The Causes of World War One

In this module you will learn:

1. 2. #. &. *. .. 1. 4. FOUR new words SIX factors which underlay the outbreak of the First orld ar !ANIMAL" $ O ri%al alliances S'(') countries 'I+,$ crises which -receded the war !BiG FaT BABA" $he story of the /ssassination of Fran0 Ferdinand FOUR ste-s by which the murder of Fran0 Ferdinand led to the outbreak war !ARSE"2 includin3. $,IR$'') key dates in the 5slide to war6.

You must do the follo in! ritten or"#

/ clo0e e7ercise on the 8ack3round to ar FI(' e7-lanations of how the fi%e back3round factors made war easier. / clo0e e7ercise on the 9rises -recedin3 the war. /n analysis of the 9rises -re:1;1&: )ationalism< Im-erialism< =ilitarism< /lliances / 2>>:word descri-tion of the murder of Fran0 Ferdinand. / clo0e e7ercise on the Four Ste-s to ar / descri-tion of the Schlieffen ?lan /n e7-lanation of the slide to war2 @uly:/u3ust 1;1&

$a%e &ou read#

Ferriby and McCabe, Modern World History for AQA, sections 1.1 and 1.2 Ben Walsh, Modern World History, Chapter 1 Peter Moss, History Alive 4, chapter 2. Greg Hetherton, Britain and the Great War, section 2 Christopher Culpin, Making History, chapter 2. LE Snellgrove, The Modern World since 1870, chapters 6-7. Tony Howarth, Twentieth Century History, Chapter 4.

A @ohn B 9lare 2>>*

Ba'"!round to the War (ANIMAL)

A @ohn B 9lare 2>>*

We have conquered for ourselves a place in the sun. It will now be my task to see to it that this place in the sun shall remain our undisputed possession, in order that the sun's rays may fall fruitfully upon our activity and trade in foreign parts... The more Germans go out upon the waters, whether it be in ourneys across the ocean, or in the service of the battle flag, so much the better it will be for us. A speech by Kaiser Wilhelm to the German Regatta Association, 1901.

$he ar3ument which follows su33ests that 'uro-e in 1;1& was RI?' for war to break out : that the causes of orld ar One went back lon3 before 1;1&2 and had so set 'uro-e at odds that it only needed a tiny s-ark to -ush all 'uro-e into war. Cou will need to understand2 not only ,/$ the situation was in 1;1>:1&2 but ,O each element made war more likely...

Did You Know?

Kaiser Wilhelm had a withered arm and suffered a slight paralysis which made him unsteady on his feet. o o!ercome this, his teachers bullied him" historians thin# that this led Wilhelm$s unstable and aggressi!e character % and may ha!e been a contributory factor to the outbrea# of war.

*+ A ful !o%ernments
)ot only were many of the 3o%ernments of 'uro-e autocracies Druled by one manE2 they had stu-id and corru-t 3o%ernments. (ery few of the countries of 'uro-e were democracies : it is hard for a democracy to 3o to war because the -eo-le Dnot Fust an indi%idual rulerE need to a3ree to 3o to war. Remember also that in these days there was no idea of 3oin3 to war for the Gri3htG reasons : many -eo-le in those days thou3ht it was alri3ht to 3o to war sim-ly to win more -ower and territory for the ruler. In such a 'uro-e2 outbreak of war was less of an issue than : say : the recent war in IraH.

Sour'e A
!and of "ope and Glory, mother of the free... God who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet. he words of Land of Hope and Glory, written by the &nglish composer &lgar and sung by 'ritish people at the (rom concerts e!ery year. )ompare the German national anthem* Deutschland uber Alles* +Germany, Germany o!er all, o!er e!erything in the world, when it steadfastly holds together, offensi!ely and defensi!ely.,

Sour'e B

,+ Nationalism
'('RCO)' was nationalist in those days2 and this hel-ed cause war in two ways: a. It made the -eo-le of countries like 8ritain2 +ermany and France more bellicose DwarlikeE. French -oliticians like 9lemenceau and ?oincare Dwho had been around in 141>E ,/$'B the +ermans. ?eo-le were enra3ed when someone insulted their country. b. It made the races ruled by $urkey Dsuch as the Romanians and the 8ul3ariansE and by /ustria: ,un3ary Dsuch as the SerbsE want to be free. In the 8alkans this was called 5?ansla%ism6 because the -eo-le who wanted to be free were all Sla% races. $he most nationalistic of all were the Serbs I Serbia had became an inde-endent country by the $reaty of San Stefano in 14142 but in 1;>> many Serbs were still ruled by $urkey and /ustria:,un3ary2 and Serbia was determined to rule o%er them all. $his led to rebellions and terrorism which destablised the 8alkans.

his 'ritish postcard shows the Kaiser ta#ing the $place in the sun$ that wanted.

A @ohn B 9lare 2>>*

-+ Im.erialism
9ountries who belie%ed that they were su-erior thou3ht it was alri3ht to conHuer and rule others I -articularly if they were inhabited by races they thou3ht were inferior. France2 8el3ium and Italy had colonised %ast areas of /frica in the 1;th century. In 1;>>2 the 8ritish 'm-ire co%ered a fifth of land:area of the earth. a. $his led to clashes between im-erialist -owers. 8ritain was tryin3 to conHuer /frica from 9airo Din the northE to 9a-e $own Din South /fricaE. France was tryin3 to conHuer /frica from the /tlantic to the Red Sea. In 14;4 their two armies met2 at Fashoda in the Sudan2 almost causin3 a war. b. =ost of all2 it led to ,U+' tension when Jaiser ilhelm of +ermany decided that ,' wanted some colonies tooK

Sour'e C
The German answer to all our talk about the limitation of armaments is# Germany shall increase to the utmost of her power... I have lived among Germans, but with the best will in the world I can see no solution to the present collision of ideals but war. A lecture gi!en in 1912 by 3A )ramb 3A )ramb was an &nglishman who went to uni!ersity in Germany, and who lo!ed Germany.

Sour'e 0
The Naval 'War Cabinet' of 1912 General von $oltke %head of the army& said# I believe war is unavoidable' war the sooner the better. (ut we ought to do more to press to prepare the popularity of a war against )ussia. The *aiser supported this. Tirpit+ %head of the navy& said that the navy would prefer to see the postponement of the great fight for one and a half years. 1rom the Diary of Admiral 4uller, 5 6ecember 1917 8ome historians say that this pro!es that Germany was wanting war in 1917, although others say that it records a general discussion of no great significance.

/+ Militarism
/ll the nations of 'uro-e were militaristic2 but the 3o%ernments of +ermany and /ustria:,un3ary were es-ecially so. /ll the countries of 'uro-e built u- their armies and na%ies. /nother thin3 that the countries of 'uro-e did was to train all their youn3 men so that if there was a war they could call2 not only on the standin3 army2 but on hu3e numbers of trained reser%ists. $hus Dincludin3 reser%istsE the countries could call u-on: L +ermany: 4.* million men L Russia: &.& million L France: #.* million L /ustria:,un3ary: # million /nd as one country increased its armies2 so all the others felt obli3ed to increase their armed forces to kee- the 5balance of -ower6. It is im-ortant to realise that : althou3h in 1;1& the +erman army was the bi33est and best in the world : the Russian army was 3rowin3 the fastest2 and +erman 3enerals were worried that2 in a few years time2 they would not be able to defeat Russia so easily.

Armed forces of Europe in 1914: Soldiers Warships

Germany 0ustria1"ungary Italy 7rance )ussia Great (ritain ,,,--,--23-,--/4-,--3,3,4,--3,,--,--/33,--./ ,2 56 6, 5324

Ne Words
Nationalism# the strong belief that your nation is better than others. mperialism# the desire to build an empire for the benefit of the mother country. !ilitarism# the control of government and policies by the armed forces, and a willingness to build up the armed forces and to consider a military solution for foreign relations problems. Alliances# treaties of friendship and support between countries who promise to support each other in a war.

Did You Know?

he politicians of 191- did not see % as we do today % the build%up of armed forces or the system of alliances as threats to peace" they thought that they would K&&( the peace by acting as a deterrent to any nation thin#ing of attac#ing them. hey belie!ed peace would be #ept by a 'A.A/)& 01 (0W&R between the two alliance bloc#s.

&

A @ohn B 9lare 2>>*

1+ Allian'es
/s well as seekin3 -rotection in the si0e of their armies2 the countries of 'uro-e sou3ht -rotection by formin3 alliances. /t first2 8ismarck had ke-t +ermany friendly with Russia. Jaiser ilhelm o%erturned this2 and concentrated instead on the Bual /lliance of 141; between +ermany and /ustria: ,un3ary : which became the $ri-le /lliance Dor 9entral ?owers /llianceE when Italy Foined in 1442. /larmed by this stron3 central bloc: a. France in 14;& made an alliance with Russia2 and b. In 1;>& France made an a3reement with 8ritain called the 'ntente 9ordiale DM 5Friendly Relationshi-6 I not a formal alliance2 but a -romise to work to3etherE. c. In 1;>12 8ritain made an entente with Russia2 thus formin3 the $ri-le 'ntente DFrance2 Russia2 +reat 8ritainE. d. In 1;>2 8ritain made a na%al treaty with @a-an. e. $he $ri-le 'ntente alarmed +ermany2 which felt itself surrounded by the France:Russia alliance. $he countries of 'uro-e thou3ht that the alliance system would act as a deterrent to warN in fact it tied the countries to3ether so that2 when one country went to war2 the others felt themsel%es obli3ed to follow.

2+ List of e%ents
So it was a3ainst this back3round of lon3:term underlyin3 tensions that the countries of 'uro-e were -ushed into war by a seHuence of e%ents after 1;>> which we will e7-lore: 14;;:1;>>: 1;>>: 1;>*:.: 1;>4: 1;>4:;: 1;11: 1;12:1#: 1;1& 8oer ar +erman )a%y Oaw First =oroccan 9risis Daily Telegraph article 8osnian crisis /3adir 9risis D2nd =oroccan 9risisE 8alkan ars /ssassination at SaraFe%o

Extra:
7or each of the background 'pressures1towards1war' 314, e8plain how it helped to bring war nearer.

A @ohn B 9lare 2>>*

he alliances of &urope in 191-

The 'ountries of Euro.e in *3*/

Tur"e&
/ %ery weak des-otism2 ruled by a corru-t 3o%ernment. $urkey was known as 5the sick man of 'uro-e6. Once2 $urkey had ruled all of the 8alkans2 but now the -eo-les of that area were rebellin3 and dri%in3 the $urks out I this created a si3nificant area of instability in 'uro-e: 5the 8alkan -ressure:cooker6.

German&
+ermany was massi%ely -owerful2 with the most u-:to:date industry in the world. +ermany had become a united country for the first time in 141>:1. /t first2 the 9hancellor Otto %on 8ismarck was careful not to annoy other countries2 but after 14;> the sli3htly:mad Jaiser ilhelm II took o%er the 3o%ernment.

Austria $un!ar&
,ad once been a stron3 em-ire2 but now the 3o%ernment was weak and di%ided Dthe /ustrians and the ,un3arians hated each otherE. /ustria:,un3ary had been built u- by marria3e and di-lomacy durin3 the =iddle /3es2 and was known as the 5-oly3lot Dmany lan3ua3esE em-ire6 because of all the different races in it. $he ,absbur3 rulers were stu-id and inbred2 and 'm-eror Fran0 @osef was old and autocratic.

Ital&
/ new country formed in 14... / weak ruler2 chaotic 3o%ernments and a -athetic army. $he =afia and corru-tion e%erywhere.

Russia
Russia was hu3e but backward. )icholas II was a weak and ineffectual ruler2 dominated by his wife and the 5mad monk6 Ras-utin. ,e ke-t -ower by settin3 the 9ossacks on the mob2 and by his Okhrana Dsecret -oliceE. Russia lost a war to @a-an disastrously in 1;>&.

Fran'e
France was a democracy2 but the French 3o%ernment was weak. In 141>:12 when +ermany was tryin3 to become a united country2 France had 3one to war to try to sto- it. $he +ermans won the war easily2 and took the area of /lsace Oorraine from France. $he French were des-erate for re%en3e.

Britain
8ritain was a democracy with a hu3e em-ire2 but until 1;>> 8ritain belie%ed in 5s-lendid isolation6 I kee-in3 out of affairs in 'uro-e. )either do you want to 3o runnin3 away with the idea that 8ritain had an efficient or modern 3o%ernment. $he army was still dominated by the aristocracy2 and women were not 3i%en the %ote until 1;14.

A @ohn B 9lare 2>>*

The Gro in! Crisis4 *3556*3*/ !BiG FaT BABA"

E%ent

*+ Boer War *7336*355

8ritain was fi3htin3 a colonial war to conHuer South /frica a3ainst the Butch 8oer settlers there. $he war was 3oin3 badly. Jaiser ilhelm announced that he su--orted the 8oers2 and that 8ritain had no ri3ht to conHuer South /frica.

Effect(s) he 'ritish were outraged, and de!eloped the idea that Germany wanted to challenge 'ritain$s role as a world empire.

,+ German Na%& La 4 *355

In 1;>> Jaiser ilhelm be3an to build u- the +erman na%y2 announcin3 that he wanted +ermans to sail all o%er the world and take for +ermany Ga -lace in the sunG. /fter 1;>.2 he be3an to build numbers of the new2 lar3e GBreadnou3htG battleshi-s2 which were more -owerful than any other shi-.

Did You Know?

9t has been suggested that imperial ri!alries were a long%range cause of World War 9. 9t has also been said that they were a safety !al!e, drawing off &uropean energies that might otherwise ha!e erupted in war sooner.

-+

First Moro''an Crisis4 *352

France ho-ed to conHuer =orocco in /frica2 and one of the -oints of the 'ntente 9ordiale D1;>&E was that the 8ritish would hel- them. 8ut in 1;>*2 Jaiser ilhelm %isited =orocco and -romised to -rotect =orocco a3ainst anyone who threatened it.

he 'ritish thought that Germany wanted to challenge 'ritish sea power % the basis of 'ritain$s greatness A strong na!y would also allow Germany to threaten 'ritish colonies o!erseas. 'ritain made an alliance with 3apan in 1907, so as not to ha!e to worry so much about the (acific. 'ritain also began to build 6readnoughts. he 'ritish go!ernment had planned to build four 6readnoughts in 1909, but when Germany refused to limit the number of ships it was building, the 'ritish public protested, demanding* $We want eight and we won$t wait$. 'ritain and Germany thus had a na!al arms race. 'y 191-, the 'ritish na!y was much larger than the German na!y, so it is arguable that this was /0 a cause of World War 9. he 1rench were furious with Germany. he 'ritish saw it as yet another attempt by Germany to build a German &mpire to ri!al 'ritain$s empire. A )onference was held at Algeciras :190;<, where 'ritain, Russia and 1rance, forced Germany to promise to stay out of 4orocco. his annoyed Germany. 9n 190=, 'ritain and Russia, alarmed by German ambitions, made an &ntente.

A @ohn B 9lare 2>>*

/+ Tele!ra.h Arti'le4 *357

Jaiser ilhelm 3a%e an inter%iew to the Baily $ele3ra-h news-a-er2 in which : althou3h he claimed that he wanted to be friends with 8ritain : he said that the 'n3lish were GmadG2 said that the +erman -eo-le hated them2 and demanded that: G+ermany must ha%e a -owerful fleet to -rotect her interests in e%en the most distant seasG.

he article outraged the 'ritish. 9t con!inced them that Germany wanted to challenge the 'ritish &mpire o!erseas.

Sour'e A
9ou :nglish, are mad, mad, mad as $arch hares. What has come over you that you are so completely given over to suspicions quite unworthy of a great nation; ... I have said time after time that I am a friend of :ngland ... but you make things difficult for me. $y task is not the easiest. The prevailing sentiment among large sections of the middle and lower classes of my own people is not friendly to :ngland... 9nter!iew with Kaiser Wilhelm 99 in the Daily Telegraph, 75 0ctober 1905

A @ohn B 9lare 2>>*

1+ Bosnian 'risis4 *357

$urkey had been in decline for a lon3 time. In 1;>4 there was a re%olution in $urkey2 and /ustria:,un3ary took ad%anta3e of this to anne7 Dtake o%erE the $urkish state of 8osnia.

2+ A!adir Crisis4 *3**

$here was a re%olution in =orocco2 and the French sent in an army to -ut it down2 then took o%er the country. In the middle of this2 Jaiser ilhelm sent the 3unboat ?anther to the =oroccan -ort of /3adir.

Sour'e B
Germany is deliberately preparing to destroy the (ritish :mpire. We are all to be drilled and schooled and uniformed by German officials. (ritain alone stands in the way of Germany's path to world power and domination. from an article in the Daily Mail newspaper, 1909

8erbia was furious, because 'osnia included many 8erbs whom it had hoped to rule. his e!entually led to the assassination at 8ara>e!o and the 1irst World War. 8erbia as#ed her ally Russia to help, and Russia called a &uropean )onference, e?pecting support from 1rance and 'ritain. @owe!er, 'ritain and 1rance did /0 support Russia, no conference too# place, and Russia had to bac# down and was humiliated % but Russia !owed not to bac# down again. his, again, was to help to cause the war in 191-. he 1rench and 'ritish were furious % the 'ritish minister .loyd George said that $'ritain$s interests were !itally affected$. 1ear of Germany$s intentions increased. Germany was forced to bac# down and remo!e the gunship, and was gi!en only a small piece of >ungle in the )ongo. his increased German resentment* $the Kaiser was determined not to be the loser in the ne?t crisis$.

Sour'e C
<ow we know where our enemy stands. !ike a flash of lightening in the night these events have shown the German people where its enemy is... When the hour of decision comes we are prepared for sacrifices, both of blood and of treasure. 1rom a speech made in the Reichstag :the German parliament< by the Kaiser, /o!ember 1911

8+ Bal"an Wars4 *3*,6*/s $urkey continued to 3row weaker2 in 1;12 Serbia2 +reece and 8ul3aria Dcallin3 themsel%es the 8alkan Oea3ueE attacked $urkey and ca-tured almost all the remainin3 $urkish land in 'uro-e. Sir 'dward +rey2 the 8ritish Forei3n Secretary2 arran3ed a -eace conference in Oondon2 but in 1;1# the 8ul3arians2 unha--y with the deal they had 3ot2 attacked Serbia : but were defeated. 8ritain and +ermany 3ot to3ether and used their influence to brin3 the war to an end D$reaty of 8ucharest2 1;1#E

8erbia became the most powerful 'al#an state, and felt confident enough to threaten Austria % the 8erbian (rime 4inister (asic said* $the first round is won" now for the second round % against Austria$. he Kaiser too# 8ir &dward Grey$s co% operation as a sign of 'ritain$s wea#ness. When the ne?t crisis happened, he assumed that 'ritain would co%operate again. his started a seAuence of e!ents which led to World War 0ne.

7+ Assassination at Sara9e%o4 *3*/

On 24 @une 1;1& +a%rilo ?rinci-2 a 8osnian Serb2 shot /rchduke Fran0 Ferdinand2 the heir to the throne of /ustria: ,un3ary.

Extra:
7or each of these 'crises' 312, e8plain whether it is an e8ample of# = <ationalism = Imperialism = $ilitarism = 0lliances in action.

A @ohn B 9lare 2>>*

1>

A @ohn B 9lare 2>>*

The Murder of Fran: Ferdinand

1. In Serbia2 after 1;>42 a terrorist 3rou- called Union or Beath Dnicknamed the P8lack ,andGE had wa3ed a terrorist war to free 8osnia from /ustrian control. $he /ustrian /rmy wanted to destroy the 8lack ,and by attackin3 Serbia. In the summer of 1;1&2 /ustria sent 1>2>>> troo-s on military manoeu%res in 8osnia to try to scare the Serbian 3o%ernment. On 24 @une 1;1&2 the /rchduke Fran0:Ferdinand and his wife %isited SaraFe%o2 the ca-ital of 8osnia2 to re%iew these troo-s. It was the /rchdukeGs weddin3 anni%ersary. It was also SerbiaGs )ational Bay I a day linked with Serbian nationalism2 and with the assassination of forei3n rulers. aitin3 for Fran0 Ferdinand2 lined ualon3 the /--el Quay2 SaraFe%oGs main road2 were si7 youn3 men. $hey were armed with -istols and bombs su--lied by the 8lack ,and. $hey were 3oin3 to try to murder Fran0 Ferdinand. /ustrian s-ies in Serbia had re-orted that there was 3oin3 to be an assassination attem-t. ?asic2 the ?rime =inister of Serbia2 had also told the /ustrian 3o%ernment that there was 3oin3 to be trouble. Fran0 Ferdinand i3nored these warnin3s. Only 12> -oliceman were on duty in SaraFe%o2 and they were so e7cited that they for3ot to watch the crowds2 and looked at the -rocession instead. $o reach the $own ,all the -rocession had to dri%e alon3 the /--el Quay. $here were a few shouts of Ri%ioK DGOon3 may he li%eKGE /t 1>.1> am2 as the -rocession drew near the 9umuria 8rid3e2 $he order of cons-irators as the -rocession -assed down the /--el Quay was: )ear the 9umuria brid3e: 1st =ehmed =ehmedbasic: told a friend that he could not 3et a clear o--ortunityN told /lbertini in 1;#1 that a -oliceman had a--roached him Fust as he was to throw the bomb. 2nd (aso 9ubrilo%ic: told in%esti3ation that felt sorry for the Buchess. $old /lbertini that he was badly -laced. #rd )edelFko 9abrino%ic: wearin3 a lon3 black coat and a black hat2 asked a -oliceman to tell him which car the /rchduke was inN seconds later he had knocked the ca- off a hand 3renade a3ainst a metal lam-:-ost and aimed it at the /rchduke seated in the o-en car. $he bomb had bounced off the folded:back hood of the /rchdukeGs car and blew u- the car behind2 killin3 two officers and inFurin3 about twenty -eo-le. 9abrino%ic swallowed -oison2 but it failed to work. /fter sto--in3 to see what had ha--ened2 Fran0 FerdinandGs car s-ed to the $own ,all. &th Dlandward sideE 9%etko ?o-o%ic: told a friend that could not see FF because he was short:si3hted. $old the trial he lost his ner%e. )ear the Oatin brid3e: *th +a%rilo ?rinci-: /t his trial2 said that the /rchdukeGs car s-ed -ast him on its way to the $own ,all after 9abrino%icGs bomb2 while he went to see what was ha--enin3 /t the Im-erial 8rid3e: .th $rifko +rabe0: $old the in%esti3ation that he could not brin3 himself to do such a thin3. /t the trial stated that two -olicemen were behind him. $old his friend that he did not want to wound innocent bystanders. 1> /t the $own ,all2 Fran0 Ferdinand furiously cancelled the rest of the tour. ?otiorek Dthe /ustrian +o%ernorE su33ested returnin3 by a different route to the one ad%ertisedN howe%er2 he for3ot to tell the chauffeurs. On the Fourney2 therefore2 the front car took a ri3ht:hand turn into the narrow Fran0 @ose-h Street. ?otiorek told the dri%er to turn round and 3o back. $he dri%er sto--ed Din front of SchillerGs StoreE and be3an to re%erse. Standin3 there2 on his way home2 was +a%rilo ?rinci-. ,e ste--ed forward and fired two shots at Fran0 Ferdinand. $he first bullet struck the /rchduke2 the second : aimed at ?otiorek : hit the Buchess. /t first nobody mo%ed. ?eo-le thou3ht that the assassin had missed. $hen the Buchess slum-ed forward. $he bullet had 3one throu3h the side of the car2 her corset and her ri3ht side. GSo-herlK BonGt dieK Stay ali%e for our childrenKG cried the /rchduke2 but she died as he s-oke. Fran0 Ferdinand outli%ed her only a short timeN a bullet had -ierced the ri3ht side of his coat collar2 cut the Fu3ular %ein and lod3ed in the s-ine. It was 11.#> am2 @une 242 1;1&.

& *

11

11

A @ohn B 9lare 2>>*

Four Ste.s to War4 ;une6Au! *3*/ (ARSE)

The nations slithered over the brink into the boiling cauldron of war without any trace of apprehension or dismay... The nations backed their machines over the precipice ... not one of them wanted war' certainly not on this scale. 6a!id .loyd George, War Memoirs :192-< .loyd George was a minister in 191- and (rime 4inister during the war. There was no >slide> to war, no war caused by >inadvertence,> but instead a world war caused by a fearful set of elite statesmen and rulers making deliberate choices. 'oo# re!iew in The American Historical Review of Richard 1. @amilton and @olger @. @erwig, The rigins of World War ! :7002<

Fi%e weeks after the assassination of Fran0 Ferdinand on ,7 ;une *3*/2 there was a world war. ,ow did such a thin3 ha--enS

*+ Austria de'lares ar
hat was /ustria:,un3ary to doS It is im-ortant to realise that /ustria hated Serbia anyway. )ationalism threatened the %ery e7istence of the G-oly3lot em-ireG2 and the /ustrian 9hief of Staff +eneral ,ot0endorf had asked for a Gsur-riseG war to destroy Serbia more than 2> times in the ei3ht years after 1;>.. So the assassination was used by /ustria as an o--ortunity to sort out the Serbs: 1 ;ul&# /ustria:,un3ary a--roached the +ermans and 3ot a -romise Dthe so:called Gblank cheHueGE that they could rely on +ermanyGs su--ort. $he /ustro:,un3arian 3o%ernment sent Serbia an ultimatum containin3 ten really tou3h demands. Failure to meet all of these demands2 they said2 would result in war. D$hey e7-ected Serbia to reFect the ultimatum2 which would 3i%e /ustria:,un3ary an e7cuse to in%ade.E 8ut the Serb 3o%ernment did not reFect the ultimatum. Instead it sent a re-ly in which it a3reed to e%erythin3 'X9'?$ -art of demand .. It was SO conciliatory that2 after readin3 it2 Jaiser ilhelm wrote on 24 @uly: Gthe re-ly amounted to a ca-itulation in the humblest style2 and with it there disa--eared all reason for warG.

Sour'e A
The 0ustrian government was not much concerned to punish the crime of ?ara evo. They wanted to punish a different crime 1 the crime that ?erbia committed by e8isting as a free national state. A3( aylor, "urope#$ Grandeur and Decline :19;=< A3( aylor was a respected, but outspo#en, historian

,- ;ul&#

Sour'e B
The sentence that caused a "ar 6. The %?erbian& Government considers it its duty as a matter of course to begin an investigation against all those persons who have participated in the outrage of @une ,2th and who are in its territory. 0s far as the cooperation in this investigation of specially delegated officials of the %0ustro1"ungarian& Government is concerned, this cannot be accepted, as this is a violation of the constitution and of criminal procedure. 8erbian Response to the Cltimatum, 7D 3uly, 191-

,1 ;ul&#

,7 ;ul&# /ustria:,un3ary declared war on Serbia.

Did you know?

he historian (aul 8chroeder, in 19=7, suggested that the Auestion should not be why war bro#e out in 191-, but why not beforeB What snapped in 191-B he answer, he said, was Austria%@ungary.

12

A @ohn B 9lare 2>>*

,+ Russia mo<ilises
$he Serbs had wron3:footed the /ustrians. hereas2 on 24 @une2 e%eryone in the world had su--orted the /ustrians2 now they looked unfair2 unreasonable and war:mad. /s the /ustrian army shelled 8el3rade Dthe ca-ital of SerbiaE the Serbians called u- their army and asked their ally2 Russia2 for hel-. hat was Russia to doS ,/ ;ul&# Russia did not want war. $he Russian +rand 9ouncil decided : if Serbia was in%aded : not to 3i%e military su--ort2 but to a--eal to a conference of the +reat ?owers. '%en the mad Ras-utin warned that a war would destroy Russia. ,3 ;ul&# 8ut the $sar )icholas had already let down Serbia in the 8osnian crisis of 1;>4. /nd : he told the Jaiser in a tele3ram : it was a matter of ri3ht and wron3 Dsee Source 9E. )icholas decided to mobilise Dcall u-E his army. -* ;ul&# /t first2 )icholas ho-ed to mobilise only a3ainst /ustria: ,un3ary2 but : when his 3enerals told him that this was im-ossible : he was forced to order a 3eneral mobilisation Da3ainst +ermany as well as /ustria: ,un3aryE. ,owe%er2 he sent a tele3ram to the Jaiser assurin3 him that the mobilisation was )O$ a3ainst +ermany.

Sour'e C
0n un ust war has been declared on a weak country. The anger in )ussia shared fully by me is enormous. I foresee that very soon I shall be overwhelmed by the pressure forced upon me and be forced to take e8treme measures which will lead to war. To try and avoid such a calamity as a :uropean war I beg you in the name of our old friendship to do what you can to stop your allies from going too far. <icky elegram, sar /icolas to Kaiser Wilhelm, 79 3uly 191/icholas and Wilhelm were cousins, and had been great friends.

-+ S'hlieffen =lan
hat was +ermany to doS $o allow a country to mobilise a3ainst you without res-onse2 said the +ermans2 was like allowin3 someone to hold a loaded 3un to your head without doin3 anythin3. It is im-ortant to realise that the Schlieffen ?lan for mobilisation was a -lan of attack : so +ermany mobilisin32 and +ermany 3oin3 to war2 were one and the same thin3. /nd the Schlieffen ?lan did not allow for a situation like that in 1;1&. $hin3s were 3oin3 wron3 for +ermany : Russia was mobilisin32 but France showed no si3n of 3oin3 to war to hel- the Russians. )ow Russia was mobilisin3 and was 3oin3 to be ready too soon : e%ery day that -assed 3a%e the Russian army one more day to 3et ready. hen the +erman 9hancellor 8ethmann:,ollwe3 asked +eneral =oltke: GIs the Fatherland in dan3erSG the re-ly was: GCesG. * Au!ust# $he Jaiser2 therefore2 3a%e the order to mobilise and +ermany declared war on Russia. claimin3 that French -lanes had bombed the +erman town of )urember32 +ermany declared war on France. with +erman troo-s on the march to in%ade France2 the French declared war on +ermany.

The #chlieffen $lan Germany$s (lan for mobilisation E called the 8chlieffen (lan after the German )hief of 8taff Alfred !on 8chlieffen E was based on three ideas* a. 9f there was a war, Germany would ha!e to fight 1rance A/6 Russia. b. 1rance was wea# :Germany had defeated 1rance in ten wee#s in 15=0<. c. Russia was strong but slow :8chlieffen estimated that it would ta#e Russia ; wee#s to mobilise<. he 8chlieffen (lan, therefore, was de!eloped as a huge hammer blow at (aris, using 90F of the German army, which would ta#e 1rance out of the war Auic#ly :allowing Germany to get its army bac# to fight Russia<.

Sour'e 0

- Au!ust#

/ Au!ust#

his American cartoon shows 8erbia being attac#ed by Austria%@ungary, who is then attac#ed by Russia, who is then attac#ed by Germany, who is then attac#ed by 'ritain and 1rance. &ach says* +.ea!e him alone or 9,llG
A @ohn B 9lare 2>>*

1#

/+ En!land 9oins in
$he 8ritish Forei3n Secretary2 Sir 'dward +rey2 had s-ent the crisis tryin3 to 3et the different countries to ne3otiate. * Au!ust# +rey -ro-osed to +ermany that 8ritain would stay neutral if +ermany did not attack France. Jaiser ilhelm wanted to a3ree2 but when he tried to -ause the in%asion2 his 3enerals told him that he couldnGt. $he Schlieffen ?lan had an error. It -lanned for the +erman army2 when it attacked France2 to 3o throu3h 8el3ium. $he day after declarin3 war on Russia2 therefore2 the +ermans asked -ermission for their army to -ass throu3h 8el3ium. $he 8el3ians refusedK So the ne7t day2 +ermany in%aded 8el3ium. 8ritain was obli3ed by a treaty of 14#; to hel8el3ium in the e%ent of an in%asion. $herefore2 8ritain sent +ermany an ultimatum demandin32 by midni3ht2 a +erman -romise to withdraw from 8el3ium. $he +ermans were ama0ed: GFor a scra- of -a-er2 +reat 8ritain is 3oin3 to make warSG asked 8ethmann:,ollwe3.

Sour'e E

, Au!ust#

/ Au!ust:

a cartoon in %unch, 17 August 191-. /otice how the cartoon shows 'elgium as a threatened child, and the stereotyped figure of Germany as an aggressi!e military man with sausages.

Sour'e F
The greatest war of modern times, and perhaps in the whole history of the human race, was begun by Germany using the crime of a schoolboy as an e8cuse. The Great War $ the &tandard History :191-< A 'ritish patriotic magaHine published wee#ly

$hat ni3ht2 crowds 3athered in ?arliament SHuare in Oondon. /s 8i3 8en struck 11 -m Dmidni3ht in 8erlinE they san3 God Save the King2 and then ran home cryin3: G arK arK arKG /s +rey watched the crowds lea%e2 he commented: G$he li3hts are 3oin3 out all o%er 'uro-e: we shall not see them lit a3ain in our lifetimeG.

Sour'e G

All o!er &urope, people greeted war with >oy and enthusiasm. $ hese people are !ery an?ious to send our soldiers to face death$, commented .loyd George to the (rime 4inister as they wal#ed to the @ouse of )ommons.

Extra:
Aebate as a whole class# 'Who was to blame for World War Bne;' = Think of arguments which ustify your opinion = Aevelop points which disprove any arguments which might be presented against you.

1&

A @ohn B 9lare 2>>*

Re%ision >uestions
3. ,. 5. D. 4. 6. /. 2. .. 3-. 33. 3,. 35. 3D. 34. 36. 3/. 32. 3.. ,-. ,3. ,,. ,5. ,D. ,4. ,6. ,/. ,2. ,.. 5-. 53. 5,. 55. 5D. 54. 56. 5/. 52. 5.. D-. D3. D,. D5. DD. D4. D6. D/. D2. D.. 4-. 43. 4,. 45. 4D. 44. 46. 4/. 42. 4.. 6-. What was the name of GermanyCs ruler, 322213.32; What was the title of GermanyCs national anthem and what does it mean; What is <ationalism; What was Eanslavism; What happened at the Treaty of ?an ?tefano in 32/2; What did *aiser Wilhelm say in 3.-3 that he wanted for Germany; What is imperialism; "ow much of the globe did the (ritish :mpire cover in 3.--; What was (ritainCs ambition in 0frica; Where and when did 7rench and (ritish colonial ambitions clash; What is militarism; "ow big was the German army in 3.3D; "ow many men Fincluding reservistsG could Germany call up if there was a war; "ow many warships did Great (ritain have in 3.3D; Whose army was growing fastest; Why did politicians try to build up huge armed forces and military alliances; Who was the German 0rmy Hhief of ?taff in 3.3D; What did the $oltke believe about war, and why; What was the Aual 0lliance; What was the Triple 0lliance; What was the Triple :ntente; Which country did (ritain make a naval agreement with and why; Who was the Isick man of :uropeC; Who was Btto von (ismarck; When had Italy become a united country; Who dominated the )ussian Tsar <icholas II until 3.36; Which country had defeated )ussia in a war; What had happened to 7rance in 32/-; <ame two nationalist 7rench politicians who hated Germany for 7ranceCs defeat in 32/-. What did (ritainCs foreign policy advocate, and what does this mean; Which (ritish war did *aiser Wilhelm criticise; What did the German <avy !aw of 3.-- say; What did people mean by IWe want 2 and we wonCt waitC; What provoked the 7irst $oroccan Hrisis "ow was the first $oroccan Hrisis solved; Who was Imad, mad, mad as $arch haresC; What does the word Ianne8C mean, and who anne8ed who in 3.-2; What provoked the ?econd $oroccan Hrisis; "ow was the ?econd $oroccan crisis solved; What was the (alkan !eague; "ow was the ?econd (alkan War ended; When was 0rchduke 7ran+ 7erdinand shot; <ame the 6 assassins waiting for 7ran+ 7erdinand along the 0ppel Juay. Who actually tried to kill him; What was the name of the ?erbian terrorist group; What was the name of the 0ustrian governor of ?ara evo; What was the Ipolyglot empireC; Who was General "ot+endorff and why was he important; What was the Iblank chequeC; What is an Kltimatum; When was the 0ustrian ultimatum to ?erbia; Which point of 0ustriaCs ultimatum did ?erbia re ect and why; What did Tsar <icholas II think of the 0ustrian declaration of war; Why was it significant that <icholas ordered a Igeneral mobilisationC; What was the name of GermanyCs military plan and why; Why was the ?chlieffen Elan going wrong in 0ugust 3.3D; What did (ethmann1"ollweg ask $oltke and what was the reply; Why did Germany declare war on 7rance; Why did (ritain declare war on Germany; What did (ethmann1"ollweg call the 0nglo1(elgian treaty of 325.; When did (ritain declare war on Germany;
A @ohn B 9lare 2>>*

1*