Were the Great Powers ready for war in 1914?

To be spend a penny for struggle the grand Powers would demand a great armed forces, twain in the States and navy, great culture and they would as strong as requisite to be financially equal of supporting the expenses caused by the state of struggle. Further a good deal(prenominal) than the Powers should be frugalally incontestable-fire acress and confine good infrastructure to enable them to wee necessary weapons to fight the war. The politics of the tribe and the honourable of its people should withal be taken into account when give ining the Great struggle.Being rear for war involves a large culmi commonwealth of different formulations. The countrys spends is a very big view to consider. The war machine of the province is an imperative aspect since a phalanx involves a permanent, overlord force of soldiers or guerrillas adroit only for the purpose of warfare. The sizing of the soldiers depends on the number of men, the cavalry and the ar tillery the ground possess. Usually, the larger the armed services the more pass there is of sweet the battle against the separate domain(s) since more men and equals more business leader or force. compensate the motivation and the ratiocination of the army too plays an important intermit in the plausible outcome.A nonher important concomitantor in decision making if the Powers were go down for war is their agriculture. If the nations external intellectual nourishment sources from impertinent countries were blocked the country would starve unless the agriculture is sufficient enough to feed its people. To be gain for war the country should ask the capability to outlive for a issue during the war by growing its accept food. except the Powers should have buck available to grow the food. Money also plays a signifi providet component in deciding whether the Powers are ready for war. To be ready, the Powers should be financially unfastened to support their nati on and its people. Also the cost of the war should non lead to nation bankruptcy.Prior to 1914, Wilhelm the secant rejected Bismarcks careful foreign form _or_ system of politics and under went a period of military expansion both in array and navy. The military expansion can be show as Germany organism war-ridden and aggressive barely a great military is needed to be ready of war. In 1906 the French multitude was a more sophisticated multitude than the Germans patronage the fact that Germany had 10,000 more men. This did non go unheeded and by 1914 Germanys troops was estimated to around 2 jillion. Germany believed that the navy also plays an important percentage and Tirpitz, the head of the German navy, believed that Germany couldnt be seen as a world advocate without a satisfying navy. He wanted to income tax return his navy two thirds the size of Britains so that he could challenge them. This also shows Germany world war like and aggressive. By 1906, he had 18 battleships (first class), 13 battleships ( other class), 6 cruisers (first class), 24 cruisers (other class), 103 destroyers, subs mtbs and 35,500 officers and men.Having a superior force is not enough to be ready for war, the soldiers should be motivated and determined to fight. To improve soldier and citizen object lessone the German phalanx was draw as there was no such(prenominal) thing as the German array provided rather the 4 armies of Prussia, Bavaria, comte de Saxe and Wurttemberg1. This statement boosted the soldiers confidence since its gave an affect that Germany had a colossal forces. The sheer size of the German army implies Germany was in fact ready for war in the military aspect.The military aspect, despite beingness an imperative part of being ready for war, is not enough. The patience of the nation also plays an important part. By 1914 Germany was one of the some economically triumphful nations in, not just Europe yet the world. In 1909 there were 4579 commercial companies in Germany with a combined capital of 15,860 million marks and with annual dividends of c. 1 million marks. In the first two decades of the Empire, Germany had been alter from a in general agrarian to a predominantly industrial state 2. Also Germanys gamy and sustained rate of industrial suppuration was the dominant feature of the European economic landscape. It was more persistent than that of either France or Britain, and was rivaled only by that of Russia and, outside Europe, by the USA.3 Also in the new industries of chemicals and electrics, German exertion led the way.4 The booming German industry carrys Germany ready for war in the industrial aspect as well.Agriculturally, Germany was excellent. By 1914 German agriculture, in terms of yield per hectare, was the most productive in the world.5 In 1912, Germany was producing 2,260 kg/hectare of wheat and 15,030 kg/hectare of potatoes. Their agrarian superiority shows that Germany would have the capabi lity to survive for a period during a war by growing its own food since it had the most productive agricultural land in the world. Germanys thriving agriculture makes the nation ready for war in a agricultural aspect. However, despite the keep industrial growth, German society appeared to have change state increasingly fractured during the period. There was a much greater disparity mingled with the swiftness and working classes. The politics of the nation and the moral of the people should also be croak if the nation is considered to be fatten uply ready to fight a war. Despite being superior in a military sense, an industry sense and agricultural sense, Germany was not great in a policy-making sense.From 1870-1914, Britain was the leading world power its side of meat was sustained by the royal navy. The British navy was larger than any other powers though it was widely distributed passim the conglomerate in junior-grade groups. Britain required a laborious navy since th e nation relied hard on imports and its need for a market place meant that free sea passage was important. However Britains army was not as strong as their navy. The army was spread throughout the empire in defense and has been generally successful. However the army was very trivial only equipped in conflict belittled easy wars. A humbled army doesnt mean its not a strong army. The British army was small unlike the other larger European armies but it was professional and well clever. The moral and the determination of the army to succeed is also very important in winning wars not just the size.The army was polarised by class and small reaching a sum of 733,514, which was tiny compared to the standards of the European rivals. The BEF was the army Britain had available for the possible outbreak of war. The BEF was small with 1 permanent Corp, 1 martyrdom division, 6 infantry divisions (20,000) only most was spread throughout empire with over half of the BEF at home being rese rvists which would be the army unofficially displace to France on the western wing of the army in the event of the outbreak of the war. Because Britains army lacked size its ability of reinforcement was limited. However, in 1914 there was parliament approval to emergence the army by 500, 000 men. This quote summarises the British army well The British army was historically little more than a compound police force trained and equipped to fight small wars against low opposition.6 The British were not as strong as the Germans in a militarily and this suggests they were not ready for war in military aspect.Austrias army was not much better that the Britains one. Compared with the German army the size of the military was quite small. The size was not only the problem but actors line was another major one. When the outbreak of war appeared there were 2.25 million men that were immobilized for Austro-Hungary and they were trained for around 4 weeks before they were sent. There were man y languages spoke in the army so they had to try and make sure the same language served together. Most of the epoch different nationalities had to mix though and the officers were mainly Hungarian or German speaking Austrians with the enlisted from the Slavic population. This meant many Slavic men had to be taught a different language. In 1914 Austria had 40,000 soldiers and Hungary had 30,000. There was also the Imperial and kinglike Army that was drawn from all move of the Empire. The 350,000 men in this army gave their homage direct to Emperor Franz Josef.7In eighth April 1904 the Anglo-French Entente was consummated after foresighted yrs of negotiation with a complete settlement of all outstanding colonial differences. This opened the door to Anglo-French military conversations, which continued up to the outbreak of war in August 1914. In 17th January 1906, Anglo-French military conversations about cooperation in the event of a European war began at the Algeciras Conferen ce.France was not prepared for war as well as the other great Powers. This was because France had no war aim in the advance up to the First piece War and therefore they did not feel the need to prepare for war much. However they did make a vital homework in the governmental aspect of getting ready for war. France made a strong adhesiveness with Russia. This meant that if France had to go to war with Germany, Germany would be strained into war on two fronts. Frances disposal being not very organize caused the lack of interest of starting the war.France however was a wealthy country and they were financially capable of starting a war but however its executive power was weak compared to Britain and Germany. They also had frequent changes of government, which can cause disagreement with the nations policies. France was not in a good situation to enter a war and their minimal preparation shows their naivety. It is suggested that France had no intention of entering World War One, a nd they were literally forced into it.The Russian army was the largest in Europe, but despite having many men, they were not financially capable of paid the soldiers so the Russian government could only call up a fraction of those eligible each year to serve in the army. The Russian army was corrupt and under equipped. The army was backward, swindle of modern equipment and officers were appointed on the constitute of family connections rather than ability. There battle success was not great either since they were ill defeated by the Japanese army in 1904-1905.Despite having a execrable army Russias economy was booming. Savings accounts grew from 4,988,000 to 8,992,000 surrounded by 1905 and 1913. The national dept also significantly dropped. The second-rate annual growth rate between 1907 and 1914 was over 6 per cent, which was higher whence that of any other Western European country. However, to continue this development Russia needed both domestic harmonies, which was unde r threat and even more importantly peace with her neighbors. The black lotion of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the events which followed were to shatter both. There was some political instability before the war because the classes were starting time to reveal their grievances.In conclusion no(prenominal) of the Great Powers were completely ready for war. Germany and had a strong army which means the nation was ready in a military aspect but however they were not ready politically. Britains army was minute however their navy was successful and Austrias army was also small. Russia had a large army but they were not financially capable of paying all the soldiers. Agriculturally Germany was excellent and politically Britain was good. However to be ready for war the nation must possess a closure of several aspects such as a good military, good agriculture and industry and they should also be financially capable. no(prenominal) of the powers possessed this culmination and were strong i n one aspect but not in the other.