Cause Of Ww1 Essay

The second strategic factor that influenced the outbreak of WWI was a pervasive sense of nationalism in France and Germany. Much of the French nationalism grew out of disdain for the Germans following the Franco-Prussian War when Germany annexed the Alsace-Lorraine region. Germany had not only taken a part of French territory, but had arrogantly paraded their success in the face of the French. The French had assured the inhabitants of the region that they would remain a part of the French nation. The bitterness of the event created not only a hatred for the Germans, but a desired to one day rise up and make France great again. Victor Hugo, a famous French author, wrote of how France would reconstitute, study the enemy, and one day take back Alsace-Lorraine. This event in combination with the
The new empire renewed a sense of confidence and unity among the German people. The Napoleonic wars had promoted nationalism across Europe while nations struggled to gain power and strength, but it was especially strong in Germany. The Germans had a general belief that they were a superior people, and they deserved to be the ruling power in Europe. Friedrich von Bernhardi, a German General, wrote a book entitled “Germany and the Next War” in 1910, in which he said, “We must secure to German nationality and German spirit throughout the globe that high esteem which is due them.” He goes on in his writing to talk about the necessity for Germany to not only wage war, but to also become a world power. General Moltke, the Chief of the German General Staff during the war, had been planning for the The Day, Der Tag, for ten years. This was the day that Germany would at last go to war and establish dominance across Europe. General Moltke told King Albert of Belgium, “Your Majesty cannot imagine the irresistible enthusiasm which will permeate Germany on The