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SOURCE A
ORIGINS OF THE GREAT WAR
Extract from: Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg (the German Imperial Chancellor)
appeared before the Reichstag on August 4, 1914, just after the German invasion of
Belgium, to define the German war position.
A stupendous fate is breaking over Europe. For forty-four years, since the time we fought for and won the German
Empire and our position in the world, we have lived in peace and have protected the peace of Europe. In the works of
peace we have become strong and powerful, and have thus aroused the envy of others. With patience we have faced
the fact that, under the pretense that Germany was desirous of war, enmity has been awakened against us in the East
and the West, and chains have been fashioned for us. The wind then sown has brought forth the whirlwind which has
now broken loose. We wished to continue our work of peace, and, like a silent vow, the feeling that animated everyone
from the Emperor down to the youngest soldier was this: Only in defense of a just cause shall our sword fly from its
scabbard. The day has now come when we must draw it, against our wish, and in spite of our sincere endeavors. Russia
has set fire to the building. We are at war with Russia and France -- a war that has been forced upon us…
SOURCE B
Extract from: Daily Mirror (newspaper), The Declaration of War, published 4 August
1914 in London.
It would seem as if Germany, in her ambition to control the destiny of the whole of Europe, were ready to embark on
any grandiose scheme of adventure, however precarious her chances.
At the present time Germany is in a state of war with: Great Britain, Russia, France and Belgium. So far as Great Britain is
concerned, her attitude has always been plain, straightforward and perfectly intelligible. She was prepared to stand
aside from the conflict that has now involved practically the whole of Europe.
But she insisted and had to insist on two things: these were that Belgium's neutrality should be respected; and that the
German fleet should not bombard defenceless French towns. Germany tried to bribe us with peace to desert our friends
and duty. But Great Britain has preferred the path of honour.
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SOURCE C
ORIGINS OF THE GREAT WAR
Extract from: Poincaré's (French president) War Message, Paris, August 5, 1914.
GENTLEMEN: France has just been the object of a violent and premeditated attack, which is an insolent defiance of the
law of nations. Before any declaration of war had been sent to us, even before the German Ambassador had asked for
his passports, our territory has been violated. The German Empire has waited till yesterday evening to give at this late
stage the true name to a state of things which it had already created.
For more than forty years the French, in sincere love of peace, have buried at the bottom of their heart the desire for
legitimate reparation.They have given to the world the example of a great nation which, definitely raised from defeat by
the exercise of will, patience, and labour, has only used its renewed and rejuvenated strength in the interest of progress
and for the good of humanity.
Since the ultimatum of Austria opened a crisis which threatened the whole of Europe, France has persisted in following
and in recommending on all sides a policy of prudence, wisdom, and moderation.
To her there can be imputed no act, no movement, no word, which has not been peaceful and conciliatory.
At the hour when the struggle is beginning, she has the right, in justice to herself, of solemnly declaring that she has
made, up to the last moment, supreme efforts to avert the war now about to break out, the crushing responsibility for
which the German Empire will have to bear before history. (Unanimous and repeated applause.) . . . Our fine and
courageous army, which France today accompanies with her maternal thought (loud applause) has risen eager to defend
the honour of the flag and the soil of the country. (Unanimous and repeated applause.)
The President of the Republic interpreting the unanimous feeling of the country, expresses to our troops by land and sea
the admiration and confidence of every Frenchman (loud and prolonged applause).
Closely united in a common feeling, the nation will persevere with the cool self-restraint of which, since the beginning of
the crisis, she has given daily proof. Now, as always, she will know how to harmonise the most noble daring and most
ardent enthusiasm with that self-control which is the sign of enduring energy and is the best guarantee of victory
(applause).
In the war which is beginning, France will have Right on her side, the eternal power of which cannot with impunity be
disregarded by nations any more than by individuals (loud and unanimous applause).
She will be heroically defended by all her sons; nothing will break their sacred union before the enemy; today they are
joined together as brothers in a common indignation against the aggressor, and in a common patriotic faith (loud and
prolonged applause and cries of 'Vive la France') .
She is faithfully helped by Russia, her ally (loud and unanimous applause); she is supported by the loyal friendship of
Great Britain (loud and unanimous applause).
And already from every part of the civilised world sympathy and good wishes are coming to her. For today once again
she stands before the universe for Liberty, Justice, and Reason (loud and repeated applause)
'Haut les coeurs et vive la France!' (unanimous and prolonged applause).
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SOURCE D
ORIGINS OF THE GREAT WAR
Extract from: V. R. Berghahn, Imperial Germany, 1871-1914 (1994). By looking at
Germany’s society, politics and economy, the author holds Germany primarily
responsible for World War One.
In the afternoon of August 1, 1914, when the German ultimatum to Russia to revoke the Tsarist mobilization order of
the previous day had expired, Wilhelm II [German kaiser] telephoned [Chief of the General Staff Helmuth] von Moltke,
[Reich Chancellor Theobold von] Bethmann Hollweg, [Admiral Alfred von] Tirpitz, and [War Minister Erich von]
Falkenhayn to come without delay to the Imperial Palace to witness the Kaiser’s signing of the German mobilization
order that was to activate the Schlieffen Plan and the German invasion of Luxemburg, Belgium and France. It was a
decision that made war inevitable…
…it was the men gathered at the Imperial Palace in Berlin who pushed Europe over the brink. These men during the
week prior to August 1 had, together with the “hawks” in Vienna, deliberately exacerbated the crisis, although they
were in the best position to de-escalate and defuse it. There is also a broad concensus that during that crucial week that
major conflicts occurred between the civilian leadership in Berlin around Bethmann Hollweg, who was still looking for
diplomatic ways out of the impasse, and the military leadership around Moltke, who now pushed for a violent settling of
accounts with the Triple Entente…
…Uncertain of Berlin’s response, Franz Joseph [Austria’s emperor] sent Count Alexander von Hoyos to see the German
Kaiser, who then issued his notorious “Blank Cheque.” With it the Reich government [German] gave its unconditional
support to whatever action Vienna [Austria] would decide to take against Belgrade [Serbia… What did Wilhelm II and his
advisors expect to be the consequences of such an action? Was it merely the pretext for starting a major war? Or did
Berlin hope that the conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia would remain limited? The trouble with answering is
that we do not possess a first hand account of the Kaiser’s “blank cheque” meeting with Hoyos and of the monarch’s
words and assumptions on that occasion…
…That Moltke, clearly a key player in any German planning, had… approved of the localization strategy [the plan to
encourage Austria-Hungary to attack and attempt to humiliate the Serbians in a short conflict similar to the AustroPrussian War of 1866] is evidenced by his comment: “Austria must beat the Serbs and then make peace quickly,
demanding an Austro-Serbian alliance as the sole condition. Just as Prussia did with Austria in 1866.”
If in the face of this evidence, we accept that Berlin adopted a limited war strategy at the beginning of July which turned
out later on to have been badly miscalculated, the next question to be answered is: Why did the Kaiser and his advisors
fall for the “illusion of a limited war”? To understand this and the pressures on them to take action, we must consider
the deep pesimism by which they had become affected… The sense of crisis in the final years was most tangible in the
field of foreign policy. The monarch and his civilian and military advisors along with many others felt encircled by the
Triple Entente. Over the years and certainly after the conclusion of the Franco-British Entente Cordiale in 1904 and the
Anglo-Russian Accord of 1907 they had convinced themselves that Britain, France and Russia were bent on throttling the
two Central Powers. While the Anglo-German naval arms race had gone in reverse due to Tirpitz’s inability to sustain it
financially, the military competition on land reached new heights in 1913 after the ratification of massive army bills in
Germany, France and Russia… What, in the eyes of Germany’s leadership, made the spector of a Russo-German trade
war around 1916 so terrifying was this was also the time when the French and Russian rearmament programs would be
completed. Not surprisingly, the realization added the powerful Army leadership to the ranks of German pessimists…
Moltke [said to the Austrian military leadership in March 1914], to wait any longer [means] diminishing our chances;
[for] as far as manpower is concerned, one cannot enter into a competition with Russia.”
…However serious Germany’s international situation may have been, the Reich Chancellor and his colleagues were no
less aware of the simultaneous difficulties on the domestic front. Surveying the Prusso-German political system in early
1914, it was impossible to avoid the impression that it was out of joint. The Kaiser’s prestige was rapidly evaporating…
The government was unable to forge lasting alliances and compromises with the parties of the Right [conservatives] and
the centre [moderates] – the only political forces that a monarchial Reich Chancellor could contemplate as potential
partners for the passage of legislation. Meanhwhile the “revolutionary” Social Democrats were on the rise and had
become the largest party in the Reichstag [German parliament]… [There was an expectation] that a war would result in
Germany’s and Austria-Hungary’s domestic situation. The question was, what kind of war would achieve this objective?
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From all we know and have said about the early response to the assassinations of Sarajevo, this was not the moment to
unleash a world war with uncalculable risks. The conservatives in Berlin and Vienna were not that extremist. They
expected that war would lead to a major breakthrough in the Balkans and would stabilize the Austria-Hungarian Empire
against Serb nationalism…
And so the Kaiser and his advisors encouraged Vienna to launch a limited war in the Balkans. Their expectations that the
war would remain limited turned out to be completely wrong. The Kaiser and his entourage, who under the Reich
Constitution at that brief moment held the fate of millions in their hands, were not prepared to beat a retreat to avoid a
world war. The consequences of total war and the turmoil it caused in all spheres of life were enormous. The world had
been turned upside down.
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SOURCE E
ORIGINS OF THE GREAT WAR
Extract from: Samuel R. Williamson, “The Origins of the War” (1998).
The deaths of Franz Ferdinand and Spohie stunned the Hapsburg [Austrian] leadership. While there were only modest
public shows of sympathy, limited by the [royal] court’s calculation to play down the funeral, all of the senior leaders
wanted some action against Belgrade. None doubted that Serbia bore responsibility for the attacks… The most
aggressive of the Hapsburg leaders, indeed the single individual probably most responsibel for the the war in 1914, was
General Franz Conrad von H’otzendorf, chief of the Austro-Hungarian general staff. In the previous crises [Balkan wars in
1912 and 1913] he had called for war against Serbia more than fifty times…
The Hapsburg resolve intensified from with reports from Sarajevo that indicated that the trail of conspiracy did indeed
lead back to at least one minor official in Belgrade. While the evidence in 1914 never constituted a “smoking gun,” the
officials correctly surmised that the Serbian government must have tolerated and possibly assisted in the planning of the
deed. Given this evidence, the Hapsburg leaders soon focused on three options: a severe diplomatic humiliation of
Serbia; quick decisive military action against Serbia; or an ultimatum that, if rejected, would be followed by military
action…
Germany’s decision of 5-6 July to assure full support to Vienna ranks among the most discussed issues in modern
European history. A strong belligerant German response came as no surprise… However explained, the German
leadership reached a concensus: it would support Vienna in a showdown with Serbia. Thus the German Kaiser and
chancellor gave formal assurances (the so-called “blank cheque”) to Vienna. From that moment, Austria-Hungary
proceeded to exploit this decision and march toward war with Serbia. Berlin would find itself – for better or for worse –
at the mercy of its reliable ally as the next stages of the crisis unfolded.
…Then as instructed, at 6 p.m. on 23 July Wladimir Giesl, the Hapsburg minister in Belgrade, delivered the ultimatum to
the Serbian foreign minister… News of the Hapsburg ultimatum struck Europe with as much force as the Sarajevo
murders. If the public did not immediately recognize the dangers to the peace, the European diplomats (and their
military and naval associates) did. The most significant, immediate, and dangerous response came not from the
Germans, but from the Russians. Upon learning of the ultimatum, [Russian] Foreign Minister Serge Sazonov declared war
inevitable. His actions thereafter did much to ensure a general European war… At Sazonov’s urgings [the Russian Tsar
and leadership council agreed] to initiate various military measures preparing for partial or full mobilization. The Council
agreed further to partial mobilization as a possible deterant to stop Austria-Hungary from attacking the Serbs. These
Russian military measures were among the very first of the entire July crisis; their impact would be profound… Not
surprisingly, the Russian actions were interpreted by German military intelligence as tantamount to some form of
mobilization. No other actions in the crisis, beyond Vienna’s resolute determination for war, were so provocative or
disturbing as Russia’s preliminary steps of enhanced border security and the recall of certain troops… By 28 July Sazonov
had concluded that partial mobilization against Austria-Hungary would never deter Vienna. Indeed his own generals
argued that a partial step would complicate a general mobilization. Sazonov therefore got the generals’ support for full
mobilization. He then won the Tsar’s approval only to see Nicolas II hesitate after receiving a message from his cousin,
Kaiser Wilhelm II. The so-called “Willy-Nicky Telegrams” came to nothing however. On 30 July the Tsar ordered general
mobilization, with a clear recognition that Germany would probably respond and that a German attack would be aimed
at Russia’s French ally.
… In each country the war plans contained elaborate mobilization schedules which the generals wanted to put into
action at the earliest possible moment. While mobilization raised the risks of war, in only two cases did it absolutely
guarantee a generalized engagement: (1) if Russia mobilized, Germany would do so and move at once to attack Belgium
and France; (2) if Germany mobilized without Russian provocation, the results were the same. Any full Russian
mobilization would trigger a complete German response and, for Germany, mobilization meant war. Very few, if any,
civilian leaders fully comprehended these fateful interconnections and even the military planners were uncertain about
them…
The legacy of Germany’s bombastic behaviour…after 1898, also meant that Berlin was thoroughly mistrusted. Its
behaviour introduced fear into the international system, since only for Germany did mobilization equal war. Ironically,
and not all historians agree, the German policy in 1914 may have been less provocative than earlier [such as during the
Moroccan Crises in 1905 and 1911]. But that summer Berlin paid the price for its earlier agressiveness.
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Serbia allowed a terrorist act to proceed, then sought to evade the consequences of its action. It would gain, after 1918,
the most from the war with the creation of the Yugoslav state. Paradoxically, however, the very ethic rivalries that
brought Austria-Hungary to collapse would also plague the new state…
Germany believed that it must support its Danubian ally [Austria-Hungary]. This in turn influenced Berlin’s position
towards Russia and France. Without German backing, Vienna would probably have hesitated to been more conciliatory
toward Belgrade. But, anxious to the support Vienna and possibly detatch Russia from the Triple Entente, Berlin would
risk a continental war to achieve its short and long-term objectives. Berlin and Vienna bear more responsibility for
starting the crisis and making it very hard to control.
Nevertheless, the Russians must also share some significant responsibility for the final outcome. St. Petersburg’s
unwavering support of Serbia, its unwillingness to negotiate with Berlin and Vienna, and then its [mobilization] escalated
the crisis beyond control. Russia’s general mobilization on 30 July guaranteed disaster… In July 1914 one or two key
decisions taken differently might well have seen the war averted. As it was, the July Crisis became a model of escalation
and [unpurposeful] consequences. The expectation of a short war, the ideology of offensive warfare, and continuing
faith in war as an instrument of policy: all would soon prove illusory and wishful…
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SOURCE F
ORIGINS OF THE GREAT WAR
Extract from: Sidney B. Fay, “The Origins of the World War (1930). The author was
educated in Germany and wrote about the history of Prussia. This excerpt is from a
classic example of revisionist history – one that sought to reverse the popular view
during the interwar period that Germany was primarily responsible.
… Nevertheless, a European War broke out. Why? Because in each country political and military did certain things which
led to mobilizations and declarations of war, or failed to do certain things which might have prevented them. In this
sense, all the European countries, in a greater or less degree, were responsible. One must abandon the dictum of the
Versailles Treaty that Germany and her allies were solely responsible. It was a dictum exacted by victors from
vanquished, under the influence of the blindness, ignorance, hatred, and the propagandist misconceptions to which war
had given rise. It was based on evidence which was incomplete and not always sound. It is generally recognized by the
best historical scholars in all countries to be no longer tenable or defensible. They are agreed that the responsibility for
the War is a divided responsibility. But they still disagree very much as to the relative part of this responsibility that falls
on each country and on each individual political or military leader.
Serbia felt a natural and justifiable impulse to do what so many other countries had done in the nineteenth century-to
bring under one national Government all the discontented Serb people. She had liberated those under Turkish rule; the
next step was to liberate those under Hapsburg rule. She looked to Russia for assistance, and had been encouraged to
expect that she would receive it. After the assassination, Mr. Pashitch [Serbian leader] took no steps to dish cover and
bring to justice Serbians in Belgrade who had been implicated in the plot… That Mr. Pashitch was aware of the plot three
weeks before it was executed, failed to take effective steps to prevent the assassins from crossing over from Serbia to
Bosnia, and then failed to give Austria any warning or information which might have averted the fatal crime, were facts
unknown to Austria in July, 1914; they cannot therefore be regarded as in any way justifying Austria's conduct; but they
are part of Serbia's responsibility, and a very serious part.
Austria was more responsible for the immediate origin of the war than any other Power. Yet from her own point of view
she was acting in self-defence - not against an immediate military attack, but against the corroding Greater Serbia and
Yugoslav agitation which her leaders believed threatened her very existence. No State can be expected to sit with folded
arms and await dismemberment at the hands of its neighbours. Russia was believed to be intriguing with Serbia and
Rumania against the Dual Monarchy. The assassination of the heir to the throne, as a result of a plot prepared in
Belgrade, demanded severe retribution; otherwise Austria would be regarded as incapable of action, "worm-eaten" as
the Serbian Press expressed it, would sink in prestige, and hasten her own downfall. To avert this Berchtold [Austria’s
minister of foreign affairs] determined to crush Serbia with war. He deliberately framed the ultimatum with the
expectation and hope that it would be rejected…
Germany did not plot a European War, did not want one, and made genuine, though too belated efforts, to avert one.
She was the victim of her alliance with Austria and of her own folly. Austria was her only dependable ally, Italy and
Rumania having become nothing but allies in name. She could not throw her over, as otherwise she would stand isolated
between Russia, where Pan-slavism and armaments were growing stronger every year, and France, where AlsaceLorraine, Delcasse's fall, and Agadir [the Moroccan Crises of 1905 and 1911] were not forgotten. Therefore, Bethmann
[Germany’s Chancellor] felt bound to accede to Berchtold's request for support and gave him a free hand to deal with
Serbia; he also hoped and expected to "localize" the Austro-Serbian conflict. Germany then gave grounds to the Entente
for suspecting the sincerity of her peaceful intentions by her denial of any foreknowledge of the ultimatum, by her
support and justification of it when it was published, and by her refusal of Sir Edward Grey's conference proposal.
However, Germany by no means had Austria so completely under her thumb as the Entente Powers and many writers
have assumed…
Germany's geographical position between France and Russia, and her inferiority in number of troops, had made
necessary the plan of crushing the French army quickly at first and then fuming against Russia. This was only possible, in
the opinion of her strategists, by marching through Belgium, as it was generally anticipated by military men that she
would do in case of a European War. On July 29, after Austria had declared war on Serbia, and after the Tsar had
assented to general mobilization in Russia (though this was not known in Berlin and was later postponed for a day owing
to the Kaiser's telegram to the Tsar), Bethman took the precaution of sending to the German Minister in Brussels a
sealed envelope. The Minister was not to open it except on further instructions. It contained the later demand for the
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passage of the German army through Belgium. This does not mean, however, that Germany had decided for war. In fact,
Bethmann was one of the last of the statesmen to abandon hope of peace and to consent to the mobilization of his
country's army. General mobilization of the continental armies rook place in the following order: Serbia, Russia, Austria,
France and Germany. General mobilization by a Great Power was commonly interpreted by military men in every
country, though perhaps not by Sir Edward Grey, the Tsar, and some civilian officials, as meaning that the country was
on the point of making war-that the military machine had begun to move and would not be stopped. Hence, when
Germany reamed of the Russian general mobilization, she sent ultimatums to St. Petersburg and Paris, warning that
German mobilization would follow unless Russia suspended hers within twelve hours, and asking what would be the
attitude of France. The answers being unsatisfactory, Germany then mobilized and declared war. It was the hasty
Russian general mobilization, assented to on July 29 and ordered on July 30, while Germany was still trying to bring
Austria to accept mediation proposals, which finally rendered the European War inevitable.
Russia was partly responsible for the Austro-Serbian conflict because of the frequent encouragement which she had
given at Belgrade-that Serbian national unity would be ultimately achieved with Russian assistance at Austrian expense.
This had led the Belgrade Cabinet to hope for Russian support in case of a war with Austria, and the hope did not prove
vain in July, 1914. Before this, to be sure, in the Bosnian Crisis and during the Balkan Wars, Russia had put restraint upon
Serbia, because Russia, exhausted by the effects of the Russo-Japanese War, was not yet ready for a European struggle
with [Germany and Austria-Hungary]. But in 1914, her armaments, though not yet completed, had made such progress
that the militarists were confident of success, if they had French and British support… Russia's responsibility lay also in
the secret preparatory military measures which she was making at the same time that she was carrying on diplomatic
negotiations. These alarmed Germany and Austria. But it was primarily Russia's general mobilization, made when
German, was trying to bring Austria to a settlement, which precipitated the final catastrophe, causing Germany to
mobilize and declare war.
The part of France is less clear than that of the other Great Powers, because she has not yet made a full publication of
her documents. To be sure, Poincaré, in the fourth volume of his memoirs, has made a skilful and elaborate plea, to
prove "La France innocents." But he is not convincing. It is quite clear that on his visit to Russia he assured the Tsar's
Government that France would support her as an ally in preventing Austria from humiliating or crushing Serbia…
Sir Edward Greg made many sincere proposals for preserving peace; they all failed owing partly, but not exclusively to
Germany's attitude. Sir Edward could probably have prevented war if he had done either of too things: If, early in the
crisis, he had acceded to the urging of France and Russia and given a strong warning to Germany that, in a European
war, England would take the side of the Franco-Russian Alliance, this would probably have led Bethmann to exert an
earlier and more effective pressure on Austria; and it would perhaps thereby have prevented the Austrian declaration of
war on Serbia, and brought to a successful issue the "direct conversations" between Vienna and St. Petersburg. Or, if Sir
Edward Grey had listened to German urging, and warned France and Russia early in the crisis that if they became
involved in war, England would remain neutral, probably Russia would have hesitated with her mobilizations, and France
would probably have exerted a restraining influence at St. Petersburg. But Sir Edward Grey could not say that England
would take the side of France and Russia, because he had a Cabinet nearly evenly divided, and he was not sure, early in
the crisis, that public opinion in England would back him up in war against Germany. He could resign, and he says in his
memoirs that he would have resigned, but that would have been no comfort or aid to France, who had come confidently
to count upon British support. He was determined to say and do nothing which might encourage her with a hope which
he could not fulfil. Therefore, in spite of the pleadings of the French, he refused to give them definite assurances until
the probable German determination to go through Belgium… Though the German violation of Belgium was of enormous
influence in forming public opinion as to the responsibility for the War after hostilities began, it was not a cause of the
War, except in so far as it made it easier for Sir Edward Grey to bring England into it.
In the forty years following the Franco-Prussian War, as we have seen, there developed a system of alliances which
divided Europe into two hostile groups. This hostility was accentuated by the increase of armaments, economic rivalry,
nationalist ambitions and antagonisms, and newspaper incitement. But it is very doubtful whether all these dangerous
tendencies would have actually led to war, had it not been for the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. That was the factor
which consolidated the elements of hostility and started the rapid and complicated succession of events which
culminated in a World War, and for that factor Serbian nationalism was primarily responsible.
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But the verdict of the Versailles Treaty that Germany and her allies were responsible for the War, in view of the evidence
now available, is historically unsound. It should therefore be revised. However, because of the popular feeling
widespread in some of the Entente countries, it is doubtful whether a formal and legal revision is as yet practicable.
There must first come a further revision by historical scholars, and through them of public opinion
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SOURCE G
ORIGINS OF THE GREAT WAR
Extract from: Lawrence Lafore, The Long Fuse: An Interpretation of the Origins of
World War I (1965). The author is an American historian who also worked for the
State Department and the Office of War Information for the United States during
World War II.
… it has been frequently said by both sides that a clearer stand by Sir Edward Grey [Britain’s Foreign Secretary] would
have saved the peace. If the Germans had been told, early and with conviction, that Britain would take part in the war,
they would very probably have averted instead of encouraging the Austrian ultimatum [to Serbia] and declaration of
war. There is strong evidence for this; some Germans have even taken the weird moral stand that Grey was responsible
for starting the war because if he had made his position clear the Germans would never have permitted it to start. The
ethics of this argument are not convincing, but the facts are. A less fastidious [hard to please], conciliatory [peace
making] and correct statesman [than Grey] might have acted more effectively. A modest measure of deceit, such as
many diplomats regard as a proper tool for their trade, would have permitted him to make much stronger
representations much sooner than he did. No absolute commitment was necessary, … he could have told Berlin that
Great Britain did regard the Austro-Serbian problem as of European and British concern and that if war broke out Great
Britain would almost certainly take part in it on the allied side…
SOURCE H
Extract from: German Kaiser Willem II’s response to a dispatch from the German
ambassador at London (July 29, 1914).
If, instead of mediation an urgent necessity, there should be a warning to St. Petersburg and Paris to the effect that
England would not help them, it would immediately calm matters. England uncovers herself, now that she thinks us
chasing scarecrows and that our fate is, so tospeak, sealed. The vile rabble of shopkeepers [England] ought to deceive us
by means of dinner and speeches. The grossest deceit lay in the words addressed to me by the King through Henry: "We
shall remain neutral and try to keep out of this as long as possible.” …At the same time, it is a threat combined with a
bluff for detaching us from Austria, preventing mobilization, and throwing back upon us the responsibility for war. He
[the British foreign minister Edward Grey] knows quite well that if he said one single word in earnest and energetically to
Paris and St. Petersburg and invited them to be neutral, both would instantly be quiet. But, instead of this, he
threatensus! The ignoble clown! Vile dog's excrement! England alone bears the responsibility for war or peace and it is
no longer we! This must be proved publicly!
SOURCE I
Extract from: Franz Fischer, Germany’s War Aims in the First World War (1961). Partly
because he was German, Fischer’s thesis is one of the most controversial.
…The official documents afford ample proof that during the July crisis the Emperor [Kaiser], the German military leaders
and Foreign Ministry were pressing Austria-Hungary to strike against Serbia without delay, or alternatively agreed to the
dispatch of an ultimatum to Serbia couched in such sharp terms as to make war between the two countries more than
probable, and in doing so they deliberately took the risk of a continental war against Russia and France… The July crisis
must not be regarded in isolation. It appears in its true light only when seen as a link between Germany’s “world policy,”
as followed since the mid-1890s, and her war aims policy after August 1914.
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NAME: _________________________ BLOCK: ________ DATE: _____________________
DATA COLLECTION CHART: To be completed before the discussion/debate.
D.I.S.C. QUESTION: Of all the European belligerents in 1914, was Germany most responsible for the onset of the
Great War?


Yes
No
SOURCE / AUTHOR
EVIDENCE & INTERPRETATION
Collect and list points from the sources that may help formulate a position on this question.
Use quotes, paraphrases and explanations or descriptions of the sources to strengthen your
argument and to refer to during our class debate and discussion.
Source A
Who?Theobald Von Bethmann-Hollweg
When: 8/4/1914
Where? Germany
What/Why?
Blames Russia and France for forcing Germany into war
States Germany’s war position
Source B
Who? Daily Mirror Newspaper
When: August 4, 1914
Where? London
What/Why?
Blamed Germany for the cause of war
Source C
Who? Poincare
When: August 5, 1914
Where? Paris
What/Why? Poincare announced a war message stating that France has been violated. He
believed that Germany was wrongly attacking them... France would protect themselves
and come out victorious
Source D
Who? V.R. Berghahn
When:1994
Where? germany
What/Why? the author holds germany primarily responsible for ww1
DEBATE | INQUIRE | SHARE IDEAS | CONCLUDE
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IB HISTORY | DISC ASSIGNMENT
Source E
Source F
ORIGINS OF THE GREAT WAR
Who? Samuel R. Williamson
When: 1998
Where? Austria-Hungary
What/Why? Blamed Germany, A-H, and Russia
- H’otzendorf had been asking for war for a while
- Believes at least one official in Belgrade involved in conspiracy
- Blank Cheque allowed A-H to exploit Germany
- General mobilization by Russia would drag in Germany, or if not Schlieffen Plan
would be added in either way and drag France in
- Distrust to Germany
- Germany sought to support A-H and detach Russia from Triple Entente
Who? Sidney B. Fay (Germany)
When: 1930
Where? Serbia/Prussia
What/Why? European war broke out, because in each country political and military did
certain things which led to mobilizations and declarations of war.
Source G
Who? Lawrence Lafore
When: 1965
Where? America
What/Why? To justify who started the war.
Blame placed on Sir Edward Grey not taking a clearer stand
Source H
Who? German Kaiser Wilhelm II
When: July 29, 1914
Where? London
What/Why? Dispatch from the German ambassador
Blaming England for not wanting to stop a war from beginning
Source I
Who? Franz Fischer
When: 1961
Where? Germany
What/Why? July Crisis
Germany pressing AH to strike against Serbia without delay or with
alternative of ultimatum
DEBATE | INQUIRE | SHARE IDEAS | CONCLUDE
12
IB HISTORY | DISC ASSIGNMENT
ORIGINS OF THE GREAT WAR
CONCLUSION: To be completed after the discussion/debate.
 After considering the evidence presented in the sources, answer the discussion question in a well -reasoned
response that draws from the sources to support your position.
Of all the European belligerents in 1914, was Germany
most responsible for the onset of the Great War?
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DEBATE | INQUIRE | SHARE IDEAS | CONCLUDE
13
IB HISTORY | DISC ASSIGNMENT
ORIGINS OF THE GREAT WAR
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DEBATE | INQUIRE | SHARE IDEAS | CONCLUDE
14
IB HISTORY | DISC ASSIGNMENT
ORIGINS OF THE GREAT WAR
ASSESSMENT & PARTICIPATION
PREPARATION: (teacher assessment)
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Tasks are completed in full before the class discussion.
Answers to document questions are accurate.
Shows evidence of a variety of sources being used to determine a position.
Shows evidence of careful reading and analysis of sources.
Shows evidence of careful selection and detail in evidence collection.
Shows evidence of critical thinking about the issue or problem. Conclusions are well-reasoned.
20-18 = outstanding  17-15 = achieved expectations
14-11 = minimum achievement  10-0 = not achieved/incomplete
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PARTICIPATION: (self assessment)
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Shows evidence of active, respectful listening. Is engaged in the discussion.
Makes his/her position clear by sharing 1-2 comments during the discussion.
Uses examples and evidence to support comments. Avoids vague or hypothetical comments.
Shares well-reasoned points. Makes specific counter-points to other students’ ideas.
10-9 = outstanding  8.5-7.5 = achieved expectations
7-6 = minimum achievement  5-0 = not achieved/incomplete
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DEBATE | INQUIRE | SHARE IDEAS | CONCLUDE
15