This document discusses Germany's role in starting World War 1. It provides evidence that Germany sought to become a world power like Britain and France through expanding its empire. Germany formed alliances with Austria-Hungary and Italy that increased tensions with Britain, France and Russia's alliance. While Germany took some actions to localize conflicts, it also encouraged Austria-Hungary to attack Serbia and had aggressive war aims to take land from France and Russia. The document analyzes that though other countries had roles, Germany's actions like the blank cheque and Schlieffen Plan make it largely responsible for provoking World War 1 to achieve its territorial goals.

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Sarah Cano
Mr. Soule
IB 20th Century History SL
13 September 2011
“Germany was responsible for the First World War.” To what extent do you agree with
this assertion?
During the late 19th century and early 20th century, the two great powers in Europe were
Britain and France. This was mainly due to their vast empires which spanned across Asia, Africa,
and the Caribbean. However, during this time period Germany was just starting off as a unified
country. It had gained Alsace and Lorraine in 1871 in the Franco-Prussian War, and was looking
to expand even further. Some evidences suggest that Germany wanted to become a world power,
or Weltmacht, similar to France and Britain. Germans also believed that in order to keep their
new country strong they had to have an alliance system. Thus the Dual Alliance between
Germany and Austria-Hungry was signed in 1879, and a Triple Alliance was signed by Germany,
Austria-Hungry, and Italy in 1882. To prevent the Triple Alliance from generating too much
power, the Triple Entente was signed by Britain, France, and Russia in 1907. This created much
tension throughout Europe for many years because it divided the major European powers in two
different alliance systems. Yet, the final spark to start World War One was the assassination of
Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, Serbia. This incident initiated nations to demonstrate
their military intentions, predominately Germany. To a large extent, Germany is responsible for
the First World War.
Certain evidence suggests that Germany attempted to prevent World War One from
occurring, as oppose to provoking the war. For instance, on 21 July 1914, Chancellor Bethmann-

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Hollweg wrote to German ambassadors located in St. Petersburg, Paris, and London that “[they]
urgently desire a localization of conflict” in the Balkans (Lee 65). This illustrates Germany did
not desire the war between Austria-Hungry and Serbia to be the cause of World War One, but
rather an internal conflict in the Balkans. Moreover, German officials were attempting to
establish a stronger bond between Germany and Britain. Professor Gerhard Ritter supports this
theory and believes Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg insisted the Kaiser stop naval production to
decrease the tension between Germany and Britain (Joll 105). This indicates Germany was
willing to compromise with other nations in order to prevent a large scale war. Lastly, the
Germans fear of encirclement motivated them to mobilize their army. The Germans had a right
to be worried because they were surrounded by Britain, France, and Russia who were known as
the Triple Entente in 1914. According to the Germans, the alliance system illustrated the Triple
Entente was provoking war with Germany, and that war was inevitable. Ultimately, Germany
took preventative measures in order to avoid a large war.
Although Germany appeared to take preventative measures to decrease the scale of
World War One, evidence implies that Germany provoked European nations, which ultimately
started the war. For example, after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Germany
promised full support of an Austria-Hungry attack on Serbia. This is known as the „blank cheque‟
and was sent by Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg on 6 July 1914.This demonstrates that Germany
yearned for war, and was planning on igniting war by pressuring Austria-Hungry to attack Serbia.
Furthermore, Germany‟s immediate attack on France, known as the Schlieffen Plan, guaranteed
a large-scale war. Germany declared war on France on 3 August 1914, and utilized the Schliffen
Plan, which proposed Germany‟s army capture Paris within 6 weeks, then turn to the Eastern
border and defend their country from Russia. This hasty mobilization and the declaration of war

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on France without motive insinuate that Germany desired more land and power throughout
central Europe. Due to Germany‟s „blank cheque‟ policy, and attack on France, Germany is
ultimately responsible for World War One.
Before and during World War One, Germany‟s war aims were clearly demonstrated,
which signifies that Germany planned to benefit from war, thus having motive to initiate World
War One. Before the outbreak of World War One, evidence suggests that German officials were
influenced by industrialists who were looking to expand Germany for personal gain. For example,
Walter Rathenau was the head of an electrical combine (AEG), a director of the Berliner
Handelsgesellschaft, and was good friends with Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg. Rathenau sent a
war aims paper to Bethmann-Hollweg “expressing the necessity for controlling France in order
to defeat England, and reiterates the importance of German supremacy in central Europe” (Joll
107).This shows that German industrialist were keen on expanding the German empire for
control of central Europe, and that they had high power friends (Bethmann-Hollweg) to achieve
their goal. Additionally, German government officials were conspiring about war aims once war
had already begun. On September 9, 1914 what is known as the September telegram was sent by
Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg to the State Secretary of the Interior, Clemens Delbruck. It stated
that Bethmann-Hollweg wished to strip France of all its power, and wanted Russia‟s border to be
pushed as far east as possible (Joll 34). This clearly illustrates Germany‟s real goals for war, and
how Germany was not disappointed by a major war, but looked forward to the gains they could
potentially have. Lastly, once they had some territorial gain, Germany believed it was just the
beginning of their territorial conquest. On March 1918 Germany got political and territorial gain
in parts of Russia, which many Germans in authority believed was just the beginning of “more
extensive conquests” (Joll 103). This is important because it demonstrates that even towards the

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end of the war Germany was still looking at gaining land. Ultimately, due to Germany‟s
industrial influences, war telegrams, and strives for territorial gain during war; Germany‟s war
aims give them a strong motive to want a major war.
Although Germany took some preventative measure to weaken the chance of war, strong
evidences suggests that Germany provoked World War One to a large extent in order to achieve
their war aims. It is hard to put sole blame on one country for the start of a major war, and even
though there is evidence that suggests other European countries had war aims, Germany‟s goals
were by far the most aggressive, and forceful as demonstrated by the Schlieffem Plan.
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Works Cited
Joll, James. “The 1914 Debate Continues. Fritz Fischer and His Critics.” Past &
Present 34 (1966): 100-113. Print.
Lee, Dong Sun. Power Shifts, Strategy, and War: Declining States and International Conflict.
London: Routledge, 2008. Print.