In my opinion, i think Germany is to blame the war because they caused a lot of problems between countries.(Source D) And they also where the first ones to attack another country (Belgium) before any other nation attacked each other. Germany was really aggressive with other countries, pushing them to start the war. They said Its better to fight now then later. Because later Austria-Hungary will be weaker and not be able to fight at the side of the Germans.(Source C).
All this evidence proves that Germany is to blame the war.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/germanresponsibility.htm
-Karl Arabian
Germany is to blame for starting World War I because they were the first country to declare war before any other country. That country was Belgium, and Belgium was one of the neutral countries that did not want war but Germany decided to attack them. Austria-Hungary attacked Serbia and this caused the war to elevate to a bigger conflict then it already was, but this attack was only forced because of the strong influence of Germany telling Austria-Hungary start a fight with Serbia. So overall Germany did not only start the war but they also influenced another country that was apart of their alliance (Austria-Hungary) to fight with another country (Serbia). In evidence 2 it shows that Germany had broken their pledge.
Piranavan R.
Evidence 1:
Evidence A:
On 6 July, Bethmann, the German Foreign Minister, told the Austrians, "Austria must judge what is to be done with Serbia. But whatever Austria's decision, you can count upon it that Germany will stand by you as an ally." He added, "If war must break out, better now than in one or two years' time when .the Triple Entente will be stronger."
Kaiser Wilhelm and Bethmann did more than give Austria-Hungary a free hand. They encouraged the Austrians to start a war and to risk the consequences. If it came to world war, they were confident of winning now but less confident of winning later. If they had wanted a peaceful solution, they would have approached the British at once. Instead, they did nothing, hoping to keep Britain neutral in a continental war.
From A. J. P. Taylor, 'The Struggle for Mastery in Europe', 1954.
Evidence 2:
A German cigarette card from about 1900 with a quotation from a famous German General, Moltke, who said, "War is an element in God's natura"
Evidence 2:
A British propaganda poster from World War I. Try to pay particular attention to the small text in this poster.
Evidence 3:
Germany and Austria were responsible for starting the First World War believing they could win European domination, historian Sir Max Hastings has said. Germany pushed and bullied others to make the first move and start WW1.
Germany and Austria were responsible for starting the First World War believing they could win European domination, historian Sir Max Hastings has said. Germany pushed and bullied others to make the first move and start WW1.
Evidence 4:
Russian mobilization and the threat of a two-front war, Germany had little choice but to initiate an attack upon France in self defense.
Germany was guilty of many things before and during World War I, such as the use of mustard gas against British troops and the massacre of thousands.
Russian mobilization and the threat of a two-front war, Germany had little choice but to initiate an attack upon France in self defense.
Germany was guilty of many things before and during World War I, such as the use of mustard gas against British troops and the massacre of thousands.
Evidence 5:
Since Germany had, in fact invaded neutral Belgium before any other nation had attacked another, the clause appeared to have an obvious measure of validity .
Since Germany had, in fact invaded neutral Belgium before any other nation had attacked another, the clause appeared to have an obvious measure of validity .
Evidence 6:
This term 'blank cheque' was also used to describe how Germany dealt with Austria-Hungary in the aftermath of Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination by Serbians. Austria-Hungary would never wage a major war without Germany's backing. But instead of restraining Austria-Hungary from starting WW1, Germany simply allowed Austria-Hungary to start WW1 and do whatever it wanted, thus Germany gave Austria-Hungary a 'blank cheque' to start WW1. This is the argument used by many to blame Germany for starting WW1.
This term 'blank cheque' was also used to describe how Germany dealt with Austria-Hungary in the aftermath of Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination by Serbians. Austria-Hungary would never wage a major war without Germany's backing. But instead of restraining Austria-Hungary from starting WW1, Germany simply allowed Austria-Hungary to start WW1 and do whatever it wanted, thus Germany gave Austria-Hungary a 'blank cheque' to start WW1. This is the argument used by many to blame Germany for starting WW1.
A Couple of Witnesses of the War
Witness 1
German militarism ,which is the crime of the last fifty years, had been working for this twenty-five years. It is the logical result of their doctrine. It had to come.
Walter Hines Page, US Ambassador in London, 1914. The USA was an ally of Britain and France during the war, and fought against Germany from 1917 to 1918.
German militarism ,which is the crime of the last fifty years, had been working for this twenty-five years. It is the logical result of their doctrine. It had to come.
Walter Hines Page, US Ambassador in London, 1914. The USA was an ally of Britain and France during the war, and fought against Germany from 1917 to 1918.
Witness 2
The Schlieffen Plan must rank as one of the supreme idiocies of modern times...
It restricted the actions of the German government disastrously. In July 1914 they had just two choices; either to abandon the only plan they had to win the next war, or to go to war immediately.
Historian DE Marshall in The Great War: myth and reality, 1988
The Schlieffen Plan must rank as one of the supreme idiocies of modern times...
It restricted the actions of the German government disastrously. In July 1914 they had just two choices; either to abandon the only plan they had to win the next war, or to go to war immediately.
Historian DE Marshall in The Great War: myth and reality, 1988
Witness 3
The Greatest war of modern times, and perhaps in the whole history of the human race, was begun by Germany using the crime of a schoolboy as an excuse... Austria had regarded the growing power of Serbia with concern for many years... The situation in Europe seemed to encourage the German peoples in this adventure. England, it was thought, could do nothing... with the threats of civil war in Ireland. Russia was in the midst of the reorganization of her army... As for France, Germany believed herself quite competent to deal with her, and sought an opportunity of doing so.
From the Great war: The standard History of the All-Europe Conflict, 1914 ( Vol IV). This was a patriotic weekly journal written and published in Britain, describing the war 'as it happened.
The Greatest war of modern times, and perhaps in the whole history of the human race, was begun by Germany using the crime of a schoolboy as an excuse... Austria had regarded the growing power of Serbia with concern for many years... The situation in Europe seemed to encourage the German peoples in this adventure. England, it was thought, could do nothing... with the threats of civil war in Ireland. Russia was in the midst of the reorganization of her army... As for France, Germany believed herself quite competent to deal with her, and sought an opportunity of doing so.
From the Great war: The standard History of the All-Europe Conflict, 1914 ( Vol IV). This was a patriotic weekly journal written and published in Britain, describing the war 'as it happened.
Witness 4
...the Kaiser authorised me to inform our gracious majesty that we might, in this case as in all others, rely upon Germany's full support... it was the Kaiser's opinion that his action must not be delayed...Russia was in no way prepared for war and would think twice before it appealed to arms...if we had recognised the the necessity of warlike action against Serbia, the Kaiser would regret if we did not make use of the present moment which is all in our favour.
Count Szogyeny, the Austrian ambassador in Berlin, reporting a famous conversation with the Kaiser, July 1914. Historians are divided as to whether the Kaiser was making a planned policy statement or was simply giving reassurance on the spur of the moment.
...the Kaiser authorised me to inform our gracious majesty that we might, in this case as in all others, rely upon Germany's full support... it was the Kaiser's opinion that his action must not be delayed...Russia was in no way prepared for war and would think twice before it appealed to arms...if we had recognised the the necessity of warlike action against Serbia, the Kaiser would regret if we did not make use of the present moment which is all in our favour.
Count Szogyeny, the Austrian ambassador in Berlin, reporting a famous conversation with the Kaiser, July 1914. Historians are divided as to whether the Kaiser was making a planned policy statement or was simply giving reassurance on the spur of the moment.