The Fischer Thesis of the First World War

The Fischer Thesis of the First World War

How useful is the ‘Fischer Thesis’ in helping to explain the origins

of the First World War?

Fischer’s Thesis was thought to be controversial due to the

much-accepted Lloyd George’s theory to why World War One happened.

George’s theory was that power more or less took Germany into starting

World War One. But with Fischer going against George’s theory it

brought much controversy from older historians as they had accepted

his theory. But Fischer did get backing by some historians into

believing that his thesis was correct. Fischer’s thesis is that

Germany wanted to seek power on a par with countries that were strong

in Europe. Fischer said that he believed Germany would try to seek

this power with or without force, i.e. war. Fischer conceded that

German leaders thought the only way to get this European dominance was

to have a European war to achieve this. Fischer stated in his thesis

that he believed that his theory about the German leaders long existed

before World War One actually began.

Firstly I will start with my opinion of what I think of Fischer’s

Thesis. I agree with Fischer’s Thesis for several reasons. My first

reason behind why I agree with Fischer is that countries such as Great

Britain and France were major powers in Europe leading up to the First

World War. Due to this I agree with Fischer’s statement that Germany

wanted to seek this power that these countries had and would go about

by using force if necessary. Germany had the means to do this due to

them being behind these countries and as Fischer states that they

would try and get this power with or without applying neces...

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...g countries, which it wished to

gain control over, i.e. France and Russia, encircled them causing the

Schlieffen Plan to be created. This plan was made in order take France

out in the first six weeks of the war before Russia had time to react

to this, as France and Russia were strong allies. With Germany hoping

to do this it would enable them not to fight the war on two fronts

being that if a European War came about they would have an easier

chance of winning it. This plan failed when it came into action due to

several troops being absent from the western front of field causing

poor communication among troops allowing the French to locate their

position.

To conclude I agree strongly with the Fischer’s Thesis in regarding to

how World War One started, but it does have several weak points as

outlined in this essay.