What is that theory that the 'real' cause of World War 1 was hostility to Germany since 1800 from the rest of Europe?

Answer 1

Answer

To best understand this issue one must realize that the overriding European political issue between 1800 and 1945 was the prevention and later, the destruction of, German military power.

The French successfully kept Germany disunited for many decades, even going to war in 1871 in a last ditch attempt. Failing in that effort the French then formed alliances that would surround Germany and 'contain' her. British, French and Russian forces quickly snatched up vast colonial empires in India, Africa and Central/North Asia, all the better to keep their main rival, Germany, from gaining access to markets and resources.

Frustrated by this situation, the Germans went to war in 1914. Their defeat and the treaty that followed that war was specifically meant to destroy German military power. As a side bar, the Allies also took pleasure in stealing the few colonies Germany had been allowed and also taking all their valuable patents.

Nonetheless, Germany was miraculously 'reborn' and tried to rebuild their European position in the 1930's. Again this led to war and the total destruction of German power, probably forever.

EDIT

That sounds like the sort of conspiracy theories put out by extreme German nationalists. It's rubbish to say that "the overriding European political issue between 1800 and 1945 was the prevention and later, the destruction of, German military power". German power wasn't seen as a problem till about 1890.

Until 1871 there was no Germany in a political sense, only the various German states; and their power wasn't seen as an issue. What kept the German states disunited in the period from 1815-66 was the rulers of the German states themselves. There were also difficult problems in deciding whether or not a future united Germany should include Austria. In 1866 the Prussian government fought Austria in order to break up the German Confederation and thus laid the foundations for a united Germany without Austria.

France's reasons for fighting Prussia and other German states in 1870-71 had nothing to do with German unity or German military strength. The French wrongly assumed they'd win easily ... Napoleon III was looking for victory abroad to prop up his shaky rule at home.

The harsh treatment of France in 1871 meant that Germany had one permanent enemy - France. (This hostility was then mythologized back over centuries).

After the unification of Germany in 1871 the other European powers had to accommodate this quasi newcomer. Germany formed various irreconcilable alliances with Austria-Hungary and with Russia. Britain first saw Germany as an industrial, not military rival.

The issue of 'containing' German power became an issue in the 1890s, no earlier. It was exacerbated from 1897 on by a whole series of deliberate provocations by Kaiser Wilhelm II and his government.

The *destruction* of German power only became an issue during the two world wars.

Hey, IF destroying German military power had been the #1 issue in Europe, how does the author of the above explain appeasement? How does he explain that there was no war between Britain and any of the German states between 1800 and 1913?

Just to go back in time a little: Napoleon had 'German' allies. Bavaria supplied many troops, as did Wurttemberg and the Confederation of the Rhine principalities, as well as Saxony in alliances with the French against Austria. After the defeat of Prussia at Jena/Auerstadt in 1806 the Prussians were militarily sidelined as a European power, despite the best efforts of Marshal Blucher, who went on to be the reason why Wellington defeats Napoleon at Waterloo: without the Prussians Wellington loses. The fact that Britain does its best to stay out of a European war during the 19th century is because Britain sees it has better things to do elsewhere in the world, easier foes to fight if you will. Crimea proves this. And as for Appeasement, viewed without hindsight, it was an attempt, well meaning indeed, to avoid war in Europe because the memory of the 'Great War', the 'War to End All Wars', was so fresh in the minds of the people in power at the time. Who could possibly want a repitition ? Germanys' geographical position means it is bordered by Russia Austria & France ( give or take a bit) & therefore central in Europe, and by definition, surrounded. If Germany can ally itself to one of these powers as in WW1 with Austria Hungary then it sees a chance to allieviate the pressure by military force. The connection between Germany and the events in Sarajevo in 1914 is a very tenuous one, fomented by the Russian relationship to Serbia & the alliance therein to France & then to Britain. What a huge set of dominoes that was !