#37: 29 July 1914 III - First Contact, Second Thoughts

#37: 29 July 1914 III - First Contact, Second Thoughts

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Austria's bombardment of Belgrade represented the first shots of the First World War, though contemporaries could not have known this yet - they were more focused on what Russia was doing.


As news of Russia's partial mobilisation filtered through Europe, it caused a major crisis in the German Foreign Office. For Jagow, Germany's Foreign Minister and director of its policy towards Austria since the beginning, Russia's preparations meant nothing less than the complete collapse of his entire world view.

If Russia would not stand back and permit Austrian justice, then surely that meant war was inevitable?


Desperate to avoid the European war he feared, Jagow went to great lengths to work out a solution. He believed he found it in the partnership with Bethmann Hollweg, the Chancellor he had spent several weeks undermining. If these two German statesmen could put their heads together, and wrest concessions or at least some answers out of Vienna, perhaps the ruin of their country could be avoided. Troubling signals suggested it would not be easy, yet having led Germany to this point, neither man had much choice but to try.

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#24: 1912-1914 - Anglo-German Relations III

#24: 1912-1914 - Anglo-German Relations III

By late 1912, it appeared the period of Anglo-German detente was over. The Kaiser assembled a War Council, and apparently planned for a war of domination. In fact, appearances were deceptive, and alth...

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#23: 1911-1912 - Anglo-German Relations II

#23: 1911-1912 - Anglo-German Relations II

By late 1911, Germany had been embarrassed by the Second Moroccan Crisis, and the Anglo-French Entente had once again rallied. We might have expected Germany to double down on its provocative naval ca...

19 Elo 20241h 1min

#22: 1905-1911 - Anglo-German Relations I

#22: 1905-1911 - Anglo-German Relations I

Everyone knows the story of Britain and Germany before 1914. Or at least, they think they do.Anglo-German relations following the Russo-Japanese War seemed bound to enter a period of hostility, enable...

16 Elo 202454min

#21: 23 July 1914 - The First Ultimatum

#21: 23 July 1914 - The First Ultimatum

Austria-Hungary finally delivered its ultimatum to Serbia nearly four weeks after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. The journey had been incredibly slow, and the outcome was nothing like the fait ...

14 Elo 202435min

#20: 20-22 July 1914 - France In Russia

#20: 20-22 July 1914 - France In Russia

On 20 July, the French President, Premier, and other statesmen docked at Kronstadt, aboard the fittingly named France.It began a tremendous spectacle of Franco-Russian cooperation, just as rumours wer...

12 Elo 202438min

#19: 19-22 July 1914 - Finalising Fatalism

#19: 19-22 July 1914 - Finalising Fatalism

As the French sailed for St Petersburg, the Austro-Hungarian government gathered in Vienna for a meeting of historic importance. It was here on 19 July 1914 that the infamous ultimatum to Serbia was f...

9 Elo 202433min

#18: 16-20 July 1914 - France at Sea

#18: 16-20 July 1914 - France at Sea

As the French President and Premier made their way to Russia, on board the France, they tried their best to keep up to date with what was happening outsides the confines of their vessel. Troubling rum...

7 Elo 202425min

#17: 15-18 July 1914 - Secrecy and Haste

#17: 15-18 July 1914 - Secrecy and Haste

With the Austro-Hungarian government on the same page at long last, it remained to follow through with the ultimatum. To Berchtold, this meant moving as quickly and as secretly as possible, so that on...

5 Elo 202454min

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