Start of World War I Germany–United Kingdom relations

the liberal party sympathetic germany or @ least wanted britain have relations. conservative party hostile germany threat unless british empire aggressively protected. emerging labour party , other socialists denounced war, capitalist device maximize profits.

in 1907, leading german expert in foreign office, eyre crowe, wrote memorandum senior officials warned vigorously against german intentions. crowe argued berlin wanted hegemony... in europe, , in world . crowe argued germany presented threat balance of power of napoleon. germany expand poet unless 1904 entente cordiale, france, upgraded full military alliance. crowe taken seriously, because born in germany.

in germany, left-wing parties, social democratic party of germany, in 1912 german election, won seats first time. german historian fritz fischer famously argued junkers, dominated germany, wanted external war distract population , whip patriotic support government.

other scholars, niall ferguson, think german conservatives ambivalent war , worried losing war have disastrous consequences , successful war might alienate population if long or difficult.

in explaining why neutral britain went war germany, paul kennedy, in rise of anglo-german antagonism, 1860-1914 (1980), argued germany had become economically more powerful britain. kennedy downplayed disputes on economic trade , imperialism. there had long been disputes on baghdad railway germany proposed build through ottoman empire. amicable compromise on railway reached in 1914 played no role in starting in summer crisis. germany relied time , again on sheer military power, britain began appeal moral sensibilities. germany saw invasion of belgium necessary military tactic, , britain saw profound moral crime, major cause of british entry war. kennedy argues far main reason war london s fear repeat of 1870, when prussia led other german states smash france, mean germany, powerful army , navy, control english channel , northwestern france. british policymakers thought catastrophe british security.

in 1839, britain, prussia , netherlands agreed treaty of london guaranteed neutrality of belgium. germany violated treaty in 1914, chancellor calling treaty scrap of paper . ensured britain declared war.