Anglo German relations between 1890 and 1914 Essay Example

Germany felt according to Source 4 ' in a dangerous situation in Europe. Contradictory to previous arguments, historians have suggested that British insecurity and other factors could have contributed to the decline in relations. For example, Source 7 shows the British appearing to be apprehensive about the increasing German navy.However, a German artist painted the source, which makes it questionable because soon after the Entente Cordial in 1904 tensions were high between the Germans and British.

Due to anxiety, that Britain felt towards Germany, the press, and the media constantly criticised Germany e. g. in Source 1, a journalist writes pessimistically about Germany. This source is debatable since the journalist's perspective could have influenced the validity, however, it reveals the negative attitudes, which existed amongst the British people towards Germany.After the Kruger telegram in 1896 the national feeling was that of anger which contradicted Source 3 where Chamberlain implied that Britain still wanted an 'alliance' with '..

. the great German Empire'. Coincidentally this was spoken to a pro-German alliance group; additionally Chamberlain was pro-German making the source subjective. Many historians have concluded that beneath the scepticism laid fear and insecurity of Germany.

Source 2 seems to be highly cynical of Germany as the source seems to represent an anti-German rant, as it looks at Germany's industrial supremacy. ...

And the fateful mark will greet you at every turn', '... which your children maltreat in the nursery are made in Germany; nay the material of your favourite (patriotic) newspaper had the same birthplace as like as not'. This generates a feeling that Britain perhaps provoked certain falls in relations. As Britain emerged from 'Splendid Isolation' in

1898, it made 'overtures' to Germany, which was rejected, shattering hopes for a peaceful military alliance.

Source 6 relates Germany was seen to be 'threatening the independence of her neighbours and ultimately the existence of England', which illuminates British apprehension. These sentiments is observed in Source 5, which states 'Along with the deterioration between two countries the feeling of insecurity and fear of Germany had grown', and 'German fleet could be used as means of diplomatic pressure'.As Roderick McLean has questioned, 'How could she (Germany) assert her right to a place in the carve-up of the world unless she had a formidable fleet? This causes one to think about the situation before making a judgement about Germany's role in decline of relations. Historians believe that the extent in which decline was due to Germany solely is minimal. Most of the sources examined were based on personal perspectives, but one can derive from this that nobody was clear about the decline in relations, and who was responsible, so there will be no apparent answer.

To conclude the decline of relations is not blameable on one party as both parties had parts to play.