Question

What was the cause of Anglo german rivalry?

Answer 1

Hint: The arms race between Great Britain and Germany that occurred from the last decade of the nineteenth century until the advent of World War I in 1914 was one of the intertwined causes of anglo German rivalry.

Complete answer:
Germany after its unification in 1871 had replaced France, Russia and even Britain as the Industrial powerhouse of Europe. It had by far the largest Army and Economy on the continent. The young Kaiser Wilhelm II admired the British empire due to its size and colonial expansion all across the globe. He considered the Royal Navy as the pioneers of the great empire. He wanted to replicate it in Germany’s case. So he built a navy large enough that could secure its right over the sun, meaning a global empire like the British. He built a navy large enough to threaten the Royal navy’s unquestionable authorities over the sea. The British felt threatened by the new Germany who had a far better army than Britain and was now industrially and economically capable of challenging the might of the Royal Navy.
They also did not want a huge power like Germany on the continent. It was Britain’s primary goal ever since to not let a great power thrive on the continent. They did so to Napoleon and then to the Kaiser who was a cousin of King George V and eldest grandson of Queen Victoria.

Note: The arms race was a major reason for the Anglo German rivalry. By 1914, Britain had long viewed their navy as the key to their status as the leading world power. Germany intended to create a fleet to match the Royal Navy and wanted to expand the limits of his empire by conquering overseas colonies. German desire to build a navy, which leads to Anglo- german rivalry, later on this rivalry leads to World War I.