Oscar Cifuentes
Period 4
6/2/08
At the close of the war, the victors declared Germany to be the primary aggressor and forced the country to pay steep reparations. To what extent was German aggression to blame for the start of World War I?
It was reasonable that Germany aggression was to be blamed for the start of World War I. Why? For the many reasons of Germany had, wanting to expand it’s power and by doing so affecting countries around the world especially in Europe. What really started a war was the conflict between Austria- Hungary and Serbia and of course the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. However, to my knowledge and many clues that are spread throughout history, the most rational conclusion is that who really carried the responsibility of starting a World War was Germany.
It all started when, the treaty of the Double Alliance was signed. Germany knew that by joining Austria, most of Europe was coming against it. Leaving behind the fact that even before this treaty, Germany had a lot of problems with many countries including France that lost to Germany in the Franco- Prussian War. No matter what happened, Germany was going to support its ally, “his Majesty referring (to Germany’s emperor), of course, cannot interfere in the dispute now going on between Austria-Hungary and that country, as it is a matter not within his competence. The Emperor Francis Joseph may, however, rest assured that His Majesty will faithfully stand by Austria-Hungary, as is required by the obligations of his alliance and of his ancient friendship.”(http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/blankcheque.htm) Here in a telegram from the chancellor, shows that the country was ready for war. It seems as if they had been waiting for a chance like this for a long time. They were newborn babies with a lot of power, and because of it they wanted to use this power against their enemies. In another article, the idea of Germany encouraging an attack and not caring about what kind of bomb they would start it is showed, “The German government gave Vienna green light for a punitive action against Serbia and even encouraged it. The German government of Kaiser Wilhelm II and his chancellor, Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg, made it clear that Germany would stand by Austria-Hungary even if an attack on Serbia provoked Russia, Serbia’s ally, to declare war on Austria-Hungary.” (http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/germanresponsibility.htm)
Knowing that there was no way out of this trouble hole, even the German leaders, started seeing the war as a profit for their nation, like it is shown in the section of the same article. “German leaders had sometimes considered war as a panacea for foreign and domestic problems; war should split the alliances against Germany and unite the people in a wave of nationalism or even initiate some form of dictatorship based on the military.”(http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/germanresponsibility.htm#German%20War%20Guilt) It seemed as if most of the Germans were approving this war, that even Prince Wilhelm had his opinion on the prospect of war, “Our country is obliged more than any other country to place all its confidence in its good weapons. Set in the centre of Europe, it is badly protected by its unfavourable geographic frontiers, and is regarded by many nations without affection.”
(http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/crownprincewilhelm1913.htm) Notice how he is arguing that peace is un- advantageous to Germany and that they have to rely on their weapons.
Next, since Austria did attack Serbia, there was a humor that Russia, Serbia’s ally was moving its troops to the border, The Imperial German Government have used every effort since the beginning of the crisis to bring about a peaceful settlement… but Russia, without waiting for any result, proceeded to a general mobilisation of her forces both on land and sea… If the German Government had failed to guard against this peril, they would have compromised the safety and the very existence of Germany.”
(http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/germandeclarationofwar_russia.htm) Being true or untrue Germans used this incident as an excuse to what everyone knew was coming, declare war against Russia. Like you can see Germany was trying to act like if they were the victims of the whole situation but after all they were the judges of their own destiny.
Germany’s greatest concern wasn’t only concern wasn’t only Serbia or Russia but another key character in this scene was France. Knowing that after humiliating France in the Franco-Prussian War, France wasn’t the happiest country in the world because everything the Germans made them go through. They knew that what you do always comes back to you, and Germany thought France wanted revenge. Just like with the Russians they declared war with France with a not knowing if true and most likely hardly accurate excuse; French airplanes flying over Belgium. “The German administrative and military authorities have established a certain number of flagrantly hostile acts committed on German territory by French military aviators. Several of these have openly violated the neutrality of Belgium by flying over the territory of that country” (http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/germandeclarationofwar_france.htm) Now, fighting in the East and the West Germany was in big trouble and they even asked Belgium (a neutral country) for a passage trough Belgium territory. “But the passage through Belgium is for Germany a question of life and death. She must be finished with France as quickly as possible, crush her completely so as then to be able to turn against Russia, otherwise she herself will be caught between the hammer and the anvil.” (http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/belgianreportongermanultimatum.htm)
In reaction to this Belgian Minister responded by saying, “Contrary to what you think, France has given us a formal promise to respect our neutrality, provided that you respect it too. What would you have said if, instead of making us this promise of her own accord, she had presented to us the same summons before you, if she had demanded a passage through our country, and if we had yielded to her threats?” (http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/belgianreportongermanultimatum.htm)
Germany knew that England defended Belgium’s neutrality, that if they trespass Belgium they would be in more trouble with England. Diplomatic relations were broken and this is what the British Ambassador had said to the enemy’s government leaders, .”He (referring to the chancellor) held Great Britain responsible for all the terrible events that might happen. I protested strongly against that statement, and said that, in the same way as he and Herr von Jagow wished me to understand that for strategical reasons it was a matter of life and death to Germany to advance through Belgium and violate the latter’s neutrality, so I would wish him to understand that it was, so to speak, a matter of “life and death” for the honour of Great Britain that she should keep her solemn engagement to do her utmost to defend Belgium’s neutrality if attacked.” (http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/scrapofpaper1.htm) England was not only worried about land movement of Germany but also by sea. They had all the right to because Germany had a powerful navy just like they did. “Britain continued to be concerned about the rise of German naval power and feared German predominance on the Continent.” (http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/germanresponsibility.htm) War with England was also declared but all of this because of the little bomb that Germany started.
Last, Germans even seek helped from the US (a neutral country) “the war has severed us from the rest of the world, all our cable communications are destroyed. But the winds will carry the mighty voice of justice even across the ocean. We trust in God, we have confidence in the judgment of right-minded men. And through the roar of battle, we call to you all. Do not believe the mischievous lies that our enemies are spreading about!” (http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/germanappealtoamericans.htm). The US stayed neutral and later on May 1915 the Lusitania was sunk by German U-boats and many Americans were killed when they the Declaration of Admiralty was announced by Germany. “All the waters surrounding Great Britain and Ireland, including the whole of the English Channel, are hereby declared to be a war zone. From February 18 onwards every enemy merchant vessel found within this war zone will be destroyed without it always being possible to avoid danger to the crews and passengers. Neutral ships will also be exposed to danger in the war zone.” http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/germanadmiraltydeclaration.htm This not only provoked but angered the US and they went to war against Germany which made them get out f their neutral stage.
In conclusion, as you can see Germany’s aggression is to be blame for World War I. Even though there were a lot of reasons why a war was started, Germany not only faster those reasons up but provoked other countries to join the war as well. In his three points, a Fritz Fischer, a German wrote why was it that Germany was to be blame, Fischer’s three main theses were: “1) that the German government under the Kaiser’s direction deemed a European war inevitable since 1911/12, prepared for war, and decided to seize the next opportunity to start it. Fischer points out the expansive aims of the industry and Junkers; 2) that the German government and general staff precipitated an escalation of the Austro-Serb crisis in order to launch what they considered a preventive strike against Russia and France.If war did not come about, Germany at least hoped to weaken the Entente and win a moral victory that would increase the prestige and stability of Germany and the Habsburg Empire. Bethmann embraced a calculated risk of escalation; 3) that a long-term continuity existed in German aims for expansion, leading right up to the Second World War: an eastern empire, predominance over Belgium and France.” (http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/germanresponsibility.htm#German%20War%20Guilt) All of these theses summarize my point and shows you that even Germans themselves recognize what their country had done to provoke a World War I. This is why it is rational that Germany should be blame for the war; I mean for what more evidence can you ask for? Everything is visible to your eyes!
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