Final Essay
“The soldiers who marched off to war in the summer of 1914 thought they would win a quick victory. However, the war lasted four years and was filled with horrors never before seen.” (World History: Chapter 27; Section 2; The Belligerents, Pg.709) What in the world sparked such a controversial situation as this one? The answer to this is the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria & his wife the Duchess of Hohenberg by Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip on June 28, 1914 during their visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia. (http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/harrachmemoir.htm) This bloody war was separated by two sets of powers, the Allied Powers consisting of Russia, the British Empire, France, Italy, the United States, Romania, Serbia, and Belgium; the Central Powers consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria. The war ended November 11, 1918 on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11:00 in the morning. (http://www.firstworldwar.com/onthisday/1918_11_11.htm) At the closing of World War I, surely many were asking to what extent was German aggression to blame for the start of World War I? Well, look at the picture this way, Germany may not have in truth started the war itself, but it definitely ignited the train of countries fighting. It was the first to mobilize its troops and weaponry, and it influenced Austria-Hungary to attack the Serbians.
Shortly after the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria occurred, Germany took charge in place of Austria-Hungary, and declared war on Serbia. (http://www.firstworldwar.com/timeline/1914.htm) “It took the Austro-Hungarian government four weeks to send an ultimatum to Belgrade, demanding far-reaching powers to investigate the murder and the implication of the Serb government. The Serb government accepted most clauses but rejected some, knowing well that this would mean war with Austria. Russia had encouraged Serbia not to give in completely. Austria-Hungary was unwilling to consider a compromise and declared war on Serbia on 28 July.” (Raffael Scheck, Article: German Responsibility for the Outbreak of the War; http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/germanresponsibility.htm). The Germans put themselves in a position which made it seem that they were victims of the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria.
“As I write, Germany is reported to have declared war against Russia and France … Nothing like it has occurred since the great Napoleonic wars … All of Europe is to be a battle-ground … The future looks dark indeed.” (William Howard Taft, “A Message to the People of the United States”) July 28, 1914 marked the beginning of a dark four years. Since the Napoleonic period (one hundred years ago) no war had ever affected large areas of Europe. “The Franco-German war of 1870-71 had been the last violent conflict between industrially advanced nations in Europe. It had been decided within a few weeks. Fast mobilization, massive gun power, fast communications (telegraph), and the support of railroads …” (Raffael Scheck: http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/germanresponsibility.htm) On August 4, 1914, German soldiers disrespected the Belgian neutrality guarantee and marched straight through Belgium on to France. Germany also persuaded Bulgaria, a Slavic rival of Serbia, to enter the war on its side in October 1915.
If Germany would’ve just minded its business it wouldn’t have stirred up such a controversial situation which eventually led to the war. Austria-Hungary and Serbia could’ve simply worked this out on their own, without the negative influences of other countries intervening.
Another reason to blame German aggression for the start of World War I is the advance weaponry of Germany. The weapons in World War I were mass-produced using the same efficient methods used for manufacturing other products of the new industrial age. Each side of the war used weapons that had never been tried before. Allied shipping suffered greatly because of the attacks from German U-boats. The Germans also introduced poison gas as a weapon against enemy infantry. (World History: Chapter 27; Section 2; Innovations in Warfare, Pg.710) Machine guns were shot left and right, and there were fights battled in mid-air on war planes. In 1916 Britain introduced the war tank, a heavily armored vehicle with guns mounted on it.
The gruesome war was fought hiding in trenches most of the time by both sides. It was constant stalemate between the two powers. The Germans pulled out many intelligent tactics and plans and decided to use poison gas. “The German attack through Belgium and into France in August 1914 quickly stalled into a static trench war. Germany, looking to break the deadlock, decided that a possible solution was the use of poison gas.“(Brian Blodgett: Germany’s use of Chemical Warfare in World War 1).
As I previously mentioned the Germans invaded Belgium, completely disregarding the nation’s neutrality. Belgium’s neutrality agreement stated that they wouldn’t help any belligerents, or warring nations. Mostly all great powers agreed not to attack, but not Germany. Belgium’s location between Germany and France became highly important. The Germans wanted to be done and over with defeating France so they scoffed at the 1839 guarantee of Belgian Neutrality and marched right through on August 4, 1914. After four years of terror-filled war, the fighting ceased on November 11, 1918. The eleventh day, of the eleventh month, at 11:00. “By the autumn the German Army was no longer able to continue fighting. With revolution imminent, Germany’s political leadership petitioned for an armistice. It took effect at 11am on 11 November – the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The war was over, and with its end many of the European dynasties fell.” (http://www.firstworldwar.com/timeline/1918.htm).
In sum, there are many factors to which German aggression to blame for the start of World War I. The Germans took control of the Austrian-Hungarians and convinced them to declare war on Serbia on account of the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria. The German’s advanced technology and mobilization of weapons opened the eyes of allying countries of both powers. Obviously, the easiest and quickest way to be done and over with the defeating of the French was to cut right through Belgium disregarding the nation’s neutrality guarantee. As you can see there are many valid points and reasons to blame the German’s for their unnecessary aggression for the start of World War I.
