Posted on 09/01/2024 9:07:12 AM PDT by hardspunned
The assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Bosnian Serb Gavrilo Princip in late June 1914 had one of the strongest ripple effects in modern history, setting off a series of war declarations across Europe and plunging the world into one of its deadliest conflicts.
World War I, however, didn’t officially begin until a month after Ferdinand’s assassination, and though tensions were high, the fight wasn’t inevitable, according to Ronald Spector, professor of history and international affairs.
George Washington Today sat down with Dr. Spector to discuss the assassination, the path to war and the new Europe it created.
Q: What was the mood in Europe in the summer of 1914, right around the time of the assassination? A: At the time, things actually seemed to be getting better. The Moroccan Crisis had been settled, the French and Germans had concluded an agreement about the Rhine River, and at the time of the assassination the German Navy was hosting the British Navy at Kiel Week, which is a huge bash with yacht and boat races. Of course, there were certain structural causes present, including the rise of nationalism in the Balkans, the alliance systems and the long-term arms race in naval and land weapons. But these things were in the background. It didn’t seem, in the summer of 1914, that there was much worry about a global war. The French and British newspapers, even for several weeks after the assassination, referred to it as “the Balkan crisis.” They didn’t think this would be a worldwide conflict.
(Excerpt) Read more at gwtoday.gwu.edu ...
https://youtu.be/TOPaaHSjMcw?si=f7nmhupN6Ugg7lBO
Yes.
France should have never allied with Russia, if anything, Britain and France should have allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary against Russia.
Yes. Next question.
It makes one wonder about WWIII.
I think WWI was avoidable but there was a lot going on at the time and it seems like many of the Great Powers were spoiling for a glorious little war that would be over by Christmas.
The current situation doesn’t make any sense at all to me except for the apparent fact that the West really seems to be spoiling for a glorious little nuclear war that will be over in about 90 minutes.
Every war is ‘avoidable’.
hindsight is 20/20 ...
The war was engineered by the British who did not appreciate German successes in the colonial areas. In German industry was doing very well. Britain did not like competition. World War I was very different in origin than World War II.
Another interesting sidenote, the average World War I German soldier could vote. The vast majority of British soldiers could not. The war to make the world safe for democracy… you know.
I think WWI was avoidable but there was a lot going on at the time and it seems like many of the Great Powers were spoiling for a glorious little war that would be over by Christmas.
It was over by Christmas....Christmas of 1918.
Britain and France didn’t like the fact that there was a “New Kid On The Block”.
In 1918 the German defense minister asked the German Prime Minister:
“How did this horrible war happen?”
The Prime Minister answered:
“Ahhh,...if we only knew.”
And Britain blockaded German ports, but they expected American ships to supply them, while not allowing those same American ships to supply Germany, even though we were technically “neutral”.
But of course, we were ever neutral, since we were relying on the Royal Navy to pick up the slack in the Atlantic while we were beefing up our Pacific presence, since we gained Hawaii and The Philippines in the Spanish-American War, which even then was putting us on a collision course with Imperial Japan.
Usually
This is an important article because there are strong parallels between Europe in 1914 and the Ukraine/ Russia situation today.
In 1914 blindness and overconfidence ruled the day. Pretty much the same now.
No disrespect meant to any FReeper, but we see a bit of that here.
“Russia is 100% correct, and here’s why…”
or
“Ukraine is 100% correct, and here’s why…”
It happened because of the assortment of abysmally mediocre politicians involved and in no way should have been solely blamed on Germany. This and the resulting Versailles Treaty cemented in the certainty of WW2.
I think World War III is unlikely. Confronted with the prospect of nuclear war, I think the west would sacrifice Israel, surrender and disarm. Better red than dead would be narrative of the day.
World wars are pre-planned by hidden elites, acting thru their puppet governments. They have their agenda.
WW1 was fomented to setup Russia. WW2 was fomented to create Israel (think Balfour Declaration, give from the Crown to Lord Rothschild).
See Albert Pike, and his prediction in the late 1800's for 3 world wars:
I always thought Britain’s ultimate goal was to destroy the Ottoman Empire.
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