To determine which nation would most likely have the biggest advantage during a European war in 1914, let’s analyze the information provided in detail.
1. France:
- Standing Army: 1,125,000
- Reservists: 2,400,000
- Total Army: Standing Army + Reservists = 1,125,000 + 2,400,000 = 3,525,000
- Warships: 62
2. Germany:
- Standing Army: 2,200,000
- Reservists: 6,300,000
- Total Army: Standing Army + Reservists = 2,200,000 + 6,300,000 = 8,500,000
- Warships: 97
3. Great Britain:
- Standing Army: 711,000
- Reservists: Data not available
- Warships: 185
Based on this data:
- France: The total size of the army, including reservists, is 3,525,000.
- Germany: The total size of the army, including reservists, is 8,500,000.
- Great Britain: The standing army is 711,000 and they have the most warships (185), but information about reservists is not provided.
Warships:
- Great Britain has the most warships, 185, which suggests they would have a strong naval advantage.
Army Size:
- Germany has the largest total army size at 8,500,000, far surpassing France's 3,525,000 and Great Britain's 711,000 standing army.
Conclusion:
- Germany would most likely have the biggest advantage during a European war. Despite Great Britain having the most warships, a significant portion of the fighting in a European conflict would occur on land. Considering Germany’s massive land army of 8,500,000, they would have a dominant advantage in land engagements.
- While France does have a substantial total army size upon calling up their reservists, it still does not match Germany's combined total.
- Great Britain, though possessing a powerful navy, does not have a sufficiently large standing army to compete with Germany on land.
Thus, Germany's large land army would give it the most significant advantage in a European land war in 1914.
