#62: 4 August 1914 II - The Last Ultimatum

#62: 4 August 1914 II - The Last Ultimatum

No matter what Britain did, it was impossible for Germany to evacuate Belgium. War was inevitable. Why, then, did most of Britain not even realise it?


The straightforward image we have in our minds of Britain taking a stand against the flagrant violation of Belgium is, in fact, a somewhat airbrushed picture. We may be surprised to learn that the British warnings to Germany failed to mention war, but this was less due to any cold feet, and more from a naïve hope that Germany would declare war on Britain. It may have been hard to imagine, but had Berlin not repeatedly shot itself in the foot diplomatically by this point? Why should she be expected to show some foresight now?


In fact, Germany was preparing the diplomatic ground with its few remaining allies, so British diplomats followed her there, to the Ottoman Empire, to warn against mobilisation. Lies remained a critical currency, as Austria and the Turks maintained an air of innocence. British agents reported from Japan, from the United States, from Italy, and elsewhere, building a picture of a world at war, eagerly awaiting Britain's entry into the lists. How could Britons fail to notice what was happening? The government, however incredible it might sound, was waiting for war, even if the midnight deadline hung like a dark cloud over the world.


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Jaksot(744)

#65: 5 August 1914 - 'This Frantic Stampede to Hell'

#65: 5 August 1914 - 'This Frantic Stampede to Hell'

The world was at war, and there was much to do. In London, attention turned to the British Expeditionary Force. The BEF had been ruled out several times before, but that did not have to matter. How ma...

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#64: 4 August 1914 IV - The Final Countdown

#64: 4 August 1914 IV - The Final Countdown

With only hours left until the ultimatum expired, the mood in London and Berlin was anxious and excited. Was this truly it? Was the Anglo-German relationship now destined to die in a war over Belgium?...

16 Kesä 202536min

#63: 4 August 1914 III - A Mere Scrap of Paper

#63: 4 August 1914 III - A Mere Scrap of Paper

The 1839 Treaty on Belgian neutrality was a mere scrap of paper - that was the phrase which doomed Bethmann Hollweg, and Germany, to moral condemnation. It was the excuse which conquerors of all shape...

9 Kesä 202543min

#61: 4 August 1914 I - Into Belgium

#61: 4 August 1914 I - Into Belgium

Germany's invasion of Belgium had finally begun. After several anxious days of negotiations, warnings, and second guessing, Berlin was firmly set on its path. But what path was that? War had been decl...

26 Touko 202535min

#60: 3 August 1914 IV - Who Turned Out The Lights?

#60: 3 August 1914 IV - Who Turned Out The Lights?

In the evening of 3 August, Germany finally declared war on France. The war, Berlin insisted, was caused by hostile French acts, but most knew better. The Italians certainly did. In a series of painfu...

19 Touko 202546min

#59: 3 August 1914 III - House on Fire

#59: 3 August 1914 III - House on Fire

Finally, Sir Edward Grey was ready to make his case to the House of Commons. Parliament had been starved of news for a week, and the press had done their best to fill in the gaps, but the whole countr...

12 Touko 202552min

#58: 3 August 1914 II - Brussels Doubts

#58: 3 August 1914 II - Brussels Doubts

The German ultimatum to Belgium had roused the Brussels government and rallied the nation, but other than this, much was still unclear by the early afternoon of this Bank Holiday Monday. News of Belgi...

5 Touko 202532min

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