Arms Race

The with child(p) state of war of 1914 was one of the bloodiest conflicts modern man has yet experienced. Its consequences slayed far from the involutionfield and into the towns, house adopts and families of the soldiers. on that point are many arguable points one could debate regarding the origins of WW1 precisely when much guilt resides on the part of the build up quicken. An arms run away tush best be described as one orbit adding a carriageion to Its military indeed a neighboring country doing the alike(p) be buzz off It is nervous.The both countries continuously keep adding to their military might to keep up with one nonher. Edward Cray, Britains onwardsign secretary from 1906-1916 offered a good examplel . If one country makes a rail way to the b set come to the fore of a neighboring country, then that country will feeling threatened and subsequently will build a railroad of its own to the border. Anticipating an attack, the first country will become t o mobilize its army and perhaps build weapons. The second country immediately feels incredibly threatened and mobilizes its own army c all last(predicate)ing in any the reserve troops possible.Gray assessed that the only way to stop an arms race is war. An arms race does non simply start on its own. thither is indubitably some event that triggers the arming of a country. In WWI, that kindle be attributed to the treaties between European countries2. When Austria and Serbia get into a dispute, Austria Issues an ultimatum with ten conditions. Serbia agrees to all but one and starts smell around for backup In fountain of attack. Serbia forms an alliance with Russia because Russia hates Austria. When Austria finds out they call their friend Germany for an alliance.Russia subsequently calls France knowing that France is looking for an easy shot to get back at Germany Tor tne Franco-Prusslan war Trom akes them earnings dearly n w cn Germany aeTeats France ana for the loss3. On the day of the ultimatum, Austria declares war on Serbia, Russia declares war on Austria, Germany declares war on Russia, and France declares war on Germany. french and German Military develop custodyt France had bounced back fairly quickly aft(prenominal) the Franco-Prussian war and paid off their debts ahead of era. They were quickly becoming an industrialised nation with many as come outs.Their progress made both Germany and Britain wary because they both wanted to be the close to(prenominal) powerful country and were insecure rough any sort of threat. Around 1912 when things were beginning to heat up in Europe Russia, Germany and France began to ramp up their military forces4. Germany Added 120,000 men to its army in foreboding of anaesthetise. With Germany beginning to arm, France passes a compulsory service law of nature that ask all men ages 20-40 to serve in the military for a set arrive of time. For twenty years, Frances army had been growing faster that Germanys.Th is changed drastically though when Germany decided to start pouring majority of their resources into their military. Germany, although not one one hundred percent responsible for the war, certainly did not back away from it. They participated in arms races such as these and instigated others such as the naval arms race. When war came about, Germany was to a greater extent than than ready for it because to their years of preparation out-of-pocket to the arms race. English and German Army growth Around this same time Germany was difficult to cause an issue between France and Britain over the country of Morocc05.Germany was trying to cause issues over the independence of Morocco mainly because they themselves had personal commercial interests in the area and they wanted to insight strife between the two fore mentioned countries. An international conference was called and Germany did not get its way. This critically weekend the already s organizeed relations between Britain and Ger many and France and Germany. After Germany failed to get what it wanted, it stopped relying so much on diplomacy and more and more on bestial military power.As a result of this, Britain formed an elite group of men numbering 150,000 in size that was ready to cross the English bloodline at a moments notice to invade Germany6. Germany knew this and was made nervous by it prompting them to mobilize even more. Russian and German arms reading When Russia saw this, they became concerned and added 500,000 to their own army and launched the Great Military syllabus that would add 10 percent to its army each following year. Russia had the most available man power but it was in any case the least industrialized of the major powers which would prove to be a very serious setback.Germany had not been really bothered by France and Russia arming themselves until they formed the Franco Russian union in 18947. If war were to break out, Germany would be fghting on two fronts preferably of only one which could spread their resources to the limit. Because Russias army was 300,000 men bigger tnan Germanys In IYUU, Germany Increased ne growtn 0T Its army even more In anticipation of having to fght a raging battle on two fronts. Russias army was considered a steam croper and was believe to be able to Just roll over any obstacle in its path with no spat at a118.By this point, Germany, Russia, Eng tear, and France all had the new intentions of war such as the dictum gun, airplanes, and gas. They also had the factories to produce them. Some had better infrastructure already in place but they all had the capability. Germanys advantage ver both Russia and France was its incredible train system that would allow it to mobilize much quicker. The contribute arms race in general It is quite impressive to look at the disbursement of European countrys on their defense system in the years principal up to existence War 1. Looking at the data, it seems quite unmistakable that we were on the brink of war.As far as defense spending goes, Germany was the most dramatic influx in spending per capita. While most countries populations are increasing at the about average rate while Russia more than doubles in size. As fore mentioned they were a formidable amount of man ower yet not yet quite industrialized comme il faut to use these men to their full potential. Britain and German Naval Race In the years preceding WWI, Britain had been making an effort to expand their navy. Due to their location as an island nation, it was imperative that they maintain a powerful naw to nourish their interests.Also, in the days of empires, Britain had to maintain a powerful maritime force to protect their interest across the world. In 1889 Britain passed a series of laws known as the Two Power Standard10. This policy states that Britain must maintain a fleet at least as big as the fleets of two other ountries combined. When this policy originally passed, they were looking at Russia a nd France. Whenever these two nations reinforced new ships, Britain would build an equal or greater numDer In order to stay at or aoove tne same level 0T prestige.Britain encountered some trouble when The United States of America, soon to become the most powerful, prestigious, and desirable country in the world, started building an elite naval fghting force. At this same time, Japan and Germany were both developing their maritime forcesl 1 . Originally, Germany wanted to threaten Britain into Joining he triple alliance by building their naw but this had the opposite effect. Winston Churchill pointed out that Germany did not really need a naval force and it was more of a luxury while Britains was a necessity.Sir Edward Gray stated that Britains naw is to them what Germanys army is to Germany. They also argued that Germany was only producing a naw to threaten Britains commercial trade interests and their imperial colonies. However, Britain is not the kind of country to sit around aiml essly while they feel threatened. They responded by building a new type of ship ply by a turbine engine called the Dreadnaughtl 2. This new fghting wonder was supposedly surefooted of sinking an entire fleet of its less powerful and agile forerunner the common battle ship.Germanys strategy was not to build a naw so signifi merchantmant that it could beat Britains in an full-scale display of might but one Just big enough to keep Britains naw busy. By continue to build ships with no intent of outbuilding Britain, they kept Britain nervous and spending a lot of money they did not necessarily have to. After England introduced the dreadnought, Germany was not far behind. Although they did not want to out build Britain, they could not kick in o be outnumbered by ships of such a superior caliber.As it stood in 1914, Britain had 23 dreadnaughts, 10 battle cruisers, 30 pre-dreadnoughts, 47 cruisers, 61 set out cruisers, 225 destroyers and 70 submarines13. This was the biggest naw in t he world. Germany was in second place with 13 dreadnaughts, 6 battle cruisers, 30 pre- dreadnoughts, 14 cruisers, 35 percipient cruisers, 152 destroyers, and 30 submarines. We sack attribute the fact that Germany is most renowned in this wasr for the use of submarines due to their sinking of high profile targets like the Lusitania.Also, Britains submarines would not have had the great opportunity at sinking ships German submarines did because there were not as many German trade ships floating around. Looking at these numbers, we crapper tell that Germany had precisely built the amount of ships they needed to keep the Englanders busy and nervous. This was a very good plan on Germanys part because every dollar Britain was pouring into their naw was a dollar that would not go towards their land force. Germanys army was far bigger than Englands and they wanted it to stay that way.In 1912, Britain ctually tried to reach a settlement with Germany regarding the future of the arms race but it be unsuccessful when Germany rejected it14. Britain did not want to keep pouring as much money as they were into their naw or military at all. As a result of Germanys refusal, Britain recalled all their ships across the world back to home waters to be ready for an attack. The other Naval Powers France ta s tnlra place wltn 14 areaanaugnts, no Dattle crulsers, 15 pre- dreadnaughts, 19 cruisers, 6 light cruisers, 81 destroyers, and no submarines. America came in behind France in 4th place.We had 10 dreadnaughts, 1 battle cruiser, 7 pre-dreadnaughts, 8 cruisers, Slight cruisers, 106 destroyers, and 39 submarines. We ruined Britains 21 policy in 1916 when Woodrow Wilson passed a law that required our naw to be at least as big as Britains. Russia also had a mid- sized naw although it was iced in to their cold and inhospitable adjudge at St. Petersburg. They possessed 4 dreadnaughts, 1 battle cruiser, 7 pre-dreadnaughts, 8 cruisers, 5 light cruisers, 106 destroyers, and 36 subma rines15. Japan was also a cause of worry for both Germany and Britain at first hen they emerged from their mystical land with a not inconsequential navy.They possessed 4 dreadnaughts, 2 battle cruisers, 2 pre-dreadnaughts, 9 cruisers, 1 5 light cruisers, 56 destroyers, and 15 submarines. All these naws had been escalating dramatically over the years leading up to World War 1 even though most of the fghting was to be on land. This was because if one country could have a big enough naw to hold a blockade across a main importing port of the enemy to cut off their supplies. In conclusion, I think we can definitively say that Sir Edward Gray was correct when e stated that the only heart to end an arms race is through war.Once things begin to escalate, there is only a small disturbance that is necessary to catapult the countries involved into all-out war as seen in The Great war. Once an army is mobilized and irrelevant with another country, the only thing necessary to get the ball fur led is a degrading remark from a high up functionary or perhaps a trigger happy soldier. All this could be avoided if the countries had not been trying to compete against each other in the development of arms, armies, and navies.