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>

Beginning in 1906, a naval race with Britain became a focus of public interest and national pride. The Germans were outraged when Britain intervened to support France in the Agadir Crisis of 1911. The Anglo-French alliance had proven itself, and Germany did not have the resources to challenge a combined allied fleet. The episode illustrated the futility of the naval strategy. German attention soon shifted to the army.

When the British launched the oversized HMS ''Dreadnought'' in 1906, all earlier warships suddenly became obsolete. A worldwide naval race followed with numerous states placing orders for the superweapon. Wilhelm seized the opportunity achieve naval superiority. Germany's naval rivalry with Britain became a focus of public interest and national pride. The Anglo-French Entente, signed in 1904, proved itself effective in 1911 when Britain intervened to support France in the Agadir Crisis. Germany did not have the resources to challenge a combined allied fleet. The episode illustrated the futility of the naval strategy. German attention soon shifted to the army.

Finally recovered from the trauma of Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), 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.

Finally recovered from the trauma of Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), 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.