Changes

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 outraged at Anglo-French defiance during the Agadir Crisis of 1911. Patriotic attention shifted from the naval race with Britain to an army buildup. Finally recovered from the trauma of 1905, Russia reentered great power politics in 1912 by backing the Balkan League in a war against Turkey.

From 1906 to 1911, the naval race with Britain was the focus of great public interest and patriotic feeling. The Germans were outraged when Britain intervened to support France in the Agadir Crisis of 1911. The episode illustrated the futility of the naval strategy and shifted attention to the army. Finally recovered from the trauma of 1905, Russia reentered great power politics in 1912 by backing the Balkan League in a war against Turkey.

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.

[[File:Schlieffen Plan.jpg|thumb|left|The red dashes show the deployments proposed by Schlieffen in 1905.]]

[[File:Schlieffen Plan.jpg|thumb|left|The red dashes show the deployments proposed by Schlieffen in 1905.]]

==Schlieffen and his plan==

==Schlieffen and his plan==

In the early years of his reign, the kaiser had great enthusiasm for military adventures, including proposals to invade Denmark<ref>Röhl, pp. 386-392.</ref> and America.<ref>"[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1393690/How-Kaiser-Bill-planned-to-invade-United-States.html How Kaiser Bill planned to invade United States]" ''Telegraph'', 09 May 2002</ref> It was the job of Schlieffen, Germany's highly respected army chief, to remind the all highest that the army needed to remain on the eastern frontier to deter the Russians.

In the early years of his reign, the kaiser had great enthusiasm for military adventures, including proposals to invade Denmark<ref>Röhl, pp. 386-392.</ref> and America.<ref>"[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1393690/How-Kaiser-Bill-planned-to-invade-United-States.html How Kaiser Bill planned to invade United States]" ''Telegraph'', 09 May 2002</ref> It was the job of Schlieffen, Germany's highly respected army chief, to remind the all highest that the army needed to remain on the eastern frontier to deter the Russians.