A Brief History of the Great War

Teutonic political and economic aims in southeastern Europe. As recently as August, 1913, Austria had formally invited Italy to cooperate with her in crushing Serbia. At that time no good excuse existed for such a use of force and Italy had declined the invitation, but now the occasion was propitious and the ruling classes in Germany were favorably disposed.1 Perhaps the German dignitaries, mindful of the success of their former military threats in 1908-1909 and in 1912-1913, entertained the idea that if Germany were now again to stand "in shining armor" beside her ally, Russia would once more back down and leave Serbia to the tender mercy of Austria-Hungary. It would be Germany's role by threats and intimidation to keep the Balkan conflict "localized." Assuredly the German dignitaries must have foreseen the possibility of Russia's not backing down and of the resulting precipitation of a general and truly Great War. But such a war, precipitated by Austria's act and Germany's threat, might be the heralded "preventive war," through which Germany would break the "iron ring" of her jealous and greedy neighbors and assume in the wide world a position to which her might and her Kultur destined her. It was a peculiarly opportune moment for provoking the "preventive war," for at that very moment each one of the Entente Powers was embarrassed by domestic difficulties ? Russia by a serious and violent strike of workingmen in Petrograd, France by an alarming popular opposition to...