory.17

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