Essay on Germany The start of WW1 in 1914 came from the build up of many shifting attitudes in Europe, particularly in Germany whose unstable society and old fashioned political order made Germany ripe for involvement in the war. This along with the Kaiser's unusual personality and prejudices set the stage for conflict. The years 1880-1914, was one of the most explosive periods of industrial growth. Cities mushroomed. For example, Berlin went from a population of 600,000 in 1870 to 2 million by 1910. This rapid growth brought with it social problems. There were clashes over power, over ideas, over religion, over language, and a gr