On a knife edge : how Germany lost the First World War

Author / Creator

Afflerbach, Holger, author

Available as

Online

Summary

"On 31 July 1914, following the German government's announcement of an 'imminent threat of war' and the issue of the German ultimatum to Russia, the Bavarian General von Wenninger dashed across Ber...

"On 31 July 1914, following the German government's announcement of an 'imminent threat of war' and the issue of the German ultimatum to Russia, the Bavarian General von Wenninger dashed across Berlin to the War Ministry. The officers he found there were not in a despondent mood, but rather a cheerful one: 'Beaming faces everywhere, handshakes in the corridors, each man congratulating the next that things are finally on the move. Rumours about the other ultimatum, issued to France - one man asks whether it is really necessary to draw the French into all this, as they always run scared like little rabbits. General von Wild replies that "It would be a shame not to take on those fellows as well."1 This level of confidence was also reflected in the general response of the German military leadership. The Kaiser's aide-de-camp, Max von Mutius, who had been involved in the crucial deliberations about war and peace at the end of July and beginning of August 1914, wrote in his memoirs: 'I deliberately did not give too much thought to the likely course of events and the duration of the war. Happily, we were all convinced that we would somehow ultimately win the war.'2"--

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