Germany’s challenge to British hegemony (1860–1914) followed a classic rising-power sequence: education investment → innovation/patent dominance → manufacturing catch-up → military buildup → war. Germany outspent Britain on education, overtook Britain in patents, closed the manufacturing gap from 50% to 75% of British output, and triggered the naval arms race that contributed to WWI. This is the archetype for the current US-China competition: China is replicating Germany’s 1870–1914 trajectory in education, patents, and manufacturing.