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Caption: War Publications - WWI Compilation 1923 - Article 49
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3. Why the Central Powers wanted war. a. Austria: to cripple Serbia and promote her own ambitions in the Balkans. b. Germany: (1) To recover her position as first power in Europe which she felt she had lost. (2) To break up thu Triple Entente, or at least render it harmless. (3) To promote the Pan-German plans in the Near East. 4. The plan: a swift march upon Paris while Austria kept tlie Russians occupied; the war was to be short, first victory over France, next the defeat of Russia. The plan failed for two chief reasons: a. Belgium refused to participate in the crime against France; her refusal delayed the march upon Paris and the French were given time to prepare. b. England entered the war in defense of Belgian neutrality. Note with respect to Belgium: (1) The neutrality of Belgium was guaranteed by the European powers including Prussia. (2) A state must defend its independence or (if its neutrality is guaranteed) the guarantee becomes void. 5. The European situation, August, 1914: distinctly favorable to Germany. a. The recent strengthening of the military forces in Belgium, France and Russia had not yet yielded effective results. b. Revolutionary and disintegrating movements were gaining headway in Russia. c. The socialists in France were in arms against the military law of the year before. d. England was facing a civil war in Ireland and it was thought likely that she would have to deal with revolutionary movements in India and South Africa. Literature. •Holt and Chilton, History of Europe, 539-679. Hazen, Modern European History, 608-618. •War Cyclopedia, "Albert I," "Belgium/' "Bethmann-Hollweg," "Grey. Viacom*/' "Mobilization Controversy/' "Potsdam Conference," "SasonoT," "Sasonov's Efforts to Maintain Peace," "War, Declaration of," "War, Responsibility for, in 1914." * Conquest and Kultur, 181486.
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