Na cestě k válce. Příspěvek ke studiu námořního zbrojení Velké Británie a konfrontace s Německem v předvečer první světové války

This diploma thesis analyzes naval armament of Great Britain from the late 1880’s to the beginning of the Great War. The main objective is to evaluate the impact this armament had on the outbreak of the war. Firstly, the economic and political development of Great Britain, and for comparison, Germany, are analysed. Attention is also paid to the phenomenon of the dreadnought, which, after the year 1906, determined the development of all major navies of the world (similiarly to the concepts of Splendid Isolation or Two Power Standard). The second part of the thesis then analyzes the approach of the British government and the stance of the British public towards the growing German threat throughout this time period. The final part consists of an analysis of the main reasons for the Anglo-German rivalry and the role that naval armament played in the outbreak of the First World War.