Total spending of the Great Powers rose from £268 million in 1900 to £398 million in 1914
In the year 1870-1914:
▪ French defence spending increased by 10%
▪ Britain military expenditure increased by 13%
▪ Russia’s spending increased by 39%
▪ Germanys spending increases by 73%
Ministers in GER + RUS were concerned about the growing tension between AH as highlighted by the Pig War, and Russian ministers were determined to recover from the military weaknesses exposed by the Russo-Japanese War.
Kaiser Wilhelm allowed the Prussian army officer General Goltz to set up a league for German youth encouraging physical fitness and German pride