Changes

===Europe slides into war (1912-1914)===

===Europe slides into war (1912-1914)===

Once the idea that war with Britain was inevitable became conventional wisdom, the Kaiser's reluctance began to look quaint, even to his own advisors.<ref>Even Falkenhayen, a moderate among military officers (at least compared to Ludendorff), saw the Kaiser as an obstacle. A few weeks after Agadir, he wrote, "Outwardly, our political situation has improved...but internally nothing has changed, in so far as H.M. is as determined as before to avoid a war." Röhl, p. 875.</ref> In response to the increasing militarism of the right-wing parties, many voters switched to the anti-militarist Social Democratic Party. In the Reichstag election in January 1912, the number of seats held by the Social Democrats more than doubled.<ref>In the 1912 election, the Social Democratic Party went from 43 seats to 110 seats (out of a total of 397).</ref> This election also gave the left-of-center parties a majority in parliament.<ref>That is to say, the Social Democrats (110), Zentrum (91), and the Progressive People's Party (42) together held a majority of the seats in the Reichstag. The Zentrum, or Center Party, is the precursor of the Christian Democratic Union, Germany's post-World War II conservative movement. The PPP is the precursor of the modern Free Democrats.</ref>

Once the idea that war with Britain was inevitable became conventional wisdom, the Kaiser's reluctance began to look quaint, even to his own advisors.<ref>Even Falkenhayen, a moderate among military officers (at least compared to Ludendorff), saw the Kaiser as an obstacle. A few weeks after Agadir, he wrote, "Outwardly, our political situation has improved...but internally nothing has changed, in so far as H.M. is as determined as before to avoid a war." Röhl, p. 875.</ref> In response to the increasing militarism of the right-wing parties, many voters switched to the anti-militarist Social Democratic Party. In the Reichstag election of January 1912, the number of seats held by the Social Democrats more than doubled.<ref>The Social Democratic Party went from 43 seats to 110 seats (out of a total of 397).</ref> For the first time, the left-of-center parties gained a majority of the seats.<ref>That is to say, the Social Democrats (110), Zentrum (91), and the Progressive People's Party (42) together constituted a majority. The Zentrum, or Center Party, is the precursor of the Christian Democratic Union, Germany's post-World War II conservative movement. The PPP is the precursor of the modern Free Democrats.</ref>

In November 1912, Wilhelm approved a proposal to support Austria-Hungary against Serbia even if this led to war with both France and Russia. This proposal was presented to the Kaiser jointly by Bethmann Hollweg, the chancellor; Moltke, the army chief of staff; and Kiderlen, the foreign secretary. These advisors had misled the Kaiser into believing that the British might support an Austro-Hungarian attack on Serbia. In December, the German ambassador to Britain informed the Kaiser that Britain would likely side with France in the event of such a war. The Kaiser responded by ordering a "postponement of the great fight" until the summer of 1914 so that additional preparations could be made.<ref name=rohl18 />

In November 1912, Wilhelm approved a proposal to support Austria-Hungary against Serbia even if this led to war with both France and Russia. This proposal was presented to the Kaiser jointly by Bethmann Hollweg, the chancellor; Moltke, the army chief of staff; and Kiderlen, the foreign secretary. These advisors had misled the Kaiser into believing that the British might support an Austro-Hungarian attack on Serbia. In December, the German ambassador to Britain informed the Kaiser that Britain would likely side with France in the event of such a war. The Kaiser responded by ordering a "postponement of the great fight" until the summer of 1914 so that additional preparations could be made.<ref name=rohl18 />