On July the 29th 1914 the chief-commander of the German military Colonel-General von Moltke wrote to Reichskanzler Bethmann-Hollweg: “One can´t deny that this situation is quite well inscininated from Russian side. Under continuous assurance that it doesn´t ‘mobilize‘ but only ‘sets preparations for all cases‘ ... it makes itself so much ready for war, that it ... will be able to advance in a few days. With that it brings Austria in a desperate situation and lays the responsibility on it, by forcing Austria to prepare itself against a Russian surprise.... Germany will also be forced to mobilize and then Russia will be able to say to the world: ‘I didn´t want war, but Germany has caused it‘. So will and must the things come if not, one nearly might say, a miracle happens to prevent a war in the last hour that will annihilate the culture of nearly whole Europe for decades to come... “
We all know that no miracle appeared and it came just as he predicted.
Lloyd George said 1920 in the League of Nations, none of the leading men had wanted the war. But they all had part in bringing it upon the people of Europe. They all had a reason for the war. Germany wanted to get rid off threats from France and Russia and become Europe´s leading power. France wanted vengeance for Sedan and to put down Germany´s rise. Russia wanted to increase it´s influence in Europe and to recover it´s reputation after the war against Japan. Austria wanted to save it´s influence on the Balkan and to keep itself from falling apart. Britain wanted to get rid off it´s main economical rival and stop Germany from becoming a global power.
Rivalties and nationalism rose so high in pre-war Europe that war had become inevitable. The British “Saturday Review“ had started 1895 with propaganda for the destruction of Germany – “Germaniam esse delendam“ Britain also became part of the “Entente Cordiale“ which became later the “triple-entente“ that was directed against Germany. In France nationalists demanded revenge against Germany and accused pacifists like Jean Jaurés (who was killed by them just before the outbreak of the war) of being traitors. German Emperor Willhelm II saw himself as a sort of Siegfried and believed the only hope for Germany was the offense. In Austria, the only man who had been able to maneuver the empire through it´s dangerous instability was killed by Serbian extremists. And Belgium? Maybe Belgium has the least responsibility, however it had chosen it´s side early. During the war of 70/71 it had provided the French partisans with weapons, even violating international law. As ally to the entente-powers, its position posed a serious threat to Germany´s main industrial areas.
In the crisis of 1914 Germany saw itself isolated with Austria as its only ally. So it granted Austria every support in the inevitable conflict with Russia. In accordence to the treaties of the entente France mobilized its army on 1st august (mobilization was seen as the factual start of war in that time). Germany mobilized on 2nd august and - in the belief a defensive war could never be won (following a common but outdated military doctrine in that time) – invaded Belgium after the asked permission to cross Belgian territory was declined. This gave Britain enough reason to enter the war (though, as the members of the cabinet John Burns and John Morley later declared, the British cabinet had already decided in favour for a war against Germany before the violation of Belgian neutrality).
History the written by the victors, but it´s not possible to point the finger on one sole aggressor who started World War I. And also no one was only victim except for the many innocents that were wasted in that war on all fronts.
This is not written in disrespect for the soldiers of WWI. It´s important to remember the fallen and honour them. But what they should remind us of is not their achievements but the need to prevent such unnecessary suffering from happening ever again in the midst of Europe.
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