UPSC 2015 Mains GS1 Model Answer - To what extent can Germany be held responsible for causing the two World Wars? Discuss critically.

Model Answer:

Germany played a significant role in causing both World Wars, but responsibility must be shared with other factors and nations involved.

Germany's Role in Causing World War I:

• Aggressive Militarism: Germany's rapid military expansion and focus on military strategies like the Schlieffen Plan heightened tensions in Europe.
• Alliance System: Germany’s involvement in the complex web of alliances, especially with Austria-Hungary, contributed to the escalation of the conflict after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
• Blank Check Assurance: Germany’s unconditional support for Austria-Hungary’s actions against Serbia worsened the situation, leading to a broader European conflict.
• Nationalism and Expansionism: Germany’s desire for imperial expansion and its role in colonial rivalries with Britain and France further strained relationships.

Shared Responsibility for World War I:

• Entangled Alliances: Other countries like Russia, France, and Britain were also involved in the web of alliances, which contributed to the outbreak.
• Economic and Imperial Rivalries: Global economic competition and colonial ambitions among the European powers also fueled tensions.

Germany's Role in Causing World War II:

• Treaty of Versailles: The harsh conditions imposed on Germany after World War I fostered resentment, economic instability, and nationalism.
• Nazi Aggression: Under Adolf Hitler, Germany pursued aggressive expansionism (e.g., invasion of Poland), directly triggering the war.
• Fascist Ideology: The rise of Nazism, with its imperialist ambitions and racist policies, drove the country toward war.

Shared Responsibility for World War II:

• Appeasement Policies: Britain and France’s policy of appeasement allowed Nazi Germany to expand unchecked.
• Global Depression: Economic instability across Europe and the world set the stage for political extremism and conflict.

‍While Germany had a central role in causing both World Wars through militarism, expansionism, and authoritarian leadership, the responsibility must be shared with other nations, complex alliances, and global conditions that contributed to the conflicts.

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