jazzeum
Four Star General
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2005
- Messages
- 38,439
I'm currently reading this book by Sean McMeekin, a Professor of History at Koc University in Turkey, who has written a few books about Russian affairs.
This is basically a blow by blow account, almost hour by hour of the descent into war, starting from the assasination of the Archduke and the Countess. It makes for incredible reading, particularly the general incompetence of the Austrians, particularly the foreign minister Berchtold, and how European government officials and sovereigns always seemed a step behind. Starting from when Austria submitted its ultimatum to Serbia on Thursday, July 23, events seemed to overtake the great powers, with government officials a step behind or misunderstanding what was happening, not to mention outright lies, particularly by the Russians, who consistently denied they were mobilizing or taking steps to mobilize.
As events heat up in late July, you shake your wonder and think how such events probably wouldn't get out of control today, particularly with better communication tools.
One of the better lines in the book is when the Kaiser returns from vacation and Chanceller Bethmann (who too had just returned from vacation) and is starting to realize the noose is starting to tighten around Germany (thanks to Austria, and Germany giving the Austrians a blank check in dealing with Serbia) attempts to resign. The Kaiser answered "You've cooked this broth and now you're going to eat it."
Brad
This is basically a blow by blow account, almost hour by hour of the descent into war, starting from the assasination of the Archduke and the Countess. It makes for incredible reading, particularly the general incompetence of the Austrians, particularly the foreign minister Berchtold, and how European government officials and sovereigns always seemed a step behind. Starting from when Austria submitted its ultimatum to Serbia on Thursday, July 23, events seemed to overtake the great powers, with government officials a step behind or misunderstanding what was happening, not to mention outright lies, particularly by the Russians, who consistently denied they were mobilizing or taking steps to mobilize.
As events heat up in late July, you shake your wonder and think how such events probably wouldn't get out of control today, particularly with better communication tools.
One of the better lines in the book is when the Kaiser returns from vacation and Chanceller Bethmann (who too had just returned from vacation) and is starting to realize the noose is starting to tighten around Germany (thanks to Austria, and Germany giving the Austrians a blank check in dealing with Serbia) attempts to resign. The Kaiser answered "You've cooked this broth and now you're going to eat it."
Brad