Military Spending + Policy

• 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