German Recklessness

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German Recklessness

        While many people are of the opinion that War Guilt should have been placed on all European countries involved in the First World War (shared blame) or that the blame for the First World War should be placed solely on Germany, many overlook the possibility of mere German recklessness having been the most responsible for causing World War I. This interpretation, of which most was put forward by the Australian historian L.C.F. Turner, states that the Germans did not deliberately provoke war.

Points:

  • The Schlieffen Plan – The Schlieffen Plan may only have been a form of defense; a strategy intended to safeguard Germany in the case of Encirclement.
  • The Potsdam Conference – The Potsdam Conference may only have been held due to fear of Encirclement. The Germans may not have thought that by holding the conference, other European powers would feel threatened.
  • The Blank Cheque – By issuing a plank cheque to Austria, Germany may only have wanted to strengthen and protect its only secure ally. Therefore, the Blank Cheque may also only have been a form of defense against Encirclement.
  • Economic rivalry - It cannot be said that Germany desired war for the reason that it would bring them to the lead as far as European economy was concerned. This is because Germany was already well on its way to economic victory before the War and would have flourished had peace been kept. Therefore, Germany was perhaps only being reckless in being so anxious for its economy to get ahead.
  • German restraint of Austria - In 1913 Germany restrained the Austrians from declaring war on Serbia. Therefore, many believe, Germany could not have wanted war and thus could not also have deliberately caused it.
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  • Tragedy of miscalculation – Germany could not have intentionally provoked a war as German politicians simply miscalculated by assuming that mobilization did not necessarily mean war. Furthermore, Russia (and not Germany) was the first country to mobilize.

Explanation:

        The Schlieffen Plan – The Schlieffen Plan was Germany’s plan to attack France through a neutral country (Belgium). The concept of the plan was to quickly defeat France. However, it was probably a plan drawn out of fear of Encirclement (a fear of being surrounded by hostile powers). Therefore, the Schlieffen Plan should probably be considered as a form ...

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