MILITARISM

A key factor during the build up to the First World War is militarism.  It was a pervasive influence in all of Europe with all of the great powers except Great Britain having some form of conscription.  Over 85% of men of military age in France and 50% in Germany had served in the army or navy. France had the highest proportion of its population in the army.

Incidentally, the photograph is not of me on a typical day, although weekends...

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