international relationship of Germany and France and their railway systems

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject Politics - Topic: History of Inernational Relations, grade: 1,3, University of Constance, course: Proseminar Literatur, language: English, abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the Franco-German relationshipputting a strong focus on the two different railroad systems. The first twochapters will analyze Germany s and France s railroad systems from theirearly starts until the beginning of the First World War in a compressed way. In the following step, the fourth chapter, both systems will be compared andcontrasted to each other. It s intended to show similarities and differences. Arailway network can in general be regarded as a mirror of its nationaleconomy. A sustainable growth in a country s economy can hardly fail tobenefit its railroads. In the 19th century Germany s railroads benefitted from aboosting economy whereas the French economy did not take into the samedirection. This had remarkable effects on the commerce via rail and theFrench railroad network in total.1This study will not compare the years after 1914 when the railways whereprimarily used to lead to the front. Each country s economy and its innerpolitical movements had comparatively minor effects in contrast to themilitary strategies and decisions. A major challenge will be undoubtedly to fit all the necessary complexity intoa single format. Therefore all comparisons shall be divided into three differentaspects. At first the administrations of France and Germany shall be putopposite to each other starting with the railroads early years until thebeginning of the 20th century. Additionally the two countries economies andtheir effects on the railroad construction will be analyzed. At last the militarystrategies will be examined, for example during the Franco-Prussian War andthe remaining pre-war times. In the 5th chapter current railroad issues of the two countries will be regarded. Mutual interests, alliances, but also rivalries and conflicts are a constant partin the history of two railroad networks, even to this day. They both sharemixed railroad systems combining private, public and economic interests. The ultimate 6th chapter will summarize the obtained results.