General War in Europe – Flashcards
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Why was Russia's influence in the Balkans at stake?
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Backed down in the Bosnian Crisis. Didn't intervene in the Balkans Wars.
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What initial ideas did the Tsar consider before committing to total war?
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Ordering only partial mobilisation (Just enough to fight A-H) in hope of Germany backing down.
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Which two rulers sent frequent telegrams to persuade each other not to go to war?
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Cousins, Wilhelm II and Nicholas II.
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How did German delegates hope Germany would appear in the war?
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The victim of aggression.
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Who was the German Chancellor at the time?
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Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollwegg.
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What did Bethmann Hollwegg instruct the German ambassador to Russia on the 29 July?
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Tell Sazonov that if Russia continue to mobilise them Germany would be compelled to mobilise as well, leading to unavoidable European war.
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What did Nicholas II's general assert in response to Bethmann Hollwegg's Ultimatum?
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Only general mobilisation would give Russia a strong chance of victory against the Dual Alliance.
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When did Russia fully mobilise its army?
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30 July 1914.
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How did Wilhelm interpret Russia's mobilisation?
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As a declaration of war.
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Why was Russia's mobilisation advantageous to Germany?
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Suited pro-war ministers who hoped to remove the threat of Russia in a preventative war. Wilhelm II could later argue Russia was to blame for outbreak of conflict.
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From what date was wider European war unavoidable?
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30 July 1914
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Who was the German Chief of Staff?
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Moltke
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How Moltke respond to Russian mobilisation?
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Sent telegram to Austrian High Command to encourage them to mobilise against Russia as well as Serbia.
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Why was there confusion in Austria over Moltke's request to mobilise against Russia?
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Bethmann Hollwegg had encourage the Austrians to scale down its attack on Belgrade -> Highlights struggle between civilian and military authority.
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When did Emperor Franz Joseph sign the order for Austria's full mobilisation?
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31 July 1914
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How did decision-making power shift in Germany after 31 July?
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Slipped from Chancellor and Wilhelm (Who still hoped to avoid war) to the military.
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What was Germany's main military plan called?
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The Schlieffen Plan
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What was a fatal flaw of the Schlieffen Plan?
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Any delay would be fatal.
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When did Wilhelm sign the order for general mobilisation and declare war on Russia?
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1 August 1914
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Which two great powers had little interest in the Balkans?
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Britain and France.
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Why was the June 28 assassination barely reported in France and Britain?
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More concerned with their own domestic events.
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What role did Edward Grey play after the Austrian Ultimatum?
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Mediator
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When did the Austrians begin to mobilise against Serbia?
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27 July 1914.
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Why did Edward Grey's attempts to mediate fail?
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Called for a conference of the Great Powers but neither Germany for Austria willing to come to the table.
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What option did Britain have other than joining the war with Russia?
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Could remain neutral without backtracking on diplomatic commitments.
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When was the secret Anglo-French Naval Agreement?
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1912
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What did the Anglo-French Naval Agreement entail?
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French Navy committed to defending Mediterranean against Germany whilst British fleet would defend North Sea and French Atlantic Coast.
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What did Churchill remind the public about the Anglo-French Naval Agreement?
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Winston Churchill reminded French that Naval Agreement was not a firm military commitment as Britain would have to declare war on Germany before carrying this out.
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What was a crucial factor for Britain to consider before joining in the war?
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Whether Germany would carry out Schlieffen Plan which would involve invading the neutral Belgium.
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Why was France more directly involved in the war if Germany fought than Britain?
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Committed to offer military support to Russia under 1894 Franco-Russian Alliance and realised Germany would attack France if they went to war against Russia.
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Why did Germany send an Ultimatum to France?
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Encourage the view that Germany was acting defensively, not aggressively.
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What did the German Ultimatum to France entail?
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France must hand over fortresses at Toul and Verdun on border w/ Germany until defeat of Russia was complete. France must make no military preparations of its own despite its alliance with Russia.
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How was Germany's Ultimatum to France similar to A-H's Ultimatum to Serbia?
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Both sent with understanding they would be rejected.
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When did Germany declare war on France?
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3 August 1914
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How did Germany uphold pretence they were fighting a defensive war after declaring war on the French?
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Germans claimed French planes bombed city of Nuremburg.
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What did Wilhelm II do when he lost his nerve shortly before war broke out?
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Asked military chiefs to alter their plans so they only attacked Russia, not France.
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When did Belgium declare its neutrality?
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24 July 1914
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What did the Belgian government do despite declaring neutrality?
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Ordered mobilisation of army and moved to defend its French and German borders in case it could not avoid involvement.
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When did the German ambassador in Brussels give Belgium Germany's Ultimatum?
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2 August 1914
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What did Germany's Ultimatum Belgium entail?
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Demanded German northern army be allowed to march through Belgium to reach France unresisted.
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How did the Belgian cabinet respond to Germany's Ultimatum?
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Rejected it. Decided to fight to defend their neutrality whilst using diplomatic efforts to avoid European War.
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Who did Belgium appeal to for help?
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King Albert of Belgium appealed to King George V of Britain for 'diplomatic assistance' to keep Belgian neutrality.
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What was the Belgian Military's reaction to growing threats of war?
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Orders given to fire at any French or German troops who cross their border.
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When was the Schlieffen Plan put into action?
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4 August 1914
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How were Belgium's odds in war once Germany attacked?
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Outnumbered by German army ten to one. Placed their hopes a series of fortresses around the city of Liège.
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What did the British use as propaganda to justify going to war?
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Focused on the poor treatment of Belgian civilians by German troops. Came up with the slogan 'The rape of Belgium'.
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What did the 1839 Treaty of London dictate?
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Germany and Britain had promised to defend Belgium's neutrality.
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What did Bethmann Hollwegg call the 1839 Treaty of London?
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'a scrap of paper'
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I what way did Germany underestimate Britain?
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Thought they would not go to war to defend Belgium in 1914 under the 1839 Treaty of London.
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What did the French put pressure on Edward Grey to do?
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Declare Britain's full support for its allies if Germany attacked.
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What were the political consequences of Britain joining the war?
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Resignation of Grey's party members from the cabinet. Coalition of government with the Conservatives.
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Why do critics criticise Grey for stalling for time whilst making no concrete promises?
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Many claim that if he had clearly stated that Britain would lend France military support , Germany would not have proceeded so far in its mobilisation.
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What did Asquith assure the German ambassador to London of on 2 August?
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Britain would not go to war unless Germany invaded Belgium or used the Channel ports to attack France.
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How did the attitude of the British government change on 3 August?
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Asquith gave into increasing pressure and ordered Winston Churchill to mobilise Royal Navy and Richard Haldane to prepare the British army for war.
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When did Britain send its own ultimatum to the Germans?
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4 August 1914
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What did Britain's Ultimatum to the Germans entail?
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Demanded they withdrew their troops or Britain would declare war.
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When did Britain declare war?
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The same day as Germany ignored their ultimatum.
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What did Britain fear should France fall?
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A Europe dominated by Germany.
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What does Max Hastings argue about Britain's entry into WW1?
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Argued a Europe dominated by Germany would have been detrimental to British interests and morally questionable given increasingly autocratic and militaristic character of government. Thus Britain was justified in joining the war.
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What does Niall Ferguson argue about Britain joining WW1?
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Britain could have stayed out of the conflict and the results would not have represented a challenge to Britain's wealth or influence in the world.
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How did Asquith's view align with Niall Ferguson's?
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24 July 1914 Asquith said, 'Happily, there seems to be no reason why we should be anything other than spectators'.
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Who were the key decision makers in A-H?
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Emperor Franz Joseph Istvan Tisza (Hungarian PM) Leopold Berchtold (Foreign Minister) Franz Conrad von Hotzendorf (Chieff of staff)
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What were the motivations of the Key decision makers in A-H?
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Long-held desire to crush Serbia. Believed lack of action would expose A-H's decline as a great power. Hotzendorf argued full mobilisation needed of Austria would be exposed to Russian attack whilst fighting Serbia. Tisza (Hungarian PM) initially reluctant to go to war and waited for German support which slowed process post-assassination. Tisza sought assurance that A-H would not seek to conquer Serbia.
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Who were the key decision makers in France?
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President Raymond Poincaré René Viviani (PM and Foreign Minister)
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What were the motivations of key decision makers in France?
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Fear of strong Germany and Revancheism. Supported Russia due to Franco-Russian Alliance (1894) and Poincaré visited Tsar during July Crisis. Poincaré failed to persuade British to declare military support for France or Russia in advance.
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Who were the key decision makers in Germany?
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Gottlieb von Jagow (Foreign Minister) Helmuth von Moltke (Chieff of Staff) Theobold von Bethmaan Hollwegg (Chancellor) Kaiser Wilhelm II
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What were the motivations of the key decision makers in Germany?
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Outraged by assassination and promised full support for A-H. Did not expect Russia to intervene in early July. Chiefs of Staff wanted 'preventative' war against Russia before it grew too strong. Moltke keen to show authority within Germany. Bethmann-Hollwegg convinced Britain would not intervene.
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Who were the key decision makers in Russia?
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Ivan Goremykin (PM) Sergey Sazonov (Foreign Minister) Tsar Nicholas II
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What were the motivations of key decision makers in Russia?
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Determined not to lose influence over the Balkans but backing down like in the Bosnian Crisis. Concern over strength of Russian army may have convinced Sazonov to mobilise before Central Powers. Tsar moved by Wilhelm's telegrams and fearful of bearing responsibility for war favoured partial mobilisation. Generals insist only full mobilisation possible due to existing military plans.
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Who were the key decision makers in Britain?
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Edward Grey (Foreign Secretary) David Lloyd George (Chancellor of the Exchequer) Herbert Asquith (Prime Minister)
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What were the motivations of key decision makers in Britain?
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Few ministers wanted war but many concerned over future of British Empire. Grey was mildly anti-German but needed backing of Cabinet to make any decisions. Grey wanted to avoid commitment. Cabinet divided over whether intervention against Germany was necessary or desirable: Lloyd George was most senior minister who opposed intervention. Lloyd George's opposition dropped when Germany invaded Belgium. Defence of Belgian neutrality was an excuse but not actually binding.
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By which date were all Great Powers involved in the war?
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5th August 1914
