Ah, goes to show I don’t know my modern European battles very well. >.>
but the first world war was a weird bit of history, the more I read about it, the more confused I become as to why in the hell that conflict was even started. It reads more like a bar fight that went horribly out of control and lasted for four years and killed 20 million people for no apparent real reason … which then laid the foundation for another more horrible war after.
Yeah, more or less. Best summary would be:
Europe tries to make massive alliances for deterrence, under the understandable reasoning that no one wants to fight a stronger opponent than themselves
Alliances become so massive and entangled that one country (Austro-Hungary) deciding to start an armed conflict with a smaller country (Serbia), drags every other country into the conflict
Countries aren’t always rational actors, and even when they are, placing bets on being able to force a fait accompli before consequences hit (a la Russia with Crimea in 2014) is always a risk.
You can also apportion some blame to Kaiser Wilhelm II for being such a dumbass as to give a metaphorical blank check to Austro-Hungary so he could sound big and strong in support of Germany’s allies on the world stage. He had a lot of mommy and daddy issues. Thanks, monarchy.
It was said, early on, when the opening moves were being played and diplomatic avenues were still being tried, that in Austro-Hungary, the mood was that the war was inevitable but not serious, while in Germany, the mood was that the war was serious but not inevitable.
BTW … I love all the references to Black Adder (that is the show right?) and Rowan Atkinson and Stephen Fry … I really have to take time to watch that show
Oh, yes, the whole show is fantastic! Especially the last season.
Ah, goes to show I don’t know my modern European battles very well. >.>
Yeah, more or less. Best summary would be:
Countries aren’t always rational actors, and even when they are, placing bets on being able to force a fait accompli before consequences hit (a la Russia with Crimea in 2014) is always a risk.
You can also apportion some blame to Kaiser Wilhelm II for being such a dumbass as to give a metaphorical blank check to Austro-Hungary so he could sound big and strong in support of Germany’s allies on the world stage. He had a lot of mommy and daddy issues. Thanks, monarchy.
It was said, early on, when the opening moves were being played and diplomatic avenues were still being tried, that in Austro-Hungary, the mood was that the war was inevitable but not serious, while in Germany, the mood was that the war was serious but not inevitable.
Oh, yes, the whole show is fantastic! Especially the last season.
Of all the reading I’ve done so far … here’s my favourite summary of the First World War
https://stephaniehuesler.com/2019/12/15/history-undusted-if-world-war-i-were-a-bar-fight/