1914 events leading to World War I
POPULARITY
In this episode of the U.S. Navy History Podcast, Captain Dale and XO Christophe delve into the intricate alliances and events leading to World War I. They explore the shifting balances of power in Europe, from Britain's isolationist stance to the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of Germany under Bismarck. The discussion includes the domino effects of various treaties and alliances, culminating in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which ignited the July Crisis. The episode also touches on the resulting geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Balkans, reflecting on such conflicts' long-term repercussions. The hosts then honor Captain Maximiliano Luna, a Hispanic Rough Rider, highlighting his contributions during the Spanish American War and subsequent conflict in the Philippines. usnavyhistorypodcast@gmail.com @usnhistorypod Discord The Ships Store Hero Cards the Grateful Nation Project — Hero Cards navy-cycling.com
Historiansplaining: A historian tells you why everything you know is wrong
To conclude our series on the origins of World War I, we trace how combat broke out on three different continents in the late summer and fall of 1914, and then examine the various real and imagined causes of the Great War, from the Anglo-German naval rivalry to French revanchism, and finally consider the deeper transformation in the idea of sovereignty in the West that gave a feud between an old empire and a new nation-state in the Balkans the power to ignite a global war. Image: Mehmet Pasha Sokollu Bridge, Višegrad, Bosnia, with section destroyed, 1915. Sign up as a patron at any level, in order to hear patron-only lectures on Germany, Japan, and the events of the July Crisis: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=5530632 Recently unlocked lecture on Bosnia & the Assassination: https://www.patreon.com/posts/origins-of-first-86366245
Historiansplaining: A historian tells you why everything you know is wrong
We consider the rich, often mysterious, and fraught history of Bosnia -- a longtime borderland of East and West, disputed between rival empires, religions, and civilizations -- and trace how the politics of this small, mountainous Slavic country set the stage for the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, and in turn, the outbreak of a global war. Image: interior of the "Painted Mosque," Travnik, Bosnia Please sign on at any level to hear patron-only lectures, including on Germany, Japan, and the July Crisis --https://www.patreon.com/user?u=5530632
Historiansplaining: A historian tells you why everything you know is wrong
We review the diplomatic landscape of Europe on the eve of war in the summer of 1914—and then follow the dizzying cascade of events that followed after the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. We trace on the ensuing crisis that ricocheted through embassies, banquet halls, and barracks all across Europe, and plunged all the great powers of the continent into a war that soon spread around the world. Suggested further reading: Christopher Clark, “The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914”; Margaret MacMillan, “The War That Ended Peace: The Road to 1914”; Barbara Tuchman, “The Guns of August.” Image: Photograph of nine kings (George V of Britain seated, center; Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany standing, in red), at Windsor, for funeral of Edward VII of Britain, May, 1910. Sign up here to listen to the entire lecture, as well as lectures on Germany, Japan, and Bosnia & the Assassination: https://www.patreon.com/posts/105028218
In the early summer of 1914, Europe was a continent on the brink. The great powers of the day, bound by a complex web of alliances and rivalries, were locked in an escalating arms race, their populations stirred by nationalist fervor and their leaders gripped by a sense of impending crisis. The spark that would ignite this volatile mix came on June 28, in the city of Sarajevo, when a young Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip fired the shots that killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. This singular act of violence set in motion a series of events that would come to be known as the July Crisis, a month-long diplomatic and military standoff that would plunge the world into the most destructive war it had ever seen. The assassination, the ultimatums, the mobilizations, and the declarations of war were not just the actions of individuals or nations, but the manifestations of deeper forces at work: nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and the failure of diplomacy. In this story, we will journey back to those fateful days of the July Crisis, exploring the decisions made by emperors, generals, and politicians, the forces that drove them, and the consequences of their actions. We will delve into the intricate dance of diplomacy and the brutal realities of warfare, the grand strategies and the personal tragedies. And we will seek to understand how the events of that summer set the stage for the horrors of World War 1, reshaped the world, and continue to echo in our own time. This is not just a story of a crisis, but a story of humanity at a crossroads, a story that holds lessons for us all.
Holger Afflerbach, Professor of Modern European History at the University of Leeds and author of On a Knife Edge: How Germany Lost the First World War, joins the show to talk about the origins of the First World War, how much Germany is to blame, and why the July Crisis of 1914 is relevant in 2023. ▪️ Times • 01:59 Introduction • 02:46 Fritz Fischer • 10:34 1914 and today • 15:24 The Kaiser • 21:54 Bethmann Hollweg • 27:46 Military necessity • 37:25 How did Germany lose? • 44:10 Murderers or sleepwalkers? For context, and a better sense of the events unfolding in 1914, checkout the National World War One Museum Interactive Timeline and Summer 1914 Day By Day. Follow along on Instagram
The dawn of August 1, 1914, was not an ordinary one. It was a day when the world stood still, caught in the throes of a decision that would change the course of history. A day that marked the unraveling of Europe's delicate balance of power, and the plunge into the abyss of the Great War, later known as World War I. The delicate tensions that had been brewing across the continent, in the bustling streets of Berlin, the vast expanses of Moscow, and the grandeur of Vienna, finally culminated in a momentous announcement - the German Reich declared war on Russia. In our journey through this dramatic chapter of history, we embark on an exploration of the events leading up to and ensuing after this fateful decision. We will delve into the complex political tapestry of early 20th-century Europe, where intricate alliances and rivalries were taking shape. We shall retrace the moments leading to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, an event that lit the fuse of the powder keg that was Europe. We will chart the course of the July Crisis, where ultimatums were issued, diplomatic ties strained, and armies mobilized, setting Europe on a path from which there would be no return. From there, we shall explore the moment when Germany, under Kaiser Wilhelm II, took the fateful decision to declare war on Russia, and the ripples it sent across the globe. We will look at the battles fought, the strategies formulated, and the heroes and villains that emerged from the conflict. We'll examine how this event impacted the broader theatre of World War 1, reshaping the global balance of power, and ultimately, the 20th century itself. But most importantly, this is a story about the human spirit, the price of war, and its enduring legacies. The struggles and resilience shown by ordinary men and women on both the home and battlefronts underscore the magnitude of what happened on that fateful August day in 1914. As we peel back the layers of this complex period, we shall seek to understand not just the facts, but also the profound human experiences and lessons that remain relevant even today. So, let us turn back the pages of history to that fateful summer day and embark on this journey through one of the most momentous periods in human history
Michael is joined by Professor John Blaxland, Professor of International Security & Intelligence Studies, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre ANU, for a discussion on whether past events could be repeated as world tensions rise. It was on 28 June 1914, Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo by the 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip, a member of Young Bosnia. This lead to the ‘July Crisis' and precipitated Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia, which in turn triggered a series of events that eventually led to World War I. Michael poses the question of whether a miscalculation today with Taiwan or Russia could be a similar trigger for WW111. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Beau is joined once again by the tremendous Apostolic Majesty, as they conclude their chat about the origins of World War One. This week they discuss the political context immediately before The July Crisis of 1914, and then an in depth look at the crisis itself, including the famous assassination of Franz Ferdinand. They then break down how and when all the major parties reacted and why, ending with the British declaring war on Germany.
Beau is joined once again by the pre-eminent Apostolic Majesty, as they continue their chat about the origins of World War One. This week they discuss the years immediately before The July Crisis of 1914. There are many and varied machinations; schemes within schemes. There are assorted wars in the Balkans, the realigning of global alliances, and much, much more.
Assassination of Archduke leads to July Crisis The Duran History Series. Russia and the rise of the Bolsheviks, EP. 7
How should we remember the man whose assassination sparked the July Crisis? This month we are joined by Dr Sam Foster (UEA) to examine the life, death, and representation of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Along the way we discuss the complicated relationships of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Franz Ferdinand's interactions with the contemporary press, and how everything eventually leads back to railways. Bibliography Mentioned in the episode: Christopher Clark, The SleepwalkersRobert Gerwart & Erez Manela, Empires at War 1911-1923 [On Franz Ferdinand + Austria-Hungary] Richard Ned Lebow, Archdukle Franz Ferdidnand Lives!: A World Without World War I (2014) Mark Cornwall, The Undermining of Austria-Hungary: The Battle for Hearts and Minds (2000) Mark Cornwall (ed), The Last Years Of Austria-Hungary: A Multi-National Experiment in Early Twentieth-Century Europe (2005 edition) Mark Cornwall (ed), Sarajevo 1914: Sparking the First World World (2020) Samuel R. Williamson, Austria-Hungary and the Origins of the First World War (1991) Stefan Zweig & Anthea Bell (trans.), The World of Yesterday (2013 paperback edition) [More for context on why Austria-Hungary gained the sort of image that it did, especially after 1945] Adam Kozuchowski, The Afterlife of Austria-Hungary, The: The Image of the Habsburg Monarchy in Interwar Europe (2013) Hannes Leidinger (ed), Habsburg's Last War: The Filmic Memory (1918 to the Present) (2018) Peter M.Judson, The Habsburg Empire: A New History (2018) Steve Beller, The Habsburg Monarchy, 1815–1918 (2018) Markian Prokopovych, Carl Bethke & Tamara Scheer (eds), Language Diversity in the Late Habsburg Empire (2019) [On the war's origins and perceptions of Austria-Hungary and wider 'the wider East'...] James Lyon, Serbia and the Balkan Front 1914: The Outbreak of the Great War (2015) Troy R.E. Paddock, Contesting the Origins of the First World War: An Historiographical Argument (2020) Leon Trotsky, 1912-1913: The War Correspondence of Leon Trotsky (2005 edition) Igor Despot, The Balkan Wars in the Eyes of the Warring Parties: Perceptions and Interpretations (2012) Dominik Geppert, William Mulligan, et al (eds), The Wars before the Great War: Conflict and International Politics before the Outbreak of the First World War (2015) James Pettifer &Tom Buchanan (eds), War in the Balkans: Conflict and Diplomacy Before World War I (2015) Andrea Orzoff, Battle for the Castle: The Myth of Czechoslovakia in Europe, 1914-1948 (2009) John Paul Newman, Yugoslavia in the Shadow of War: Veterans and the Limits of State Building (2015) Hugh Seton-Watson & Christopher Seton-Watson, The Making of a New Europe: R.W. Seton-Watson and the Last Years of Austria-Hungary (1981) Robert Evans, Dušan Kováč, Edita Ivaničková, Great Britain and Central Europe, 1867-1914 (2002) Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, The German Myth of the East: 1800 to the Present (2010) Maria Todorova, Imagining the Balkans (1997) Vensa Goldsworthy, Inventing Ruritania: The Imperialism of the Imagination (1998) Eugene Michail, The British and the Balkans: Forming Images of Foreign Lands, 1900-1950 (2011) Diana Mishkova, Beyond Balkanism: The Scholarly Politics of Region Making (2018) Nicholas Daly, Ruritania: A Cultural History from the Prisoner of Zenda to The Princess Diaries (2020) André Maurois Fattypuffs and Thinifers (1930).
Europe explodes into World War I and the Irish Volunteers experience a schism. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sarah-hayter/support
Joey and Bo discuss the July Crisis and the lead up to the outbreak of the First World War! Kick off your time shoes, grab a mint julip, and an avocado toast and enjoy!
Austria-Hungary sends an ultimatum to Serbia. The European powers respond. I also take a closer look at Russia's culpability for war. Citations and Links - Christopher Clark, The Sleepwalkers: How Europe went to War in 1914 (New York: HarperCollins, 2012) Sean McMeekin, July 1914: Countdown to War (New York: Basic Books, 2013) Samuel R. Williamson, Jr. and Ernest R. May, "An Identity of Opinion: Historians and July 1914," The Journal of Modern History 79 (June 2007), 335-387 https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/july_crisis_1914 (https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/july_crisis_1914) https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/The_Austro-Hungarian_Ultimatum_to_Serbia_(English_translation) (The Austro-Hungarian Ultimatum) (WWI Document Archive) https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/The_Serbian_Response_to_the_Austro-Hungarian_Ultimatum_(English_translation) (The Serbian Response) (WWI Document Archive) Contact the show - Twitter: @dnoell Email: dvdnoell@gmail.com Music - Artist: Cody Martin Song: Sir Francis Drake
Chair of the Department of History and Political Science and Professor of History at Ashland University Dr. John Moser discusses the events on the day Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was assassinated and the series of developments that followed, bringing chaos to nearly all of Europe and soon, the world.
Following the Franz Ferdinand assassination, Austria-Hungary would have some decisions to make regarding Serbia. Would they respond with diplomacy? Or a call to arms? I also take a closer look at Austria-Hungary's responsibility in the outbreak of the First World War. Citations and Links - Christopher Clark, The Sleepwalkers: How Europe went to War in 1914 (New York: HarperCollins, 2012) John W. Langdon, "Emerging from Fischer's Shadow: Recent Examinations of the Crisis of July 1914," The History Teacher 20, no. 1 (November, 1986), 63-86 Jack S. Levy, "Preferences, Constraints, and Choices in July 1914," International Security 15, no. 3 (Winter 1990/1991), 151-186 Sean McMeekin, July 1914: Countdown to War (New York: Basic Books, 2013) Samuel R. Williamson, Jr., "Austria-Hungary Opts for War," in Essays on World War I: Origins and Prisoners of War, eds. Samuel R. Williamson, Jr. and Peter Pastor (Social Science Monographs, Columbia University Press, 1983), 9-36 Samuel R. Williamson, Jr., "Austria and the Origins of the Great War: A Selective Historiographical Survey," in 1914: Austria Hungary, the Origins, and the First Year of World War I eds. Gunter Bischof, Ferdinand Karlhofer and Samuel R. Williamson (University of New Orleans Press, 2014), 21-33 Samuel R. Williamson, Jr., "The Origins of World War I," Journal of Interdisciplinary History 18, no. 4 (Spring 1988), 795-818 Samuel R. Williamson, Jr. and Ernest R. May, "An Identity of Opinion: Historians and July 1914," The Journal of Modern History 79 (June 2007), 335-387 https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/july_crisis_1914 Contact the show - Twitter: @dnoell Email: dvdnoell@gmail.com Music - Artist: Cody Martin Song: Sir Francis Drake
Franz Ferdinand's assassination is a well-known event. Not as well-known is the context in which the assassination took place. Tension was building in Serbia and the Balkans long before Gavrilo Princip fired his gun. This was an act that sparked the July Crisis of 1914. Citations and Links - Christopher Clark, The Sleepwalkers: How Europe went to War in 1914 (New York: HarperCollins, 2012) Sean McMeekin, July 1914: Countdown to War (New York: Basic Books, 2013) Grayson Myers, "Contradictory Explanations and Elusive Answers: The Historiography of the Sarajevo Assassination," The Macksey Journal 1, Article 114 Robert W. Seton-Watson, "The Sarajevo Murder Trial," The Slavonic Review 4, no. 12 (March, 1926): 645-656 Veljko M. Turanjanin and Dragana S. Cvorovic, "Sarajevo 1914: Trial Process Against Young Bosnia - Illusion of the Fair Process," Proceedings of the Faculty of Law, Novi Sad 50, no. 1 (2016): 183-198 https://www.firstworldwar.com/source/austrianreport.htm https://www.firstworldwar.com/source/harrachmemoir.htm https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/The_Assassination_of_Archduke_Franz_Ferdinand https://www.rferl.org/a/interview-christopher-clark-1914-lessons-for-today/25437773.html Contact the show - Twitter: @dnoell Email: dvdnoell@gmail.com Music - Artist: Cody Martin Song: Sir Francis Drake
New series on the buildup to World War I launching soon! Please enjoy this teaser.
In 191, following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie in Belgrade, the Austrian government sent a list of demands to Serbia, who they alleged was behind the plot. The final demand, a partial surrender of sovereignty in order for Austria to apprehend the culprits was rejected, presenting Austria with a case for war. This enflamed nationalist passions which had been ignited as a result of the crisis, leading to scenes in Austrian and German cities of mass outbursts of spontaneous jubilation and excitement. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Hey Folks, this is Mike and I’m coming to you here with the very first Whiz-bang episode that we will feature on this Fix Bayonets! podcast. In these episodes, Nicole, Cullen, and I will be exploring various topics of interest or topics that may need a little more detail than we have given them in our main episodes. Whiz-bangs are intended to be short, quick, and dirty, just like...you know, the real Whiz-bangs was.
In this Whiz-bang, Cullen dives into the life and times of a true titan, Bismarck! From his early life to his meteoric rise as the virtual ruler of Germany, Otto regularly put on political masterclasses. Using a flare for the dramatic and brilliant diplomatic insight, Bismarck built the German Empire and eventually the fragile system of European treaty's that ensured peace - while he was in charge. His loud and public fall from grace with the young Wilhelm was stunning, moving the world ever closer to the inevitable World War to come. Also, this episode went on way longer than planned because Bismarck has way too many great quotes, and Cullen refused to skip any!
In this Whiz-bang Nicole talks guns, big guns! The German arms manufacturer Krupp produced the 420mm M-Gerat and these monster field guns went on to play a large role in the artillery duels of the Western Front. Affectionately known as "Big Berthas" these guns were able to lob huge shells great distances, even helping to smash up the modern forts at Liege.
The Schlieffen Plan (in all it's various iterations) was Germany's blueprint for a swift victory if and when she ever found herself in a two-front war against France and Russia. The man behind the plan, Count Alfred Von Schlieffen, understood a military maneuver like this would require precision, detail, and strict obedience to the timetables involved. Of course, even the most careful peacetime planning isn't foolproof when bullets begin to fly, gaps in logistics, and continuous tinkering by his successor would put Schlieffen's precious plan to the acid test in the Summer of 1914. Grant, R. G. World War I : The Definitive Visual History : From Sarajevo to Versailles. New York, Dk Publishing, 2018.Stein, Oliver: Schlieffen, Alfred, Graf von (Version 1.1), in: 1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War, ed. by Ute Daniel, Peter Gatrell, Oliver Janz, Heather Jones, Jennifer Keene, Alan Kramer, and Bill Nasson, issued by Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin 2017-02-21. DOI: 10.15463/ie1418.10444/1.1.Westwell, Ian. The Illustrated History of World War One : An Authoritative Chronological Account of the Military and Political Events of World War One. Wigston, Leicestershire, Southwater, 2012.Westwell, Ian, and Donald Sommerville. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of World Wars I & II. London, Anness Publishing Ltd., 2019.Willmott, H. P. World War I. 345 Hudson St. New York, New York 10014, DK Publishing, 2009 Music - Russian River by Dan Henig
The July Crisis of 1914 was the moment of decision, the moment that Bismark's intricate treaty and alliance system finally collapsed in the prelude to World War One. The Crisis ignited after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (which we covered in episode one!). Tensions grew rapidly as Europe's nations sought retribution, issued ultimatums, made threats, or bolstered alliances.When it became clear that peaceful mediation was no longer an option… armies everywhere mobilized, millions of men marched to war in the sweltering summer sun, and the "War To End All Wars" had begun. Grant, R. G. World War I : The Definitive Visual History : From Sarajevo to Versailles. New York, Dk Publishing, 2018.Keegan, John The First World WarMeyer, G. J. A World Undone : The Story of the Great WarMiller, Paul: Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-Este , in: 1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War, ed. by Ute Daniel, Peter Gatrell, Oliver Janz,Heather Jones, Jennifer Keene, Alan Kramer, and Bill Nasson, issued by Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin 2014-10-08. DOI: 10.15463/ie1418.10217.Westwell, Ian. The Illustrated History of World War One : An Authoritative Chronological Account of the Military and Political Events of World War One. Wigston, Leicestershire, Southwater, 2012.Westwell, Ian, and Donald Sommerville. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of World Wars I & II. London, Anness Publishing Ltd., 2019.Willmott, H. P. World War I. 345 Hudson St. New York, New York 10014, DK Publishing, 2009 Music - Awaiting On Arrival by Blue Dot Sessions
Today Anthony and Alex are talking about the ACTUAL start of the war, the July Crisis and it's effects, and how Germany begins its invasion into Belgium and France. Like us on Facebook @historyacrossthehall anchor.fm/historyacrossthehall Email:historyacrossthehall@gmail.com Leave us a voice message: anchor.fm/historyacrossthehall/message --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/historyacrossthehall/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/historyacrossthehall/support
In world war 1 countries are divided into two groups .....Group (1) France , Britain, Russia | vs | Group (2) Germany, Italy , Austria- Hungary. Episode shows chain reaction towards war. These series of incidences which leads to world war happened in month of July 1914 so it is called as July Crisis. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kahani/message
What did ordinary Austrians and Germans think, feel and believe during the July Crisis of 1914? This podcast explores how the murder of a widely disliked archduke who was assassinated in 1914 presents largely apathetic populations in both countries with the pretext for war. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
A simple conclusion to the July Crisis of 1914.
The Emancipation Proclamation Station Welcome back to the Emancipation podcast station the place to hear about history, researched and retold through the eyes of Middle and High school students Beginning of World War I: Ella - One of the known causes of world war 1 turning into a world war was the alliance system. In 1839, the treaty of London was signed which was where Britain was going to protect the neutrality of Belgium. In 1879 the dual alliance treaty was signed between Germany and Austria-Hungary to protect each other from Russia. Many other alliances were also forming at the time. Ethan - Germany’s navy was starting to get threatening to Britain’s navy. Britain took necessary precautions and signed a document with France called the Entente Cordial, tipping the odds of any war in in their favor. This made Germany realize they were a threat and thought they were being pushed back down, so in turn they became more aggressive and ready for war. Hunter- something that happened about three months before the war was the assassination of: Archduke Franz Ferdinand, on June 28 1914, in Sarajevo, resulting in the July Crisis. How Austria-Hungary responded to this assassination was by issuing an ultimatum to Serbia. Serbia’s reply to the ultimatum didn’t satisfy the Austrians, afterword the two moved to a war footing. Emma - The power that the nations of Germany and Italy possessed at the beginning of the first world war was impressive as it was, but we have to take into account how quickly they had acquired it. Both of these countries, though they had deep cultural roots, were very new as official nations. Both had formed during the Franco-Prussian war barely more than forty years previous but now held power over regions stretching from Africa to east Asia. Audrey - Starting in 1892 there was an alliance between France and Russia and this was the Franco Russian Military Convention. Then in the early 1900s there were a series of agreements between Great Britain France and Russia so that they were in good terms with each other. The alliance between Great Britain France and Russia was the Triple Entente (which means agreements). Skylar - World war I or sometimes known as the Great War started on July 28th, 1914, the war started in Europe. The war was in Africa, the middle east, Pacific islands, indian ocean, China, north and south atlantic oceans, and like i said Europe. They think that this war killed about 16 million people died from direct cause of this war. Gabe - The war started basically because russia wanted to protect serbia and germany wanted to protect austria so when austria went to fight serbia russia went to fight germany Ben - America only began to fight in World War 1 in 1917 ( April 6th to be specific ) with their allies. They had alliances with Russia, Britain, and France at the time, making them a strong force at the time. Led by major General John J. Pershing, 2 million American soldiers fought despite many American citizens wanting the country to stay neutral. Other fronts of World War I: 1.Hunter- One of the many different fronts of the war was the Italian front, the italians were apart of the Triple Alliance during this time, but italy stayed out of the war in 1914 because it claimed that Austria had not been attacked so therefor italy didn’t have to support Austria. In all reality the Italians had a secret agreement with the allies, the allies said that they would give the italians some Austrian territory if they attacked Austria-Hungary. EthanOL - As soon as the war started Japan decided they wanted what the Germans had. Japan was already allied Britain so that they could attack Germany without Britain growing apart from them. They attacked Tsingtao which was a German base in China. This was the first naval/aerial assault ever. They didn’t use exactly aircraft carriers but they did carry their aircrafts. This was called the Siege of Tsingtao which took place in 1914. Ella - Serbia was a very small country with approximately 4.5 million people and an army of around 400,000 soldiers. Almost everyone who could be in the army at the time was in it but it still ended up being destroyed with 60% of the army getting killed, which decreased Serbia's population by 16%. Emma - Italy’s agreements with the Triple Alliance and the Allies were only two of a long series of strategic alliances and deals the nation made on the road to the first world war. Their entry into the Triple Alliance was the first move, which was actually a surprising one, due to the fact that Italy and the Austro-Hungarian empire (another member of the triple alliance) had been enemies previously. Twenty years later, which still under this pact, they made a secret alliance with France. Twelve years after that, the Austro-Hungarian empire entered the war. Only one year later, they entered the treaty of London, an agreement with the Triple entente (england, russia, and france) to fight against their original allies, exit the triple alliance, and declare war on the Austro-Hungarian empire. 5.Skylar - Italy took part in the triple alliance in 1882 when they agreed to be apart of it, they were one of the first countries to take part in it. The whole reason that it was called the triple alliance was because there were three countries in it Italy, Austria-Hungary and Germany. This was kind of a weird mix because they didn’t really like each other but still said they would protect each other if worse comes to worst. Italy was making deals with other places like france in 1902. It was kind of just a lot of back stabbing. Gabe - The Italians helped the allies by attacking austria hungary which is in the triple alliance so basically they made an alliance and were like let's help each other i mean we all don't like each other and would love to see each other destroyed so why not make an alliance really smart and then they dont even help each other its completely useless Ben - Japan played a big part in the fight for the West Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Most of the reason Japan fought was because they wanted influence in China, but even with the help of Sun Yat-sen, they didn’t have many successes. 8. Western and Eastern fronts of World War I: 1.Hunter- during this time in the war the Germans were fighting two countries, one of which during the western front was France, the Germans had thought if they were to defeat the French (Russia’s ally) in four weeks then they could have an advantage against the Russians in the Eastern front. Ethan- The Germans realized that after the Franco-Prussian War, they were going to be due for another war with France. Germany unified in advance to make sure France had a disadvantage. The humiliation was huge and Germany took Alsace and Lorraine, which were mineral rich and valuable to anyone who controlled it. Germany realized this might hurt them later because France was allied with Russia so if there was war that it’d be on 2 fronts. Ella - The western front in world war 1 was much smaller that the eastern front, but the western front could uses trenches as a defence system since they had less land to defend. The eastern front however, could not use this method due to the land being so wide and them not having enough people to dig them. Even if they were able to dig some, they wouldn't have enough and the western people could easily go around. Emma - In February of the year 1916, the battle of Verdun took place when the Germans launched an attack on the French military at the border between Germany and France. Unlike a lot of the other offensive acts in the war, this battle was not intended to result in the gain of territory for the Germans. The point of this attack was to cause the French to send so many troops, and to cause so many casualties that the French would deplete all their resources and be forced to withdraw from the war. Audrey - In WW1 the Germans were using poison gas as a weapon. Some of the poison gases are chlorine gas, which would immediately cause you to choke to death, phosgene gas, which wouldn’t cause choking and this allowed the gas to get into to lungs and there was a delayed effect, and mustard gas, another that wouldn’t cause choking but it would cause severe blistering which would take you out of the war. Ben - Germany eventually gained peace with Russia on May 3rd, 1918. Russia accomplished this by giving Germany a significant amount of land. This was done under the Bolshevik Government of Russia, which was founded in 1917 after a revolution overthrew the provisional government. Skylar- After the battle of Verdun the british and the French decide to go against a different part of the front, this time close to the Somme river in july of 1916. This battle was the first time they used tanks, it was an extremely bloody battle. 8. Blockades and American entry: Hunter- On May 7, 1915, a German submarine sunk the British ocean liner called Lusitania, ending in the deaths of nearly 1,200 people and that includes 128 Americans. The event strained diplomatic relations between Washington and Berlin, and turned public opinion on Germany. Skylar - the united states had maintained being neutral in the war up until this point, Wilson had just won presidency again because he had kept the US out of the war. Germany was getting pretty desperate so they were going to go back to their idea of unrestricted submarine warfare but they knew if they did that the US would side with their allies. In january of 1917 the Zimmerman Telegram was created by Arthur Zimmerman sent a encoded telegram to mexico, it was encoded because it had to pass through lines that the US controlled. He told them that he knows a way to slow them down. (if someone wants to go off of this that would b awesome) 3.Ethan - In April 1917 the administration had thought about it and Germany had took it too far, with their submarine warfare. President Wilson decided that war on Germany was inevitable and sent a famous message to Congress for why it needs to go to war with Germany. On April 4th Congress decided to allow war on Germany, and war pursued quickly. Now, many people were deciding for themselves why we were at war. Many public opinion were stated, some saying it was inevitable, some saying we should stay out of war. Ella - So the United States entered world war 1 for multiple reasons including them having financial ties, trade ties, and cultural ties with the British. Another reason being the British using a lot of successful propaganda. Gabe - im a take a step back to skylar so the encoded telegram was intercepted by the british and then shared with america and it said that they would help mexico take texas arizona and new mexico back from the united states if they helped the germans in the war Audrey - In November of 1914 the British declared the entire North Sea a war zone so if a ship came they would probably be destroyed. The ships especially couldn’t carry any contraband, and food was considered a contraband. So the Germans and the Austrians had to start rationing food to the point of eating only 1k calories a day. This was making the central powers weaker not only because they couldn’t get what they needed for war but people were dying and there were about 400k deaths due to starvation. Emma - In 1917, Senator George Norris issued a speech in opposition to the entry of the United States of America into the World War. In his speech he acknowledged that both England and Germany were wrong in the actions of war they had chosen to take; declaring certain areas war zones, but he did not support the entry into the war and listed several alternative actions that could have been taken. Ben - Most of the American soldiers starting arriving and began fighting on the battlefields of france on the twenty sixth of June. Britain and France also sent additional officers to help train the newly drafted American soldiers. World War I shapes the Middle East: 1.Hunter- The first world war truly shaped the middle east, but the aftermath of the war made the largest change in the region as we know it. One of the events that had changed the middle east was when Russia had staked a claim on Istanbul and waterways linking the Black seas to the Mediterranean seas, and the French claimed Syria and Cilicia in modern day Turkey. Skylar - the British wanted the help of the Arab’s because they wanted them to fight the Ottoman’s on the Palestine and Sinai fronts. So they told Hussein bin ali if he helped them that they would give him free territory, for an independent arab state and he agrees. After that he names himself king of the Hejaz in 1916. Ethan - Britain had a presence in the Middle East at the time of the end of the war. Egypt was under the protection of Britain, and when they didn’t get freedom until 1922 there was a sort of revolt. In the end the Egyptians won this slight war and obtained their freedom. At this time Britain was also protecting Kuwait and they have since the 1800s. They still did not get their freedom handed to them until 1961. Ella - In 1915, 6,500 people from the British army were sieged in Kut, after retreating from Ctesiphon by the ottoman Empire for 147 days till they were forced to surrender. Gabe - The Ibn Saud ruled the basically the other side of saudi arabia right next to Hussein bin ali and he actually goes and takes the Hejaz empire and declares himself king of the sauds in the hejaz in 1926 and this is how you get saudi arabia Emma - The British troops (made up of all the various countries that were part of the British empire, such as India and New Zealand) started their Middle Eastern campaign at the southern end of Mesopotamia, near the Persian gulf. They moved northward along the Tigris river, capturing land until they held control over the majority of what is now Iraq. Meanwhile on the other side of the land mass in Egypt, they were on the defensive side of the war for quite a while while the Ottomans attempted, and failed, to take capture Suez canal from British control. 7.Ben - After the Middle East changed, a lot of its boundaries and borders did too. They looked a lot closer to what they look like today. This happens a lot with very large wars because tons of land gets conquered, traded, or destroyed. 8. Aftermath of World War I Skylar - Woodrow Wilson gave a speech on January 8th, 1918 that is called Woodrow Wilson’s fourteen points. The fourteen points were statements that Wilson gave to try to make peace with everyone and end the war. During his speech he talked about why he thought the war started and what they could do to end it with peace instead of hatred. He talked about free trade, how all conversations should be open for everyone to see, freedom of navigation, and many more things. 2.Hunter- the aftermath of this war truly was amazing, this war had changed so much of the world that we know now, for instance: WW1 had brought about the temporary political disruption of four venerable dynasties-- Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Turkey. This war also brought up a massive social disruption, as millions of women entered the workforce to support men who had went to war, and to replace those who never came back. Ella - World War one ended at the end of 1918, so in 1919 they started discussing the terms of peace so they held the Paris Peace conference. Now during the peace conference the winners decide the “terms of peace” but they all had different outlooks about it (someone plz build off of me if you can if not cool tho Gabe - One of the “Terms of peace” that came out of the Paris Peace conference is the Treaty of Versailles which probably was the treaty to germany it said that germany was gonna pay for all of the allies losses they had to pay something like 60 billion in today's money and that's not including the resources they payed they also were only allowed to have 100,000 men in there army there weren't allowed to have any u boats battleships tanks basically nothing mechanized and we took lots of their territory and split and was given to the allies 5..Emma - The Treaty of Versailles had a huge effect on the German economy and government at the time. Another term of the treaty was that they were not allowed to make an alliance with Austria, due to the cultural and linguistic ties between the two. They were also occupied by the allies in the Saar region of Germany, near the French border. This area was a large coal mining area and for fifteen years, all the coal mined there got shipped to France. That still left a large portion of reparations to be paid back in currency so the government basically printed a ton of money, and tried to convert it into other currencies which resulted in serious inflation all the way into the twenties. So when that happened and they could no longer pay in money, France occupied the Ruhr region and began shipping steel and coal out of there. Ethan - WWI left many families without a parent or without a child to come home to. Many soldier died in battle and from starvation, so in turn this was one of the most bloody battles in history. The U.S. lost approximately 116,708 soldiers in war. Not to mention the prisoners of war that died from many causes like starvation and disease. For those whose remains were never found we have the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier. This is a tradition that has been kept up since 1931 and have never not been guarded since then Ben - Strangely enough, World War 1 kind of helped Japan’s economy. The demand for japanese products became very large and the economy flourished for a time. This also happened similarly in America, because the American economy in the 1920’s was doing very nice. Audrey - There were approximately 16 million deaths due to WWI 8-10 million being military. About 60% of the soldiers deaths were the Entente and 40% were the Central Powers. But 6-7 million that died were civilians and out of that over a million of the civilian deaths were due to direct military action were the rest was caused by starvation and disease.
The Emancipation Proclamation Station Welcome back to the Emancipation podcast station the place to hear about history, researched and retold through the eyes of Middle and High school students Beginning of World War I: Ella - One of the known causes of world war 1 turning into a world war was the alliance system. In 1839, the treaty of London was signed which was where Britain was going to protect the neutrality of Belgium. In 1879 the dual alliance treaty was signed between Germany and Austria-Hungary to protect each other from Russia. Many other alliances were also forming at the time. Ethan - Germany’s navy was starting to get threatening to Britain’s navy. Britain took necessary precautions and signed a document with France called the Entente Cordial, tipping the odds of any war in in their favor. This made Germany realize they were a threat and thought they were being pushed back down, so in turn they became more aggressive and ready for war. Hunter- something that happened about three months before the war was the assassination of: Archduke Franz Ferdinand, on June 28 1914, in Sarajevo, resulting in the July Crisis. How Austria-Hungary responded to this assassination was by issuing an ultimatum to Serbia. Serbia’s reply to the ultimatum didn’t satisfy the Austrians, afterword the two moved to a war footing. Emma - The power that the nations of Germany and Italy possessed at the beginning of the first world war was impressive as it was, but we have to take into account how quickly they had acquired it. Both of these countries, though they had deep cultural roots, were very new as official nations. Both had formed during the Franco-Prussian war barely more than forty years previous but now held power over regions stretching from Africa to east Asia. Audrey - Starting in 1892 there was an alliance between France and Russia and this was the Franco Russian Military Convention. Then in the early 1900s there were a series of agreements between Great Britain France and Russia so that they were in good terms with each other. The alliance between Great Britain France and Russia was the Triple Entente (which means agreements). Skylar - World war I or sometimes known as the Great War started on July 28th, 1914, the war started in Europe. The war was in Africa, the middle east, Pacific islands, indian ocean, China, north and south atlantic oceans, and like i said Europe. They think that this war killed about 16 million people died from direct cause of this war. Gabe - The war started basically because russia wanted to protect serbia and germany wanted to protect austria so when austria went to fight serbia russia went to fight germany Ben - America only began to fight in World War 1 in 1917 ( April 6th to be specific ) with their allies. They had alliances with Russia, Britain, and France at the time, making them a strong force at the time. Led by major General John J. Pershing, 2 million American soldiers fought despite many American citizens wanting the country to stay neutral. Other fronts of World War I: 1.Hunter- One of the many different fronts of the war was the Italian front, the italians were apart of the Triple Alliance during this time, but italy stayed out of the war in 1914 because it claimed that Austria had not been attacked so therefor italy didn’t have to support Austria. In all reality the Italians had a secret agreement with the allies, the allies said that they would give the italians some Austrian territory if they attacked Austria-Hungary. EthanOL - As soon as the war started Japan decided they wanted what the Germans had. Japan was already allied Britain so that they could attack Germany without Britain growing apart from them. They attacked Tsingtao which was a German base in China. This was the first naval/aerial assault ever. They didn’t use exactly aircraft carriers but they did carry their aircrafts. This was called the Siege of Tsingtao which took place in 1914. Ella - Serbia was a very small country with approximately 4.5 million people and an army of around 400,000 soldiers. Almost everyone who could be in the army at the time was in it but it still ended up being destroyed with 60% of the army getting killed, which decreased Serbia's population by 16%. Emma - Italy’s agreements with the Triple Alliance and the Allies were only two of a long series of strategic alliances and deals the nation made on the road to the first world war. Their entry into the Triple Alliance was the first move, which was actually a surprising one, due to the fact that Italy and the Austro-Hungarian empire (another member of the triple alliance) had been enemies previously. Twenty years later, which still under this pact, they made a secret alliance with France. Twelve years after that, the Austro-Hungarian empire entered the war. Only one year later, they entered the treaty of London, an agreement with the Triple entente (england, russia, and france) to fight against their original allies, exit the triple alliance, and declare war on the Austro-Hungarian empire. 5.Skylar - Italy took part in the triple alliance in 1882 when they agreed to be apart of it, they were one of the first countries to take part in it. The whole reason that it was called the triple alliance was because there were three countries in it Italy, Austria-Hungary and Germany. This was kind of a weird mix because they didn’t really like each other but still said they would protect each other if worse comes to worst. Italy was making deals with other places like france in 1902. It was kind of just a lot of back stabbing. Gabe - The Italians helped the allies by attacking austria hungary which is in the triple alliance so basically they made an alliance and were like let's help each other i mean we all don't like each other and would love to see each other destroyed so why not make an alliance really smart and then they dont even help each other its completely useless Ben - Japan played a big part in the fight for the West Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Most of the reason Japan fought was because they wanted influence in China, but even with the help of Sun Yat-sen, they didn’t have many successes. 8. Western and Eastern fronts of World War I: 1.Hunter- during this time in the war the Germans were fighting two countries, one of which during the western front was France, the Germans had thought if they were to defeat the French (Russia’s ally) in four weeks then they could have an advantage against the Russians in the Eastern front. Ethan- The Germans realized that after the Franco-Prussian War, they were going to be due for another war with France. Germany unified in advance to make sure France had a disadvantage. The humiliation was huge and Germany took Alsace and Lorraine, which were mineral rich and valuable to anyone who controlled it. Germany realized this might hurt them later because France was allied with Russia so if there was war that it’d be on 2 fronts. Ella - The western front in world war 1 was much smaller that the eastern front, but the western front could uses trenches as a defence system since they had less land to defend. The eastern front however, could not use this method due to the land being so wide and them not having enough people to dig them. Even if they were able to dig some, they wouldn't have enough and the western people could easily go around. Emma - In February of the year 1916, the battle of Verdun took place when the Germans launched an attack on the French military at the border between Germany and France. Unlike a lot of the other offensive acts in the war, this battle was not intended to result in the gain of territory for the Germans. The point of this attack was to cause the French to send so many troops, and to cause so many casualties that the French would deplete all their resources and be forced to withdraw from the war. Audrey - In WW1 the Germans were using poison gas as a weapon. Some of the poison gases are chlorine gas, which would immediately cause you to choke to death, phosgene gas, which wouldn’t cause choking and this allowed the gas to get into to lungs and there was a delayed effect, and mustard gas, another that wouldn’t cause choking but it would cause severe blistering which would take you out of the war. Ben - Germany eventually gained peace with Russia on May 3rd, 1918. Russia accomplished this by giving Germany a significant amount of land. This was done under the Bolshevik Government of Russia, which was founded in 1917 after a revolution overthrew the provisional government. Skylar- After the battle of Verdun the british and the French decide to go against a different part of the front, this time close to the Somme river in july of 1916. This battle was the first time they used tanks, it was an extremely bloody battle. 8. Blockades and American entry: Hunter- On May 7, 1915, a German submarine sunk the British ocean liner called Lusitania, ending in the deaths of nearly 1,200 people and that includes 128 Americans. The event strained diplomatic relations between Washington and Berlin, and turned public opinion on Germany. Skylar - the united states had maintained being neutral in the war up until this point, Wilson had just won presidency again because he had kept the US out of the war. Germany was getting pretty desperate so they were going to go back to their idea of unrestricted submarine warfare but they knew if they did that the US would side with their allies. In january of 1917 the Zimmerman Telegram was created by Arthur Zimmerman sent a encoded telegram to mexico, it was encoded because it had to pass through lines that the US controlled. He told them that he knows a way to slow them down. (if someone wants to go off of this that would b awesome) 3.Ethan - In April 1917 the administration had thought about it and Germany had took it too far, with their submarine warfare. President Wilson decided that war on Germany was inevitable and sent a famous message to Congress for why it needs to go to war with Germany. On April 4th Congress decided to allow war on Germany, and war pursued quickly. Now, many people were deciding for themselves why we were at war. Many public opinion were stated, some saying it was inevitable, some saying we should stay out of war. Ella - So the United States entered world war 1 for multiple reasons including them having financial ties, trade ties, and cultural ties with the British. Another reason being the British using a lot of successful propaganda. Gabe - im a take a step back to skylar so the encoded telegram was intercepted by the british and then shared with america and it said that they would help mexico take texas arizona and new mexico back from the united states if they helped the germans in the war Audrey - In November of 1914 the British declared the entire North Sea a war zone so if a ship came they would probably be destroyed. The ships especially couldn’t carry any contraband, and food was considered a contraband. So the Germans and the Austrians had to start rationing food to the point of eating only 1k calories a day. This was making the central powers weaker not only because they couldn’t get what they needed for war but people were dying and there were about 400k deaths due to starvation. Emma - In 1917, Senator George Norris issued a speech in opposition to the entry of the United States of America into the World War. In his speech he acknowledged that both England and Germany were wrong in the actions of war they had chosen to take; declaring certain areas war zones, but he did not support the entry into the war and listed several alternative actions that could have been taken. Ben - Most of the American soldiers starting arriving and began fighting on the battlefields of france on the twenty sixth of June. Britain and France also sent additional officers to help train the newly drafted American soldiers. World War I shapes the Middle East: 1.Hunter- The first world war truly shaped the middle east, but the aftermath of the war made the largest change in the region as we know it. One of the events that had changed the middle east was when Russia had staked a claim on Istanbul and waterways linking the Black seas to the Mediterranean seas, and the French claimed Syria and Cilicia in modern day Turkey. Skylar - the British wanted the help of the Arab’s because they wanted them to fight the Ottoman’s on the Palestine and Sinai fronts. So they told Hussein bin ali if he helped them that they would give him free territory, for an independent arab state and he agrees. After that he names himself king of the Hejaz in 1916. Ethan - Britain had a presence in the Middle East at the time of the end of the war. Egypt was under the protection of Britain, and when they didn’t get freedom until 1922 there was a sort of revolt. In the end the Egyptians won this slight war and obtained their freedom. At this time Britain was also protecting Kuwait and they have since the 1800s. They still did not get their freedom handed to them until 1961. Ella - In 1915, 6,500 people from the British army were sieged in Kut, after retreating from Ctesiphon by the ottoman Empire for 147 days till they were forced to surrender. Gabe - The Ibn Saud ruled the basically the other side of saudi arabia right next to Hussein bin ali and he actually goes and takes the Hejaz empire and declares himself king of the sauds in the hejaz in 1926 and this is how you get saudi arabia Emma - The British troops (made up of all the various countries that were part of the British empire, such as India and New Zealand) started their Middle Eastern campaign at the southern end of Mesopotamia, near the Persian gulf. They moved northward along the Tigris river, capturing land until they held control over the majority of what is now Iraq. Meanwhile on the other side of the land mass in Egypt, they were on the defensive side of the war for quite a while while the Ottomans attempted, and failed, to take capture Suez canal from British control. 7.Ben - After the Middle East changed, a lot of its boundaries and borders did too. They looked a lot closer to what they look like today. This happens a lot with very large wars because tons of land gets conquered, traded, or destroyed. 8. Aftermath of World War I Skylar - Woodrow Wilson gave a speech on January 8th, 1918 that is called Woodrow Wilson’s fourteen points. The fourteen points were statements that Wilson gave to try to make peace with everyone and end the war. During his speech he talked about why he thought the war started and what they could do to end it with peace instead of hatred. He talked about free trade, how all conversations should be open for everyone to see, freedom of navigation, and many more things. 2.Hunter- the aftermath of this war truly was amazing, this war had changed so much of the world that we know now, for instance: WW1 had brought about the temporary political disruption of four venerable dynasties-- Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Turkey. This war also brought up a massive social disruption, as millions of women entered the workforce to support men who had went to war, and to replace those who never came back. Ella - World War one ended at the end of 1918, so in 1919 they started discussing the terms of peace so they held the Paris Peace conference. Now during the peace conference the winners decide the “terms of peace” but they all had different outlooks about it (someone plz build off of me if you can if not cool tho Gabe - One of the “Terms of peace” that came out of the Paris Peace conference is the Treaty of Versailles which probably was the treaty to germany it said that germany was gonna pay for all of the allies losses they had to pay something like 60 billion in today's money and that's not including the resources they payed they also were only allowed to have 100,000 men in there army there weren't allowed to have any u boats battleships tanks basically nothing mechanized and we took lots of their territory and split and was given to the allies 5..Emma - The Treaty of Versailles had a huge effect on the German economy and government at the time. Another term of the treaty was that they were not allowed to make an alliance with Austria, due to the cultural and linguistic ties between the two. They were also occupied by the allies in the Saar region of Germany, near the French border. This area was a large coal mining area and for fifteen years, all the coal mined there got shipped to France. That still left a large portion of reparations to be paid back in currency so the government basically printed a ton of money, and tried to convert it into other currencies which resulted in serious inflation all the way into the twenties. So when that happened and they could no longer pay in money, France occupied the Ruhr region and began shipping steel and coal out of there. Ethan - WWI left many families without a parent or without a child to come home to. Many soldier died in battle and from starvation, so in turn this was one of the most bloody battles in history. The U.S. lost approximately 116,708 soldiers in war. Not to mention the prisoners of war that died from many causes like starvation and disease. For those whose remains were never found we have the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier. This is a tradition that has been kept up since 1931 and have never not been guarded since then Ben - Strangely enough, World War 1 kind of helped Japan’s economy. The demand for japanese products became very large and the economy flourished for a time. This also happened similarly in America, because the American economy in the 1920’s was doing very nice. Audrey - There were approximately 16 million deaths due to WWI 8-10 million being military. About 60% of the soldiers deaths were the Entente and 40% were the Central Powers. But 6-7 million that died were civilians and out of that over a million of the civilian deaths were due to direct military action were the rest was caused by starvation and disease.
Welcome history friends, as we launch into a little sideshow I cooked up for you all. This is the first in a chunky 2-parter series on alternative history, where we build a different world in the style you're used to, having asked the question - what would have happened if Gavrilo Princip missed, rather than actually successfully assassinated the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand? Using all I've gathered in my years studying the First World War and the July Crisis in particular, I give you my answer, so I hope you enjoy it! Over the course of the episode we will look at several threads, such as the change in Serbian government and increasing tensions provoking reactionary policies across the Balkans, it remained to be seen whether the European alliance system would save the peace or help destroy it. Find out here, and remember to catch part 2!Support the show!->Visit the homeland for this new project!->Become a delegate and play the Delegation Game for just $6 a month!->Support the podcast financially and access ad free episodes with transcripts from just $2 a month! ->Follow WDF on Twitter! ->Join the Facebook group!->Subscribe on iTunes! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Another introduction episode - this one giving us a brief(ish) rundown on the origins of the Great War, for the benefit of those that have not listened to the July Crisis Anniversary Project of old. The world went to war in 1914, and the circumstances which surround that event are often held against Germany in the subsequent peace negotiations. Germany, it is said, started the whole wretched thing, so she should be punished once her gamble failed, and she clearly lost. In my view though, it isn't that simple.Historians tend to take one side or the other when it comes to examining the July Crisis and Treaty of Versailles. By that I mean, either Germany started the war and deserved the Treaty, or she didn't start it or deserve it. I won't be this clear cut, because the situation and the debate aren't this clear cut. In my mind, Germany alone did not start the war - even though technically she did declare war on Russia first and begin the countdown - but she did deserve some kind of punishment for LOSING it. Germany, as my thesis for this project will argue, was punished for losing the Great War, not for starting it. Any statesman worth their salt in 1918-19 knew full well that there was more to the story than the straightforward tale of the belligerent Hun. Germany had to be punished and kept low so that she could not threaten the peace again, and because of her military loss, this meant that she was liable to be punished - just as Berlin had punished her enemies in Russia and Romania, and developed grand plans for punishing Britain and France before her war plans collapsed. The issue with Versailles wasn't so much the injustice of it, as we will learn, but the problem of making Germany accept its terms, when Germans came to believe that they hadn't been truly beaten, hadn't truly started the war, and had been unfairly blamed.Yet, an important point to remember is that war guilt - another issue we will deal with in time - did not have to exist in Germany in order for the judgement of Germany's contemporaries to follow. It did not matter, in other words, who started the war, as much as it mattered who lost it, and what was to be done next. This episode will help us refocus our gaze on that critical issue, and also ensure that we're all on the same page when it comes to my thesis and ideas about the origins of the First World War. As always, I'd ask you guys keep an open mind - we'll be sticking together for the next eight months, so you better get used to my outside the box way of thinking!*****************The Versailles Anniversary Project is possible because of your support and interest - make sure to spread the word, engage with the debate, and look at the different ways you can help this project succeed!Visit the homeland for this new project: http://www.wdfpodcast.com/vap/Support the podcast financially: https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFailsFollow WDF on Twitter! https://twitter.com/wdfpodcast See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
You can find American Moments here. It's a history podcast bringing you more of the history from America which you love, but may have forgotten...Episode 28: London Stalling, introduces us to the British participation in the Korean War, and how utterly transfixed on the American partnership Clement Atlee's administration was. A guiding reason why the British and their Commonwealth allies took part in the Korean War can be explained by the Anglo-American partnership, and the pressures felt in London to support Washington in Asia, even though their policies and interests frequently conflicted there.Several times, British and American allies butted heads over what to do in Korea, and the issue of how far to proceed once across the border and into North Korea was a very hot, sensitive topic as well. Once the Chinese intervened, the British felt all of their aims go up in smoke, and wished only to end the war as quickly as possible so that the defence of Western Europe could properly be organised. Rearmament, unlike in the US, was not a net positive for British policymakers, but a terrible cost, and it led to skimping on other plans such as the NHS in the name of the increasingly unpopular war. In this first of two part examination of the Anglo-American relationship in the Korean War, we see that initial optimism and passion for defending a victim of aggression soon degenerated into a campaign of diplomatic self-interest, and then into a dreary, messy stalemate which the British found they could not escape from.Yet, in summer 1950, it could not be known where the war would end up, and positivity, twinned with the defence of its ally's interests, moved the British government to invest itself heavily in Korea, even while the shadow of the Second World War still loomed large and visibly in the British consciousness, not to mention in the every day lives of its citizens. The British had won World War 2, but they had been made to feel like a defeated nation ever since. Now their government, for a variety of reasons, had committed itself to yet another conflict which it could not afford. This was a July Crisis in 1950, but it was one of a very different nature to that experienced 36 years before.*********Music used:"I Can't Escape From You", by Bing Crosby, released in 1936. Available:https://archive.org/…/78_i-cant-escape-from-you_bing-crosby…SPONSORS1) Use the code WDF15 to get 15% off your stylish new pair of headphones/earphones/listening things2) To access some fascinating books, nerd out with like minded enthusiasts, further your knowledge of some classical works, get 25% off your first three months AND help the show, head on over to onlinegreatbooks.com!Remember to BEFIT!B is for blogE is for email wdfpodcast@hotmail.comF is for Facebook, the Page and the GroupI is for iTunes, please rate, review and... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In July 1914 as the final desperate negotiations to avoid war failed, the Ottoman Empire engaged in secret diplomacy with both Germany and Russia to gain as much from the forthcoming conflict as possible. However it was the arrival of a German dreadnought in Constantinople that tied Turkey to the Central Powers.For more content, journalism and ideas, visit the Explaining History Patreon page here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=763386 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The Korean War was fought from 1950-1953, and while many of us today have a rough idea of how it went, to most it is those two lines in a textbook, an irrelevant blip on the Cold War radar. An unimportant, unappreciated event in the crowded literature of the 20th century. To me, the Korean War is many things, and over the last few months I have been working tirelessly to create the most comprehensive, authentic and accurate account of the diplomatic and political origins of this conflict. Not only that, but I will also be dropping some controversial conclusions and hypothoses on you guys, as we follow the trend of projects like the July Crisis and 1916 by giving you a fresh, revisionist take. Not merely for the sake of it, of course, but because I have come to be persuaded to see this war in a certain light, and I have come to understand its cause and effect formula in a different way to most conventional narratives. If you will let me then, I hope you take you on something of a journey. Make sure to look out for the other two introduction episodes, yes TWO, but for now, try to place yourself in the era of the post-war world, as we go somewhere WDF has never gone before. I hope you enjoy it, and that you are excited to finally explore the Korean War. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie in Sarajevo on June 28th 1914, Austria demanded concessions form Serbia. Germany's support would prove pivotal in transforming a Balkan crisis into a European war. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The 'July Crisis' refers to that month in 1914 when the various capitals in Europe played a continental game of brinkmanship, following the assassination on 28th June of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, in Sarajevo. Franz Ferdinand was a nephew of the Emperor Franz Josef, and heir to the Habsburg throne. He was originally fourth in line, but those ahead of him all died or were killed between 1867 and 1896. Culpability for this assassination rests with the Serbian armed and trained Ujedinjenje ili smrt! [Union or death!], more familiar to us as The Black Hand. Dur: 54mins File: .mp3
We conclude our discussion of the July Crisis by looking at events in Britain and offer an answer to why the war broke out.
We TALK at last! Sean and I sit down for a fun conversation about the July Crisis, how it went for me and if it really was that hard after all (it was!). Sean presents an interesting competition, and we officially wrap up the era in our usual style. We hope you like it! Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Here we rap up our analysis of events, and deliver a stunning verdict on what went on in the process Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The results of the mess of the July Crisis was worse than anyone could have imagined, as the war acquired its own aura and the events that preceded it were left behind and forgotten. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
How would Britain finally react to the news of what Germany had done? The same way everyone else had reacted to everything in the past week of course! Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sir Edward Grey was delivering his speech to a packed meeting in the House of Commons, in which he hoped to bring British opinion around to intervention. Meanwhile, Germany was declaring war on France, and preparing to move against Belgium. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
How did Grey persuade Britain towards intervention? Or had he really done the job by the end of the day? The time was coming near for Britain to decide its stance. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dr Stephen Twigge, of The National Archives, outlines the political landscape preceding the First World War - the July Crisis.This talk was recorded live at the one-day conference, War and peace - diplomacy, espionage and the First World War, held on 28 June 2014 at The National Archives, Kew.
How did we get here and why don't we stop should have been the questions European statesmen asked themselves on 1st August 1914. Instead to them the peace was already lost, and all that remained was to jump into the abyss Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
How could the powers of Europe push through the recent diplomatic calamities? You'll be sorely dissappointed if you think they were at all capable of doing so... Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
On 30th July Germany was reacting to the news that Russia had effectively been pulling the wool over its eyes for the past 5 days. As the last efforts to acquire peace came to nothing, Sazonov was attempting round 2 of mobilisation in St Petersburg.. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The aftermath of Austria's war declaration was felt across Europe, when the real intentions of all seemed to appear more and more clear. By the end of the day, it was clear to all where Europe was going. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
On 28th July, contrary to both their previously declared policy and common sense, A-H declared war on Serbia. Europe scrambled to understand what had just happened. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
How were the powers in Europe on so many different levels? The dissemination of information, barely considered in most histories of the event, was in fact a key point for all involved Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
On 26th July 1914 Sazonov met with numerous officials from foreign states. He said one thing to them while his country was doing another... Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The events of the July Crisis come to their seemingly inevitable conclusion. We will start our narrative on July 26th and follow it all the way through until the declarations of war begin to fly in the first few days of August. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How would Serbia react to the deadline now that they had Russian support? Could Britain do anything to dissuade the powers away from their respective courses? On a day that three states mobilised, was there any stopping anyone anymore? Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
24th July greeted the Russian foreign minister as instantly busy. He had much to do... Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The process that landed Austria-Hungary in the position of delivering an ultimatum to Serbia has been covered in previous episodes, the details of the ultimatum and its delivery is covered here. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Over the course of 20-23rd July 1914, the French President and the Russian Tsar met in a summit that had been many months in the making, but which happened to coincide with the plans of Habsburg statesmen back in Vienna... Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
By the time of 19th July, the word of the ultimatum had already reached the majority of European capitals; yet, in Vienna, Habsburg ministers carried on blindly.. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The third week of July saw the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum delivered to Serbia and a response given by Serbia. The reply was rejected and the mobilization of Serbia and Austria-Hungary would begin. This week we look at the events that led up to these mobilizations and take a quick tour around Europe at the armies being mobilized and the men who led them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On 15th July the French president and Prime Minister set off from Paris to join the Russian Tsar for a summit in St Petersburg on 20th July, herein we recount the journey. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The story of how Russia came to be opposed against Germany and Austria is one you have heard many times. This time, we take a different tone, and suggest that Russia's old enemy may not have been as forgotten as some histories would have you believe... Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Armed with his pro-action arguments, the Austro-Hungarian foreign minister believed he had finally acquired the tools he could use to persuade the most ardent opposer of his plans: the Hungarian minister president... Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Picking up the pieces after the death of the Russian ambassador, the Habsburg foreign minister acquires evidence which he believes, will finally persuade the Hungarian minister president towards war. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The diplomatic maneuvering of July 1914 would go down in history as the July Crisis. This week we begin navigating the complicated waters of this crisis by introducing the primary diplomatic players in the crisis and then covering the events of the crisis that occurred between July 12 and July 18 1914. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On 10th July, as Berchtold and Conrad attempted to overcome their own respective obstacles, an event occurred in Serbia which dramatically changed the atmosphere... Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
On 7th July Austro-Hungarian statesmen met to discuss the previous events and formulate policy. The result was a fundamental transformation of how the Habsburgs planned on representing themselves in the coming days. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
On 5th-6th July the infamous 'blank cheque' was created in Berlin. Here we trace its origins and expel the myths that surround it Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
WW1 is a story incomplete without Austria-Hungary. Herein lies the tale of Habsburg decline, and should help explain the mind-set of its statesmen during the July Crisis. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The background story as to why Austria so suspected Serbian involvement in the assassination cannot be understood unless one looks at the background of that Balkan state, which is what we seek to do here. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
How did the powers of Europe react to the news that Austria-Hungary's heir had been assassinated? The answer may surprise you... Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The shot heard around the world' sparked the July Crisis; herein we examine it as a prologue to our wider project on the crisis itself. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
100 years ago our ancestors launched the First World War. Now it is time to examine their moves, mistakes, decisions and hopes in a day by day account of the month that preceded the war; the so-called July Crisis. Herein, I explain what my plan is for it, why I'm doing it and why you should be excited. A brand new project starts here, and in case you didn't know, I'm SUPER excited! Thanksssss! Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
And here we are! In this episode are the ridiculous people that are responsible for the bloodiest century in human history, so be sure to thank them, as you listen to diplomacy failing miserably. Thanksss. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Follow me on Twitter @wdfpodcast And visit our official website www.wdfpodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
A podcast revision guide presenting an overview of the July Crisis of 1914 that acted as the spark to World War One. Covers the impact of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by the Black Hand Gang on the diplomatic actions of Germany and Austria-Hungary including the 'blank cheque'. Goes on to describe the subsequent actions of Russia, France and Britain.
As we close in on the centennial of the First World War, no doubt there will be a flood of new interpretations and “hidden histories” of the conflict. Many books will certainly promise much, but in the end deliver little. Fortunately this is not the case with Michael Neiberg‘s latest book Dance of the Furies: Europe and the Outbreak of World War I (Harvard University Press, 2011). In this important new view of the opening months of the war, Neiberg offers a fresh look at the July Crisis, how it was perceived across Europe, and the first two months of the war. Rather than focusing on the same old voices of the European literati and political elites, Neiberg shows us how the average person considered the march to war. In the process he reveals a number of startling insights that challenge the war’s standard historical orthodoxy, revealing that many of our assumptions about the collective and individual responses to the July Crisis are based on misperception and poor assumptions. Rather than a continent primed for war through a network of military alliances, unfettered military bureaucracies, and a cultural predisposition that viewed war as the great test of nations and men, he reveals a society that genuinely believed peace was possible until the very last moment, and which only accepted war as a last alternative, and which would be defensive in nature. This insight and so many others earn Dance of the Furies the label of “revisionist history” in the best possible sense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As we close in on the centennial of the First World War, no doubt there will be a flood of new interpretations and “hidden histories” of the conflict. Many books will certainly promise much, but in the end deliver little. Fortunately this is not the case with Michael Neiberg‘s latest book Dance of the Furies: Europe and the Outbreak of World War I (Harvard University Press, 2011). In this important new view of the opening months of the war, Neiberg offers a fresh look at the July Crisis, how it was perceived across Europe, and the first two months of the war. Rather than focusing on the same old voices of the European literati and political elites, Neiberg shows us how the average person considered the march to war. In the process he reveals a number of startling insights that challenge the war’s standard historical orthodoxy, revealing that many of our assumptions about the collective and individual responses to the July Crisis are based on misperception and poor assumptions. Rather than a continent primed for war through a network of military alliances, unfettered military bureaucracies, and a cultural predisposition that viewed war as the great test of nations and men, he reveals a society that genuinely believed peace was possible until the very last moment, and which only accepted war as a last alternative, and which would be defensive in nature. This insight and so many others earn Dance of the Furies the label of “revisionist history” in the best possible sense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As we close in on the centennial of the First World War, no doubt there will be a flood of new interpretations and “hidden histories” of the conflict. Many books will certainly promise much, but in the end deliver little. Fortunately this is not the case with Michael Neiberg‘s latest book Dance of the Furies: Europe and the Outbreak of World War I (Harvard University Press, 2011). In this important new view of the opening months of the war, Neiberg offers a fresh look at the July Crisis, how it was perceived across Europe, and the first two months of the war. Rather than focusing on the same old voices of the European literati and political elites, Neiberg shows us how the average person considered the march to war. In the process he reveals a number of startling insights that challenge the war’s standard historical orthodoxy, revealing that many of our assumptions about the collective and individual responses to the July Crisis are based on misperception and poor assumptions. Rather than a continent primed for war through a network of military alliances, unfettered military bureaucracies, and a cultural predisposition that viewed war as the great test of nations and men, he reveals a society that genuinely believed peace was possible until the very last moment, and which only accepted war as a last alternative, and which would be defensive in nature. This insight and so many others earn Dance of the Furies the label of “revisionist history” in the best possible sense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As we close in on the centennial of the First World War, no doubt there will be a flood of new interpretations and “hidden histories” of the conflict. Many books will certainly promise much, but in the end deliver little. Fortunately this is not the case with Michael Neiberg‘s latest book Dance of the Furies: Europe and the Outbreak of World War I (Harvard University Press, 2011). In this important new view of the opening months of the war, Neiberg offers a fresh look at the July Crisis, how it was perceived across Europe, and the first two months of the war. Rather than focusing on the same old voices of the European literati and political elites, Neiberg shows us how the average person considered the march to war. In the process he reveals a number of startling insights that challenge the war’s standard historical orthodoxy, revealing that many of our assumptions about the collective and individual responses to the July Crisis are based on misperception and poor assumptions. Rather than a continent primed for war through a network of military alliances, unfettered military bureaucracies, and a cultural predisposition that viewed war as the great test of nations and men, he reveals a society that genuinely believed peace was possible until the very last moment, and which only accepted war as a last alternative, and which would be defensive in nature. This insight and so many others earn Dance of the Furies the label of “revisionist history” in the best possible sense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices