| Hysteria Part 1. The New Kid in Town is Strong, Handsome and Rich. |
Since Germany still faced possible threats from historically hostile France in the west and from
Russia in the east, Germany and Austria-Hungary agreed to form a Dual Alliance in 1879, becoming
a Triple Alliance when joining with Italy in 1882. This led to the formation of The Triple Entente in
1907 by Britain, France and Russia, all of whom had an ax to grind with Germany's growing power
and economic success. Britain faced stronger and stronger economic competition with Germany, and
France was still fuming over the Franco-Prussian War when, under Bismarck, she was forced to
give back Alsace and Lorraine, Strasburg and the great fortress of Metz which she had once stolen
from Germany.
Russia in the east, Germany and Austria-Hungary agreed to form a Dual Alliance in 1879, becoming
a Triple Alliance when joining with Italy in 1882. This led to the formation of The Triple Entente in
1907 by Britain, France and Russia, all of whom had an ax to grind with Germany's growing power
and economic success. Britain faced stronger and stronger economic competition with Germany, and
France was still fuming over the Franco-Prussian War when, under Bismarck, she was forced to
give back Alsace and Lorraine, Strasburg and the great fortress of Metz which she had once stolen
from Germany.
Germans were also enjoying good educations. By 1913,
there were only 9,000 university students in all of Britain as
compared with 60,000 in Germany. In the fields of science,
mathematics and technology, Germany was producing over
3,000 graduate engineers a year compared to Britain's 350
graduates in those fields! Imperial Germany was leading in
the sectors of physics and chemistry with one third of all
Nobel Prizes going to German researchers and inventors.
there were only 9,000 university students in all of Britain as
compared with 60,000 in Germany. In the fields of science,
mathematics and technology, Germany was producing over
3,000 graduate engineers a year compared to Britain's 350
graduates in those fields! Imperial Germany was leading in
the sectors of physics and chemistry with one third of all
Nobel Prizes going to German researchers and inventors.
Germany was doing very well at the dawn of the twentieth century and had a traditionally positive
image, especially in America. New in comparison to her European neighbors, the German Empire
was efficient, prosperous and well-respected around the world with rapidly growing industry. As a
sign of her economic and social health, Germany's population had increased dramatically. In 1871,
there were 41 million citizens in German Empire, and by 1913 there were nearly 68 million, an
increase of more than half, and they were for the most part enjoying a relatively high standard of
living, a good education and ample employment. Between 1871 and 1914, the new German nation
enjoyed 43 years of strength, beauty and peace.
image, especially in America. New in comparison to her European neighbors, the German Empire
was efficient, prosperous and well-respected around the world with rapidly growing industry. As a
sign of her economic and social health, Germany's population had increased dramatically. In 1871,
there were 41 million citizens in German Empire, and by 1913 there were nearly 68 million, an
increase of more than half, and they were for the most part enjoying a relatively high standard of
living, a good education and ample employment. Between 1871 and 1914, the new German nation
enjoyed 43 years of strength, beauty and peace.
In fact, long before Germany became a nation, from the time of the dark ages, Germany as such had a less aggressive
past and more peaceful history than her European neighbors and was the principal participant in less than a quarter of the
wars of England, Spain, Russia, or France. However, within the immediate years before World War One, bloody wars
had been waged elsewhere: Spain with the United States, Italy with Turkey, Russia with Turkey and Japan, Japan with
China, Turkey with Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro, Bulgaria with Serbia, Greece and Montenegro,
Great Britain with the Boers and Egypt. In addition, many of the Great Powers were involved in violent colonial conflicts.
past and more peaceful history than her European neighbors and was the principal participant in less than a quarter of the
wars of England, Spain, Russia, or France. However, within the immediate years before World War One, bloody wars
had been waged elsewhere: Spain with the United States, Italy with Turkey, Russia with Turkey and Japan, Japan with
China, Turkey with Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro, Bulgaria with Serbia, Greece and Montenegro,
Great Britain with the Boers and Egypt. In addition, many of the Great Powers were involved in violent colonial conflicts.
Between German unification in 1871 and 1914, the Kaiserreich surpassed Britain's economic growth
rates as well. Germany's industrial development showed consistent growth and her steel, engineering,
chemical and armament industries were all prospering. At a time when economic strength was in the
production of steel and coal, Germany had multiplied its steel production by 12 times within 30 years
and her coal production by nearly five times.
rates as well. Germany's industrial development showed consistent growth and her steel, engineering,
chemical and armament industries were all prospering. At a time when economic strength was in the
production of steel and coal, Germany had multiplied its steel production by 12 times within 30 years
and her coal production by nearly five times.
Germany had the most efficient army in the world, the second largest navy and a fledgling Army Air
Service. In 1910, although Germany's new empire was still small compared to the avaricious British
Empire, which at one point controlled almost a quarter of the world's surface, Germany followed the
example of the other European empires by investing heavily in three areas of Africa as a source of
goods, resources and food.
Service. In 1910, although Germany's new empire was still small compared to the avaricious British
Empire, which at one point controlled almost a quarter of the world's surface, Germany followed the
example of the other European empires by investing heavily in three areas of Africa as a source of
goods, resources and food.
Her manufacturing grew by four times, her exports by three times,
her export of chemicals by three times and her exports of machinery
by five times! Second only to America, Germany was the most
powerful industrial nation in the world in 1914. Even more stunning,
by 1913, her share in international trade had quadrupled within the
previous thirty years. German manufacturers had begun to capture
domestic markets from British imports, and she was competition to
British interests abroad, particularly in the USA. On the continent,
Germany became the dominant economic power and she was the
second largest exporting nation in the world after the USA.
her export of chemicals by three times and her exports of machinery
by five times! Second only to America, Germany was the most
powerful industrial nation in the world in 1914. Even more stunning,
by 1913, her share in international trade had quadrupled within the
previous thirty years. German manufacturers had begun to capture
domestic markets from British imports, and she was competition to
British interests abroad, particularly in the USA. On the continent,
Germany became the dominant economic power and she was the
second largest exporting nation in the world after the USA.
| Germany had absolutely no need of a European war. |
At the top left is a c.1900 photo of Teddy Roosevelt with Kaiser Wilhelm
inspecting German troops (click). Below it is a postcard commemorating the
christening of the Kaiser's yacht by Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt in 1902.
Even in a book written as late as 1915, Theodore Roosevelt sympathized
with the German position, stating that "attempts to paint the Kaiser as a
bloodthirsty devil were an absurdity" He said: "as so often before in his
personal and family life, he and his family have given honorable proof that
they possess the qualities that are characteristic of the German people." He
continued: "The Germans, from the highest to the lowest, have shown a
splendid patriotism. They themselves are fighting, each man for his own
hearthstone, for his own wife and children, and all for the future existence of
the generations yet to come." The Germans, he continued, were "not merely
brothers; they are largely ourselves." Soon, however, Teddy Roosevelt
would become one of the most vocal proponents of war and lead the charge
against pacifistic German Americans, calling them "hyphenated Americans".
inspecting German troops (click). Below it is a postcard commemorating the
christening of the Kaiser's yacht by Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt in 1902.
Even in a book written as late as 1915, Theodore Roosevelt sympathized
with the German position, stating that "attempts to paint the Kaiser as a
bloodthirsty devil were an absurdity" He said: "as so often before in his
personal and family life, he and his family have given honorable proof that
they possess the qualities that are characteristic of the German people." He
continued: "The Germans, from the highest to the lowest, have shown a
splendid patriotism. They themselves are fighting, each man for his own
hearthstone, for his own wife and children, and all for the future existence of
the generations yet to come." The Germans, he continued, were "not merely
brothers; they are largely ourselves." Soon, however, Teddy Roosevelt
would become one of the most vocal proponents of war and lead the charge
against pacifistic German Americans, calling them "hyphenated Americans".
