World War I: American-German Relations


Figure 1.--Here is an imgage that onen does not often see. It is an unidentified American boy, presumably a German-American, holding an American and German flag. Notice the pre-1913 star pattern. The photograph was probably taken about 1910. At the time before the War, there were no real issues complicating Americn and German relations. Most Americans admird German and thought it was a well-ordered country and one of the most modern and progressive countries. There was absolutely no inkling that America and Germany were about to be become bitter foes in two great world wars. Nor did German Americans have any idea that there adopted country would fundamentally alter the history of their old country.

American foreign policy since the Revolution was basically to stay out of European affairs. Unlike European countries which commonly had emnities and territorial disputes dating back centuries, the United States had few differences with Eutopen countries or territorial disputes. The primary differences were with Britain and to a lesser extent Spain. A major dispute with France had been cut short by the Louisian Purchase. There were major disputes with Britain over the Canadian border, but after the War of 1812 these were resolved short of war. There were no differences what-so-ever with Germany. And as there was a large German immigrant population there was no reason what-so-ever why American-German relations should descend into major military confrontations in two major world wars. German-Americans had a strong anti-War even pacifist strain. Manjy had conme to America not only for economic opportunity, but to escape military conscription. The ethnic German communities in the mid-West became one of the most important forces oposing American entry into both world wars. American public opinion ws not affected by the Franco-Prussian war and the unification of Germany. America was not as affected as Britain and France by German belicosity which developed after the Wilhelm II became kaiser. American interests in Germany were largely trade relations. German education was very influential in America. Most high chools offered German as a foreign lnugage. It was much more common than Spanish. American-German relations began to deteriorate only when Germany launched World War I by invading neutral Belgium (1914). It was an act that firmly fixed the German image in thE american mind as an aggressor nation. From a very early point British policy was fixated on drawing America into the War. The German government on-the-other hand was largely dismissive of the Americam military potential. Many Germans and even some Brits did not believe tht America was a real nation, in large part because of its mixed ethnicity. And America had only a vety small army. British propganda made the most of German violtion of Belgian neutrality and the harsh German occupation regime. German use of unrestricted sunmarine warfare further cemented the American view of the Germans, especially the sinking of RMS Lusitania with prominent Americans aboard. Even so, most Americans wanted no part of the War. President Wilson's reelection victory was largely due to the fact that he kept America out of the War. Only incredably rash German policy decesions brought America into the War. German officials in two world wars would significantly underestimate the ability of the United states to project power and influence miliitary outcomes in Europe.

American Foreign Policy

American foreign policy since the Revolution was basically to stay out of European affairs. It had been a teennentof Presidenbt Washjington's foreign policy and followed by subsequeny presidentt. Unlike European countries which commonly had emnities and territorial disputes dating back centuries, the United States had few differences with Eutopen countries or territorial disputes. The primary differences were with Britain and to a lesser extent Spain. A major dispute with France had been cut short by the Louisian Purchase (1803). There were major disputes with Britain over the Canadian border, but after the War of 1812 these were resolved short of war. Differences with Britain, however, continued for some time. The last major issue was Guyana (1890s). There were no serious differences what-so-ever with Germany. The disputes with Germany and other European states, such as over Morocco, did not involve the United States.

German-Americans

And as there was a large German immigrant population there was no reason what-so-ever why American-German relations should descend into major military confrontations in two major world wars. German-Americans had a strong anti-War even pacifist strain. Manjy had conme to America not only for economic opportunity, but to escape military conscription. The ethnic German communities in the mid-West became one of the most important forces oposing American entry into both world wars. The Germans constitute the largest immigrant group in America. Germans settled many areas of the United States. The Germans not only brought their customs with them (Christmas tree, Sunday afternoons with beer, music and dance, etc.), but also their skills and talents. The German influence on music in America is very important. Germans played major roles in many other areas, including the arts, industry, and science. Now the Germans themselves are totally Americanized and hardly speak German anymore. Germans have played a prominent role in American history. The two leading American World war II commanders (Nimitz and Eisenhower) were both of German ancestry. One of the best known German immigrant groups are the Mennoites who settled in southeastern Pennstlvania who incorrently became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch.

Canada

A Canadian reder comments on the German immigrants north of the bordr. "I find it interesting about the differences between Canadian-German relations because of the war and American-German relations when you think that the same type of German immigrants settled into central Canada as did in the American MidWest. And when Canada went to war to help Britain these German-Canadians did not become anti-war protesters and even in the heart of the German population in Canada in central Ontario there was not much of any protests when the city of Berlin, Ontario was changed to Kitchner. Even the "Kaiser" bread roll was renamed as a Vienna roll."

Imperial Germany and Kaiser Wilhelm II

American public opinion was not affected by the Franco-Prussian war and the unification of Germany. America was not as affected as Britain and France by German belicosity which developed after the Wilhelm II became kaiser. The Kaiser eased Chancellor Bismarck out as he saw him as old and too cautious. He wanted a more aggressive German foreign policy in keeping with Germany's growing strength. He allowed the Reinsurance Treaty to lapse with Russia, allowing France to sign a treaty with Rusia, a monentous change in the European balance of power. And than he began building a High Sea Fleet, alienating long-time ally Britain, making possible an Anglo-French raprochment. These losses were balanced by treaties with Austria-Hungary and Italy. The balance, however, was disaterous for Germny. Russia was a major and rising power. Austria-Hungary was a former great power which was declining nd racked with internal divisions. Italy was a minor power and in the end would side wiyh the allies. America had a tradition of isolationism and Germany was far away and separated from Ametica by the Atlantic. This of course was not the case for Britain and France. Most Americans were just not interested in foreign affairs and paid little attention to what was going on in Europe.

American-German Interests

American interests in Germany were largely trade relations. There were, however, also some imoortant cultural ties in addition to the large number of German immigrants. German education was very influential in America. Most high chools offered German as a foreign lanugage. It was much more common than Spanish. A very young Franklin Roosevelt traveled to Germany and entered a German primary school while his brother attended a German university for needed technical studies unavailable in Anerica at the time.

Deteroration: World War I (1914-15)

Given the respect that mny Americand had for Germany and the large German-American community, it is hard to understand how America public opinion turned so stringly against Germamy. But the Kaisr and the German Government managed to powerfilly shift American opinion in only a few short years. American-German relations began to deteriorate only when Germany launched World War I by invading neutral Belgium--a flagrant violation of internatinal law (1914). This was part of the long-standing German war plan, the Schliffen Plan. It was a military plan and German officials did not attach any importance to the diplomatic consequences. They believed thst it would bring a swift victory and that victory in war far surpassed the minor diplomtic consequences. It was an act, however, that firmly fixed the German image in the American mind as a lawless, aggressor nation. Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg referred to Germany's treaty obligations as a mere 'scrap of paper'--confirming Germany's lawless orientation. From a very early point British policy was fixated on drawing America into the War. British propganda made the most of German violation of Belgian neutrality as well as the harsh German occupation regime. German attrocities were exagerated, but were real enought and offended public opinion. Tragically they would come all too true in World War II. German use of unrestricted sunmarine warfare further cemented the American view of the Germans, especially the sinking of the British liner RMS Lusitania with prominent Americans aboard (1915). The sunmarine was a new weapon. Its effective usage required violtions of established conventins on commerce warfare. Surfacing to sink ships and allowing passengers and crew to disembark put the U-boat in danger and escorts to head forthe ship and sub. This might have brought America into the War in 1915, but Germany agreed to restrict U-boat operations. Another problem was German sabatoge activities conducted undr the supevision of Geran mikitary attache Franz von Papen. He would later play a role in Hitler's rise to the Chancelorship.

German View of America

The German government in shgarp contrast to the British, were largely dismissive of America. They did not understand American military potential. America had a pitifully small Army and did not manufacture weapons and armament in significant quantities. The small, poorly equipped Anerican Army hardly seemed a threat -- or so many Germans thought. Many Germans and even some Brits did not believe that America was a real nation, in large part because of its mixed ethnicity. The idea of a strong ethnic core was widely seen as the basis for a nation. Many Gernmans convinced themselves that a 'mongeral' nation was not capable of fielding an effective army. This of course sounds rather NAZI-like. But the NAZIs did not come out of nowhere. This was a widely held belief among elite groups in Germany. This opinion was not unknown in Britin, but it seems to have been the dominant view in Germany. Strangely, these racial views did not prevent the Kaiser from basing German security on a treaty with the multi-ethnic austro-Hungariam Empire. The Germans could not have missed the massive and growing American industrial capacity, but because very little was devoted to arms production, apparently German leaders did not see it as a major threat. It is striking how these same issues echoed through Adolf Hitler's mind when he decided to declare war on Smetrica a generation later. German leaders not only dismissed american power, but thought they could force a decion on the western Front before America could convert to war production and build an army. And German naval commnders, anxious to have restrictions on U-boat operation removed, assured the Kaiser and Reichstag that thy could prevent merica from transporting anarmy to France.

American Public Opinion

The one strongly held opinion in America with the outbreak of the War was that America should hold to its long term isolationist traditions. There were efforts to aid the starbing Belgiands and to negotiate a peaceful end of the conflict, but there was no interest in entering the War. German-Americans were not the only group opposed to entering the War. Here sympathy with Germany was combined with strongly held pacifist sentiment. Irish Amnericans with anti-British sentiments were also opposed to entering the War. German Americans were, however, the largest and most influential group. There was some support for Britain. The most outspoken propent was former President, Theodore Roosevelt. There was some sympathy with the Germans among the large German ethnic community, but the overwealming desire on the part of Americans was to stay out of the war. This does not mean that Americans were neutral concrning who launched the war or on the conduct of the war. From the very beginning, most americannssaw the Germans who invaded neurtral Belgium as the aggressor nation. And the reports of German attrocities in Belgium began to change the view that most Americans held of the Germans. These repirts were inflated by British propaganda, but were not entirely false. And then there was a stedy drip of war reports that steadily darkened the american view of Germany, including U-boat attacks on shipping, RMS Luisitania, the introduction of poison gas, and Zephlin bombing of cities. Despite the public repulsion to German actions, most Americans wanted no part of the War. President Wilson's narrow reelection victory was largely due to the fact that he kept America out of the War (1916). At the same time, there was growing anti-German sentiment.

German Policy Decesions (1917)

Despite the anti-German sentimennt in america, competent German leaders could have prevented American from entering the ar given the widespread opposition to war in America. In the end incredibly rash German policy decesions and dismissal of America's potential brought the United states into the War. German officials in to world wars would significantly underestimate the ability of the United states to project power and influence miliitary outcomes in Europe. Just as Germany defeated Russia in the East and was able to concentrate its firces for victory in the West, it embarked on actions that would almost surely bring America into the War and reinforce Allied lines in the West. American surely would not hve entered the war if Germany had not changed its war policy. The 1916 election campaign made it clear that most Americans wanted to stay out. Kaiser Wilhelm was, however, under great pressure because of the war, the terrible losses, the strains in German society as well as food shortages on the home front. There were call for aore forceful war policy. The Crown Prince in particular was demanded greater action. The Kiser finally decided to remove the contraints on the Kriegsnmarine U-boat fleet knowing full well that it was likely to bring America into the War. The ssessment was that America is not have a sizeable army and that victory could be had by cutting off Brutain's sea life lines. The German Kreiegsmarine admirals assured the Reichstag that they could stop any American troop transports from reaching France--one of the great naval mistakes of history. But if this was a gross error, the decesion to offer Mexico the southwest of the United states was pure lunacy. The Zimmermann Telegram when released inflamed Anerica public opinion just as Congress was making the decession for war and peace.

Declaration of War (April 1917)

American President Woodrow Wilson camaigned for re-election in 1916 with the slogan "He kept us out of war". America at various points tried to negotiate an end to the War. Wilson in a 1917 speech called for a "peace without victory". None of the major European combatants showed much interest in the American efforts. The Britsh were still hopeful that America would join the Allies. Kaiser Wilhelm dimissed Wilson's efforts as unrealistic. The Germans seriously under estimated the potential impact of American involvement. Gambling that they could force a decission in the Western Front, the military convinced Kaiser Wilhelm to resume unrestricted sunmarine warfare. After German U-boats sank five American merchant vessels, President Wilson on asked Congress to Declare War on Germany which was approved April 6. President Wilson's motives are a subject of controversy among historians. The declaration of war was following the declaration of War an explosion of patriotic fervor not seen in America since the Civil war. Large numbers of young men enlisted. Many cities came close to fulfilling their quota within a few months, well before selective Service went into effect (June 5). There wee patriotic celebrations with children dressing up in uniforms and patriotic outfits. Along with the patriotic fervor. a wave of anti-German hysteria spread over America with the declaration of war on Germany. It was far worse than hate crimes against Arab-looking and turbaned individuals after Septenber 11, 2001.

American Interests

Some authors have suggested that American war loans were a factor in President Wilson's decesion to ask ongress for aeclaration of war. The charge is that a Gernan victory would have meant tht the loans would not be paid. We ee no evidence that this was an important factor. We would be intereted in any evidence that readers may have seen. The obvious strategic implications may hve been a factor. A Gernman controlled Europe woukld have been a threat to America. Even so, s far s we can tell, it was the Gernn resumtion of unrestricted submarine warfare that was the deciding issue with President Wilson. After the War, as Americans began to see involvement in the Warcas a huge mistake, there were charges that arms merchants were largely responsible for the War and American participation. Congress conducted investigations, but was unble to find evidence of any such influece by munitions manufacturrs.

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Created: 4:06 AM 1/28/2012
Last updated: 5:36 PM 11/12/2015