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We could spend the rest of our lives discussing the origins of the greatest disaster of the 20th centurywhich broke out in the summer of 1914, had an intermission from 1918 until 1939 an ended only with thefall of the so-called Communist regime in the Soviet Union.However I have a specific question. As nations do not start wars--men do--is there a consensus of just what man is most culpable for the escalation of an Austrian-Serbian conflict into what became an almostunimaginable horror that finally exceeded the excesses of the Thirty Years War--1618-1648.Here are the prime suspects--there may be others.The Kaiser--William II Hohenzollern Head of State and as Warlord--head of Germany's armed forcesBethmann von Hollweg German Foreign MinisterHelmuth von Moltke German Chief of Staff of the Armed ForcesFranz Joseph EMPEROR of Austria-HungaryConrad von Hotzendorf Austrian Chief of Staff: Armed ForcesLeopold Berchtold Foreign Minister of Austria-HungaryLord Grey--Foreign Minister of Great Britain under Asquith's Liberal governmentPrime Minister Asquith of Great BritainNicholas II Czar of all the Russias and AutocratGeneral Sazonov Military advisor to the TsarPresident Poincare of FranceAlexander Karageorgevich Regent of SerbiaIf you believe that one of these was responsible or most responsible please indicate why. I realizethat this subject is a bit dated, but I am hoping for some input. I have my pick in my pocket.Hop[ing to hear from you:WillyD
Not one “who”; check the thread Origins of WWI (reply#3, I think)… these considered just about anyone that would have been in power would have been saddled with the same result.
The question posed places a heavy burden on one man's shoulders. It seems that the word “responsible” might be a better word than “culpable”, though. In any case, I am unfortunately not that versed in World War I history to make an educated response.
World War I had a peculiar inertia that once started, it could not be easily stopped. No one person could be blamed for the beginning of the war. It was the inevitable result of colonialism run amok.
Gavrilo Princip; the assassin of Fraz Ferdinand and Sophie. this is the fellow that lit the match in the powere magazine that was pre-WWI Europe."If I hadn't done it the Germans would have found another excuse."?Supposedly his last words, but not proven.
I knew that–looks as though they beat him–or is he merely contrite? I stood in his place–they have footprints in Sarajevo where he actually stood–I felt an historical shiver!
I knew that--looks as though they beat him--or is he merely contrite? I stood in his place--they have footprints in Sarajevo where he actually stood--I felt an historical shiver!
... had TB.
The culprit ?I'd say Nationalism. (and his offspring: Romantism)
Works for me as well as anything. [see thread mentioned above]
YES YES–I read all this–I was hoping that someone had peered through the keyhole and was able to seea face and thereby get a specific name of the man who was most responsible for letting an assassination in an obscure part of the Balkans grow into the greatest conflict of the century. Apparently my hopes have been dashed so i will throw my name into the next midden heap I pass here in the hinterlands.
If you are going to try and pin the tail on the Donkey look at von Hotzendorf. He continually advocated war against Serbia and damn the consequences. He was the one consistent voice for war in the Austrian cabinet. I would submit that it was the Austrian desire for war against Serbia that set it off but it was the Russian refusal to countenance interference in what they considered there sphere that set off the wider war.
YES YES--I read all this--I was hoping that someone had peered through the keyhole and was able to seea face and thereby get a specific name of the man who was most responsible for letting an assassination in an obscure part of the Balkans grow into the greatest conflict of the century. Apparently my hopes have been dashed so i will throw my name into the next midden heap I pass here in the hinterlands.
How about the Rothchilds, the Rockefellers, and the other banking robber barons who financed both sides of the war? Woodrow Wilson even admitted as much.
