re: #293 wheat-dogghazi

Those that live by the sword, shall die by the sword.

Wise words, but German leaders in both World Wars felt they were justified in taking over Europe by any means possible, because Germans were “superior.” Tuchman’s book conveys that belief very well. Also, the Kaiser was erratic, emotional and he really could not understand why his sabre rattling leading up to the war made England and Russia so uneasy. Germany truly expected that England would sit by and do nothing after they invaded neutral Belgium toward England’s ally, France.

But all the ethnic groups in Europe thought they were superior to the others.

Though Germany had this odd inferiority complex running though it at both the citizen and leadership level. Late to consolidate into a nation-state, got leftovers in the race for imperial colonies in Asia and Africa. And in the middle position between the other European land powers.

And then Wilhelm shows his independence from Bismarck by undoing everything he’d done to keep France and Russia apart, plus starting a large naval building program*, which is the one thing that will really alarm the UK.

* - Which seems to mainly have been based on jealousy and not any real national need for a large navy.