Why Germany Had to Start the War

In 1914, Germany gave Austria-Hungary the so-called 'blank cheque' that allowed it to declare war on Serbia and thus plunge Europe into the First World War.

This video aims to be a short analysis of why Germany and Austria felt desperate enough to undertake this radical course of action in 1914, whilst knowing there was a good chance of it leading to war.

#History, #WWI, #German Empire

[OldBritannia]

I hope you enjoy this short video, looking at the strategic situation before WWI. I know it suffers a bit from focusing narrowly on a single potential cause of the First World War, but I hope that stops it getting lost in the weeds - i.e. Wilhelm and Franz Ferdinand's personal relationship being a reason Germany backed Austria in 1914, is undoubtedly an important factor, but would end confusing this video. Depending on what you think of it, we could potentially look at a few of the other theorised 'causes' in the future, i.e. a video on the Fischer thesis and so forth.
Thank you all for watching, and thanks to Patron's for selecting the topic and reviewing it.

[kira-kitty]

As a German who studied history, I'd like to add two things I've learned.
1.) Germany supported Austria in the July Crisis also out of a fear of alienating/losing them otherwise, leaving them truly alone.
2.) There was also the fear about the recent rise of the workers party. I think Bethmann-Hollweg estimated that three things would need to come together for a chance to win the war: Austrian participation, the support of the workers at home (which seemed likely if the war was against Russia) and Britain's neutrality (which initially also seemed achievable, until the realities of the Schlieffen plan settled in).

[wattsnottaken]

WW1 is so interesting. It’s insane how savage it was. The first insanely huge industrialized war. New technology = new weapons

[stevejurgens]

Poor Germany - too big for Europe, too small for the world...

[nathansyoutubeaccount]

If I understand you correctly, you’re arguing that Austria and Germany more or less had to go to war because: for Germany, the Schlieffen plan was going to be rendered obsolete by the reformed Russian army and, for Austria, the improvement in the quality of the Serbian army/combined Balkan-Russia bloc threatened them existentially. War in 1914 thus being the last chance to save their current position let alone gain a strategic advantage over the Entente.

Seeing how Austria fared against Serbia at the start of the war, that concern proved true. Seeing how Russia performed, overestimated by the Germans.

I’m interested in you exploring France’s role.

[MajinOthinus]

One should also not ignore an incredibly important fact when accounting for Germany's position on a long war: The Haber-Bosch process was only technically realized in 1913 for the first time and only through a gigantic industrial and monetary effort implemented at scale in 1914. Without this process, there was essentially no way to produce large amounts of nitre, which was necessary for just about any explosive. Nitre had to be imported from overseas in large quantities and could easily be cut off by a combined French-British naval blockade (as happened in real life).

Had the war started at any point before 1914, the central powers would have run out of ammunition within 6-10 months. In other words, all central powers planning needed to achieve victory within that time frame or face defeat. This is the reason why a Russia first plan was not even considered after 1912; defeating Russia would have taken way too long and even if achieved would still have meant no ammunition being left to defeat the French. Defeating France quickly at the start of the war meanwhile would have made a British blockade almost infeasible, considering it now would have had to block French ports as well.

[jakubtomas]

I rarely comment under videos, but I must state that I am positively surprised by this video essay. You are in quite a short time clearly summarizing key points relevant to the discussion of the ignition of WWI. You are discussing the need of much needed nuance in this field of study and you are also thinking in metaterms, that are very - and I mean very - important for this kind of study (e.g.: "it is important not what we think, but what the German high command was thinking"). Your well structured arguments supported by sources are great. This video brings ibteresting and needed viewpoint into WWI discussion and I think it achieves even some degree of academic-grade discussion. Keep up the great work!

[briantarigan]

The rise of Russian economy, the success of Stolypin's reforms and the great rearnament program of Russian armies in the prelude to WW1 is something that is rarely mentioned in popular discussion about the cause of WW1, even before watching this video i already know for quite some time now that German Military Circle at that time thought that the Russian army would be strategically invicible for them if their great rearnament program goes uninterupted until 1917, Schliefen plan itself being deviced to knock France out of the war as quick as possible like 1870 so Germany can focused on the prospect of any long war with Russia

[dwarvenminer]

I like your willingness to admit your changes in opinion when it comes to interpreting your historical sources. Most of the time history channels will usually state something plainly without going in the nuances of interpreting correspondence and the opinions of the people that defined foreign policy.

[aaronjones]

What I find so unique is that the World Wars so entirely scarred the minds of the West that the entire idea of expanding state borders by force was done away with. I find myself wholly incapable of relating to the leaders of this time period who could countenance a bit of war here or there for the sake of national honor or borderlands.

[noaccount]

Damn man that is some next level Thucydean nightmare. Imagine being forced into a war you think you can't win in a last ditch bid to avoid a war you know you won't win. I wonder what the diplomatic theatre of Europe would have looked like if no great war had occurred and the strategic realities of Europe were shaken up by the incredible economic eclipsing of Europe by the United States of America

[blockboygames]

What a wonderful video. Thank you for the perspective! Cheers from Australia. :)

[rainbowappleslice]

I think this also gives a good understanding of just how unwilling old empires could be at as he said in the video, 'swallow their pride' and concede/backdown. Sometimes you just can't do anything about the situation you find yourself in and you have to accept that fact before desperation, ignorance or something similar leads to the destruction of what you are trying to protect. it's an oversimplification but sort of inevitable in a world so obsessed with showing strength and the international image of the nation.

[obiwankenobi]

3:30 I think it’s worth mentioning why the Austrians were so terrified at the thought of Serbia gaining a base on the Adriatic, since it’s a crucial aspect of the Balkans’ strategic chessboard that went completely unmentioned. Without access to the sea, Serbia could only conduct trade to a significant extent to Austria via the Danube. If Serbia gained access to the sea, not only would it cut into the profits of Austrian industries (and, incidentally, the German investors who had poured enormous capital into Austria), it would also erase the only strategic leg up the Austrians had over Serbia, which was Serbia’s relative economic dependency on Austria.

[stooge_mobile]

Fantastic video, hopefully you get a bunch more exposure.
This doesn't suffer at all from focusing on a single factor.
You focus on too much, you get lost in the weeds. This is concise, direct, and deliberates on the important stuff.
Well done!

[nygothuey]

Your videos exploring the historical geopolitical reality in Europe are so well done. Thank you.

[captainez]

I’ve always absolutely loved the aesthetic of the maps in these videos

[_Ultima_]

I would like to see a longer economic history and situation for other countries, for example Italy. In the same way as you did for Britain and the USA

[Schnitzelfox]

0:04 I would like to see your source for that claim.

[vishackvapricorn]

Let me grab my popcorn, Old Britannia has just posted.