Changes

Until 1904, the German war planners focused on defensive responses to a possible Russian attack. When Europeans thought about war, it was more likely to be an Anglo-Russian war than one that involved Germany. Germany's shift to an offensive strategy can be traced to Russia's defeat at the hands the Japanese in 1905.  

Until 1904, the German war planners focused on defensive responses to a possible Russian attack. When Europeans thought about war, it was more likely to be an Anglo-Russian war than one that involved Germany. Germany's shift to an offensive strategy can be traced to Russia's defeat at the hands the Japanese in 1905.  

To take advantage of Russia's vulnerablity during the war with Japan, Chief of Staff Alfred von Schlieffen developed a plan to invade France by way of Belgium. During the First Morroccan Crisis of 1906, the Kaiser Wilhelm II found that German public opinion and the army's lack of up-to-date artillery did not allow him to implement a plan of this type. To remedy the situation, recoiless artillery was introduced, naval buildup was accelerated, and propaganda was distributed through the Navy League that accused Britain of "encircling" Germany and denying the country its rightful "place in the sun," meaning a share of colonies.

To take advantage of Russia's vulnerablity during the war with Japan, Chief of Staff Alfred von Schlieffen developed a plan to invade France by way of Belgium. During the First Morroccan Crisis of 1906, Kaiser Wilhelm II found that German public opinion and the army's lack of up-to-date artillery did not allow him to implement a plan of this type. To remedy the situation, recoiless artillery was introduced, naval buildup was accelerated, and propaganda was distributed through the Navy League that accused Britain of "encircling" Germany and denying the country its rightful "place in the sun," meaning a share of colonies.

The effort to influence German public opinion met with limited success until the Agadir Crisis of 1911. In this incident, France and Britain combined to oppose German colonial ambitions in Africa. Germany did not have the resources to outbuild a combined Anglo-French fleet, so a new strategy had to be developed. The Reichstag approved army expansion, required to implement the Schlieffen Plan, in July 1913. The logic of the cult of the offensive doctrine meant that this vote would be treated as a mandate for war. The kaiser suggested that an offensive that focused on Russia might avoid unnecessary war with France and Britain. Chief of Staff Helmuth von Moltke objected that the army had no choice but to follow the Schlieffen Plan, which represented a consensus of the General Staff that had developed over the years.

The effort to influence German public opinion met with limited success until the Agadir Crisis of 1911. In this incident, France and Britain combined to oppose German colonial ambitions in Africa. Germany did not have the resources to outbuild a combined Anglo-French fleet, so a new strategy had to be developed. The Reichstag approved army expansion, required to implement the Schlieffen Plan, in July 1913. The logic of the cult of the offensive doctrine meant that this vote would be treated as a mandate for war. The kaiser suggested that an offensive that focused on Russia might avoid unnecessary war with France and Britain. Chief of Staff Helmuth von Moltke objected that the army had no choice but to follow the Schlieffen Plan, which represented a consensus of the General Staff that had developed over the years.