German Civilization
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During the switch from the Bismark era, to the Wilhelmine period, the unified German state switched direction and headed toward a path of war. Guided buy a young and more aggressive William II, Germany essentially reversed the path it was on during the Bismark era. William II quickly disintegrated many international treaties and soon put Germany in a position of increasing friction toward the powers of France, England, and Russia. A sense of nationalism helped in part by a system of public schools that taught loyalty to one’s nation and superiority over others. This ideology created a sense of competition among the nations to expand economically, colonially, and industrially. Economic markets were fueled by rapid industrialism, though competition led to nations working independently due to trade tariffs which declined employment and created unrest.  Nevertheless, an industrial revolution created by advancing technology, assured that large bombs were being manufactured for the first time increasingly fast. Germany’s military had created a vast storage of large, inaccurate bombs, and naval powers with dreadnought-class ships. This forced the nations opposed to German expansion to also expand their military power, creating an arms race which only increased tensions among the powers. In the light of German unification and technological advances to their navy in the Wilhelmine period, the Germans felt there was no greater indication of nationhood than colonial expansion. Although, Germany was already a little late to the party because a large number of colonies in Africa had already been claimed and controlled by major European countries. Despite this, by the early twentieth century Germany established communication and shipping routes to their colonies in Africa. The colonies brought many exotic fruits, spices, and agriculture back to German markets, which flourished in that period. The colonies were equipped with elaborate railway systems, public schools, and staffed hospitals.  However, this did not last long. Many European countries and even the United States became very aware of German colonies in Africa, though small in number. In the few years before the Great War many feared that Germany may seek to expand their territories in Africa and the rest of the world using an African Army. The idea of greater expansion by the German’s colonially only increased tensions between Germany and the world powers surrounding it. By 1914, German expansion militarily, including establishing colonies, and industrially creating great improvements in technology, brought the world to the brink of war.