Military Spending + Policy

Cards (4)

  • 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