#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 country was desperate for an update. What would the government do if the rumours were true, and Germany had invaded France? Was neutrality on the table? And what of Belgium, who was protected by a treaty? How would Grey rally the House to his side, and did it even matter if he could not, since the Cabinet had already been convinced of the need to act thanks to various pressures?


Grey was tasked with answering many of these questions, but there were many that he did not answer, and a surprising amount that he did not say. In this episode we give Grey's speech in the Commons - and the subsequent reactions - their proper attention. In a day suffused with monumental, watershed moments, not limited to Germany's declaration of war on France, Grey's speech represented the public culmination of a struggle which had gone on in private for several weeks. His seventy minute speech set the tone for what was to come, and effectively spelled out that Britain was bound to transform this European war into a world war.


Support the July Crisis series, join the conversation, and find out more through these links:

  1. Do you want ad-free episodes with scripts attached, and bonus content? Support us on Patreon and you can suggest July Crisis episodes!
  2. Join our Facebook group as we make our way through this fascinating series!
  3. Click here to see our July Crisis workspace in Perlego, you'll find every source you need!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episoder(744)

Poland Is Not Yet Lost: Introduction 2

Poland Is Not Yet Lost: Introduction 2

Where did the inspiration to tackle this project come from, what sources have we devoured, and what can you expect from this series? These questions and so many more besides will be addressed here, so...

16 Sep 201933min

Poland Is Not Yet Lost: Introduction 1

Poland Is Not Yet Lost: Introduction 1

FINALLY! After several years, countless teases, numerous changed plans, and no shortage of research, one of the most anticipated series we have ever tackled lands at long last. Poland Is Not Yet Lost ...

16 Sep 201930min

30YearsWar: 17th Century Warfare Episode 8

30YearsWar: 17th Century Warfare Episode 8

After covering the adoption of a revolutionary new musket drill by Maurice of Nassau in the late 1590s, in this episode we come to the point where all of these innovations would be put to the test, so...

9 Sep 201949min

30YearsWar: NEW Introduction

30YearsWar: NEW Introduction

We're back! At long last, after a lot of confusing scheduling and weird decisions, WDF is finally ready to introduce to you what we have planned for the next few years. It is an investigation of the T...

9 Sep 201940min

WDF Collab: Diplomacy Games

WDF Collab: Diplomacy Games

What a lovely surprise! I sat down with Kaner [Ken] and Amby [Gavin], two Ozzies with a love of the game Diplomacy, which I have name dropped many times on this show. The three of us chat about a whol...

17 Aug 20191h 5min

Versailles: Retrospective

Versailles: Retrospective

The Versailles Anniversary Project consumed 8 months of my life, and 8 months of your attention. It was the largest, most ambitious, and most exhausting project we have ever taken on. What did this 't...

10 Jul 201930min

Versailles: Conclusion

Versailles: Conclusion

After 8 months and 85 episodes, what is left to say? As it turns out, quite a lot, so I hope you'll join me as we wrap up the longest project we've ever tackled here at WDF. The questions of German re...

8 Jul 20191h 8min

Delegation Game: The End

Delegation Game: The End

In this episode, we conclude our story f the delegates who partook in this romp through alternative history and imagination land over the last six months. You are all a credit to history podcast liste...

8 Jul 20191h 37min

Populært innen Historie

rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
rss-katastrofe
henrettelsespodden
historier-som-endret-norge
rss-historiske-romanser-svik-drap-og-kjarlighet
med-egne-oyne
aftenposten-historie
historier-som-endret-verden
rss-benadet
rss-nadelose-nordmenn-gestapo
rss-frontkjemperne
sektledere
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
rss-gamle-greier
rss-bisarr-historie
lille-helvete
taakeprat
liberal-halvtime
historiepodden
rss-historier-fra-gudbrandsdalen