Answer :
To determine which nation would most likely have the biggest advantage during a European war in 1914, let's analyze the data provided for each country:
1. France:
- Standing army: 1,125,000
- Reservists: 2,400,000
- Warships: 62
- Total forces: 1,125,000 (standing army) + 2,400,000 (reservists) = 3,525,000
2. Germany:
- Standing army: 2,200,000
- Reservists: 6,300,000
- Warships: 97
- Total forces: 2,200,000 (standing army) + 6,300,000 (reservists) = 8,500,000
3. Great Britain:
- Standing army: 711,000
- Reservists: Not Available (n/a)
- Warships: 185
- Total forces: Only the standing army available = 711,000
Now, let's consider each of the provided options:
1. Great Britain, because they had the most warships to complement their small army.
- Warships: Great Britain has the most warships at 185, but the smallest standing army at 711,000 with no available reservists.
2. Germany, because most of the fighting would be on land and they had the largest army.
- Land fighting: Germany has the largest standing army at 2,200,000 and the largest number of reservists, totaling 8,500,000 in combined forces.
3. France, because if they called up their reservists their army would be larger than Germany's.
- Total army: France's total forces with reservists would be 3,525,000, which is significantly smaller than Germany's total forces.
Given this analysis:
- Germany has the largest total army (8,500,000) which is more than twice the size of France's total forces (3,525,000) and Great Britain's standing army (711,000).
- While Great Britain has superior naval capabilities with 185 warships, the primary determinant of land battles would likely be the size of the combined forces, where Germany has a significant advantage.
- France's combined forces are less than Germany's total forces, thus making France less likely to have an overall advantage in terms of land combat.
Therefore, the nation most likely to have the biggest advantage during a European war in 1914 is Germany, because most of the fighting would be on land and they had the largest army.
1. France:
- Standing army: 1,125,000
- Reservists: 2,400,000
- Warships: 62
- Total forces: 1,125,000 (standing army) + 2,400,000 (reservists) = 3,525,000
2. Germany:
- Standing army: 2,200,000
- Reservists: 6,300,000
- Warships: 97
- Total forces: 2,200,000 (standing army) + 6,300,000 (reservists) = 8,500,000
3. Great Britain:
- Standing army: 711,000
- Reservists: Not Available (n/a)
- Warships: 185
- Total forces: Only the standing army available = 711,000
Now, let's consider each of the provided options:
1. Great Britain, because they had the most warships to complement their small army.
- Warships: Great Britain has the most warships at 185, but the smallest standing army at 711,000 with no available reservists.
2. Germany, because most of the fighting would be on land and they had the largest army.
- Land fighting: Germany has the largest standing army at 2,200,000 and the largest number of reservists, totaling 8,500,000 in combined forces.
3. France, because if they called up their reservists their army would be larger than Germany's.
- Total army: France's total forces with reservists would be 3,525,000, which is significantly smaller than Germany's total forces.
Given this analysis:
- Germany has the largest total army (8,500,000) which is more than twice the size of France's total forces (3,525,000) and Great Britain's standing army (711,000).
- While Great Britain has superior naval capabilities with 185 warships, the primary determinant of land battles would likely be the size of the combined forces, where Germany has a significant advantage.
- France's combined forces are less than Germany's total forces, thus making France less likely to have an overall advantage in terms of land combat.
Therefore, the nation most likely to have the biggest advantage during a European war in 1914 is Germany, because most of the fighting would be on land and they had the largest army.
