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→Foreign policy
The kaiser's dream of leading a continental league to one up Britain's King Edward had been sabotaged long before by Bismarck. As a result of Bismarck's annexation of Alsace-Lorraine in 1871, generations of Frenchmen were inculcated with anti-German feeling. For Bismarck, this was the point. French hostility would unite Germans under his leadership. A French-German-Russian alliance against Britain was proposed at the time of the Boer War in 1900, but failed when Wilhelm demanded that the French recognize Alsace-Lorraine as German.<ref>Röhl, p. 46.</ref>
The kaiser's dream of leading a continental league to one up Britain's King Edward had been sabotaged long before by Bismarck. As a result of Bismarck's annexation of Alsace-Lorraine in 1871, generations of Frenchmen were inculcated with anti-German feeling. For Bismarck, this was the point. French hostility would unite Germans under his leadership. A French-German-Russian alliance against Britain was proposed at the time of the Boer War in 1900, but failed when Wilhelm demanded that the French recognize Alsace-Lorraine as German.<ref>Röhl, p. 46.</ref>
Following the collapse of the Russian army during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, Wilhelm's foreign policy grew more aggressive. After several years of freely bullying other powers, the Germans were outrage at Anglo-French defiance during the Agadir Crisis of 1911. Patriotic attention shifted from the naval race with Britain to an army buildup.
Following the collapse of the Russian army during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, Wilhelm's foreign policy grew more aggressive. After several years of freely bullying other powers, the Germans were outraged at Anglo-French defiance during the Agadir Crisis of 1911. Patriotic attention shifted from the naval race with Britain to an army buildup.
Because Wilhelm wanted war with France and Russia, but not Britain, advisers who understood this could manipulate him. Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg withheld crucial telegrams to get his approval for war in 1914.
Because Wilhelm wanted war with France and Russia, but not Britain, advisers who understood this could manipulate him. Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg withheld crucial telegrams to get his approval for war in 1914.