The Family Relationships that Couldn't Stop World War I

On this day, 102 years ago, Czar Nicholas II of Russia and his first cousin, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, begin a frantic exchange of telegrams regarding the newly erupted war in the Balkan region and the possibility of its escalation into a general European war.

One day prior, Austria-Hungary had declared war on Serbia, one month after the assassination in Sarajevo of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife by a Serbian nationalist. In the wake of the killings, Germany had promised Austria-Hungary its unconditional support in whatever punitive action it chose to take towards Serbia, regardless of whether or not Serbia's powerful ally, Russia, stepped into the conflict.



By the time an ultimatum from Vienna to Serbia was rejected on July 25, Russia, defying Austro-German expectations, had already ordered preliminary mobilization to begin, believing that Berlin was using the assassination crisis as a pretext to launch a war to shore up its power in the Balkans.

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The relationship between Nicholas and Wilhelm, two grandsons of Britain's Queen Victoria, had long been a rocky one.

Though Wilhelm described himself as Victoria's favorite grandson, the great queen in turn warned Nicholas to be careful of Wilhelm's "mischievous and unstraight-forward proceedings." Victoria did not invite the kaiser, who she described to her prime minister as "a hot-headed, conceited, and wrong-headed young man," to her Diamond Jubilee celebration in 1897, nor her 80th birthday two years later. Czar Nicholas himself commented in 1902 after a meeting with Wilhelm: "He's raving mad!"

Now, however, the two cousins stood at the center of the crisis that would soon escalate into the First World War.

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"In this serious moment, I appeal to you to help me," Czar Nicholas wrote to the kaiser in a telegram sent at one o'clock on the morning of July 29. "An ignoble war has been declared to a weak country. The indignation in Russia shared fully by me is enormous. I foresee that very soon I shall be overwhelmed by the pressure forced upon me and be forced to take extreme measures which will lead to war." This message crossed with one from Wilhelm to Nicholas expressing concern about the effect of Austria's declaration in Russia and urging calm and consideration as a response.


After receiving the czar's telegram, Wilhelm cabled back: "I…share your wish that peace should be maintained. But…I cannot consider Austria's action against Serbia an 'ignoble' war. Austria knows by experience that Serbian promises on paper are wholly unreliable. I understand its action must be judged as trending to get full guarantee that the Serbian promises shall become real facts…I therefore suggest that it would be quite possible for Russia to remain a spectator of the Austro-Serbian conflict without involving Europe in the most horrible war she ever witnessed." Though Wilhelm assured the czar that the German government was working to broker an agreement between Russia and Austria-Hungary, he warned that if Russia were to take military measures against Austria, war would be the result.


The telegram exchange continued over the next few days, as the two men spoke of their desire to preserve peace, even as their respective countries continued mobilizing for war. On July 30, the kaiser wrote to Nicholas: "I have gone to the utmost limits of the possible in my efforts to save peace….Even now, you can still save the peace of Europe by stopping your military measures." The following day, Nicholas replied: "It is technically impossible to stop our military preparations which were obligatory owing to Austria's mobilization. We are far from wishing for war. As long as the negotiations with Austria on Serbia's account are taking place my troops shall not make any provocative action. I give you my solemn word for this." But by that time things had gone too far: Emperor Franz Josef had rejected the kaiser's mediation offer, saying it came too late, as Russia had already mobilized and Austrian troops were already marching on Serbia.

The German ambassador to Russia delivered an ultimatum that night—halt the mobilization within 12 hours, or Germany would begin its own mobilization, a step that would logically proceed to war. By four o'clock in the afternoon of August 1, in Berlin, no reply had come from Russia. At a meeting with Germany's civilian and military leaders—Chancellor Theobald Bethmann von Hollweg and General Erich von Falkenhayn—Kaiser Wilhelm agreed to sign the mobilization orders.

That same day, in his last contribution to what were dubbed the "Willy-Nicky" telegrams, Czar Nicholas pressed the kaiser for assurance that his mobilization did not definitely mean war. Wilhelm's response was dismissive. "I yesterday pointed out to your government the way by which alone war may be avoided….I have…been obliged to mobilize my army. Immediate affirmative clear and unmistakable answer from your government is the only way to avoid endless misery. Until I have received this answer alas, I am unable to discuss the subject of your telegram. As a matter of fact I must request you to immediatly [sic] order your troops on no account to commit the slightest act of trespassing over our frontiers." Germany declared war on Russia that same day.

For fuck sake... did everything happened on this day

Nice history, as for the telegrams it would be better to put some proof about what was really said.

Besides, i didnt knew austrian troops went until belgrade without a fight, this is new to me and im a history lover lol

Prispeval AlBoZzZ, 29.07.2016 at 03:36

Nice history, as for the telegrams it would be better to put some proof about what was really said.

Besides, i didnt knew austrian troops went until belgrade without a fight, this is new to me and im a history lover lol

Do you believe me that i was trying to find scanned telegrams for more than 1h..xD

Prispeval Goblin, 29.07.2016 at 03:36

For fuck sake... did everything happened on this day

Nah.

Prispeval AlBoZzZ, 29.07.2016 at 03:36

im a history lover lol

you're pretty fucking clueless for a history lover

I liked the thread, I'm a history lover and WW1 is one of those complex conflicts that can be considered as a big war between family relatives and can be seen as a gesture of Germany's desires to have a pluricontinental empire that would rival the British one.

Tell us about Churchill being beaten by Serbian officer.

I believe Spanish would like to hear it since they dislike the English.. and French.. kind of Germans as well.. oh and Indians

Prispeval Skanderbeg, 29.07.2016 at 16:34

Tell us about Churchill being beaten by Serbian officer.

I believe Spanish would like to hear it since they dislike the English.. and French.. kind of Germans as well.. oh and Indians

Heard of it but i dont know much, so probably you could make topic about it.

Prispeval Skanderbeg, 29.07.2016 at 16:34

Tell us about Churchill being beaten by Serbian officer.

Tell us about that, Mr. Commie

Prispeval Al Fappino, 29.07.2016 at 18:08

Tell us about that, Mr. Commie

Hi, fanatical genocidal commie here:



Well it was nothing special for that time, but pretty funny when Churchill became the leader of England in WW2, you know, leader of great power with a history of as*-kicking.

All began when England held colonies and natives started to rebel, something like that i don't remember correctly. England used brute force to quel the uprising and Serbian newspaper(like every other in europe and america) published the story about it, so English went furious because someone is 'whistleblowing' about their actions. Then Churchil (mad about it) wrote an article for english newspaper describing Serbians as savages, weak people who were occupied by barbarian asians for 500 years, incapable to defend, like, they don't deserve to be part of 'civilized europe' and so on.
Serbians read that and were surprised 'civilized' monarchy like England wrote something like this. Then one day not long after, Churchill was riding a train through Europe and stopped in Belgrade to pick up passengers, he went outside to stretch his legs. Serbs saw him and spread the word in the city (famous writer, adventurer and politician was in town). There was some military officer who was drinking in bar near train station and when he heard that he ran there to meet Churchill. When he found him, he started to beat him while everyone was watching. It was a great humiliation for Churchill and England and legend says that's why Churchill hated Serbians so much he didn't want to help them in WW2 but he supported communists instead (Tito), although communists were against England, monarchy and capitalism and Serbian royal family was in London in that time. Google it, i forgot the details.



There's also a rumor Churchill was half-serb as his mother probably had sex with the King of Serbia. His mother didn't had 'good reputation' in that time, everyone knew she loved to 'play'. Maybe that made Churchill angry of Serbians to make him write such hateful newspaper article.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3101024/Was-Winston-Churchill-lovechild-King-Serbia-Book-makes-extraordinary-claims-British-hero-s-mother-secret-relationship-Balkan-prince.html

:O