Which was the 1st country that modernise its army (and navy) by the turn of 20th centuary?

Answer 1

Do you mean Modernisation in terms of having modern equipment/ships? that would be A number of countries. But to go deeper here is what I say.

Army - Prussia/Germany
built and Integrated the transportation system (rail/road) to not only support the country but specifically geared toward military mobilisation. Being surrounded by potential enemies they need to be able to get from one border to the next quickly.

Integrated a standard Reserve and conscription system which further speeded mobilisation.

An advanced General staff (pioneered by Prussia/Germany) that engaged in constant planning for ANY potential scenario.

All this came into effect during the Franco-Prussian War and the Prussian defeat of what WAS considered the best Army at the time.

Navy
Arguments can be given for both Britain and Japan, but I would go with Britain. The major Naval powers at the time were Britain, France, US, Japan, and Russia.

America was just coming out of it's shell and the navy was being built up. France's navy, while big, was not all that great or professional, and Russia's fleet was antiquated (evidenced by their crushing defeat at the hands of the Japanese).

While Britain's fleet was bigger, both Britain and Japan had modern, professional fleets, that were developed and tied to the strategic aims of each government, and both were able to project power regionally. The edge goes to Britain though for it's global projection.

Answer 2

Britain was a might empire at the turn of the century. Indeed, the sun never set on the British Empire. Britain learn-ed much from its involvement in the Boer War. As a global power it needed to protect its possessions around the war and thus the development of the Battleship was crucial. The battleship at the turn of the century was what the aircraft carrier is to the fleet today. The European countries at the turn of the century were still largely based on horses as they had fought the wars against Napoleon. The transition to trench warfare used in WWI would be gradual out of necessity as the situation dictated a new type of war. Technical advances were just emerging, the airplane, bigger guns for ships and land based mega guns replaced the old cannons. It was a rush to keep up with technology and by 1914, Germany and England had kept up and continued to invent as time went along, but at the turn of the century when the horror of trench warfare could not be imagined, England was at the front of the rest of Europe.

Answer 3

If you take the stalemate of WWI (1914-1918) as a guidepost of where nations were at the turn of the 20th century, I'd say that all nations were on a very similar pace.

This is especially true if you compare relative performance of armies, navies and even air forces during WWI to that of relative performances at the beginning of WWII.

Once the fronts settled down after WWI's opening round, no one had any sort of upper hand due to having a more modernised army or navy. During WWII, in contrast, German and Japanese equipment, organization and tactics beat the crap out of the allies on every front until they could adjust and catch up, which thankfully took very little time.

Answer 4

British

Answer 5

If you mean who ahd the first fully mechanized army, than it would probibly either England or the US. Germany still used horses to pull supply wagons during WW2, they also did not have good tanks in 1939; the French Char B1 bis was the best tank in the world. German tactics won out, not technology; Germany did have the edge by 1944, but before than it was a toss up.

Answer 6

British!

Answer 7

If you mean which nation had similiar principles of organisation, training and professionalism as today, then there are a few contenders. Rome was the first nation with payed, full time, trained soldiers in an effecient, standing army.

Answer 8

Navy - Britain with the HMS Dreadnaught

Army - Germany with modern weaponry such as machine guns.

Answer 9

Great Britain. She created the first modern battle ship in the 'Dreadnought' class. The Dreadnought was copied by all other navies in the world.

Answer 10

USA