Preparations for War, 1905-14

About the lecture

In this module, we think about how the Great Powers positioned themselves for war in Europe in the period 1905-1914. We focus particularly on Germany, but also consider the relationship between Britain, France and Russia, the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires and events in the Balkans, and the willingness of each of the major powers in Europe to fight.

About the lecturer

Dr Rob Johnson works on the History of War in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with particular interest in the First World War, the Indian Army and the so-called 'sideshows'; the Inter-War Years, and more recent conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and the Middle East. Thematically, he focuses on strategy, conventional operations, tactical developments, revolutionary warfare, intelligence and counter-insurgency.

Dr Johnson is also the Director of the Changing Character of War Programme which is an interdisciplinary study of war and armed conflict at the University of Oxford.