The death of Archduke Ferdinand immediately caused an uproar in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and demonstrations were held in several cities within the empire.
When William II, who was on vacation in the Netherlands, heard the news of Archduke Ferdinand's death, he immediately ended his vacation and rushed back home. Because William II was the first emperor to invite Ferdinand and his wife, William II and Archduke Ferdinand were very good friends. The word "friend" was indeed rare for William II.
Tsar Nicholas II announced a three-week mourning period, but Nicholas II did not pay much attention because his youngest son fell and broke his leg, causing internal bleeding, and because of hemophilia, he could not stop the bleeding at all.
King George V, still embroiled in the issue of Irish Home Rule, called for a peaceful resolution to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
French President Poincaré didn't even take the matter to heart.
He was ready to visit St. Petersburg.
The attention paid to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand lasted only a few days in Europe before it was replaced by another incident, such as the wife of former French Prime Minister Joseph Caillaud shooting Calmette, the editor of Le Figaro, because Calmette had in his hands the love letters that former Prime Minister Joseph Caillaud had written to his current wife before she divorced his ex-wife.
For ordinary citizens, this is much more interesting than the assassination of a crown prince.
It seems as if everything is over.
until.
July 4, 1914.
German Ambassador to Vienna.
Heinrich Leonhard von Chersky-Bogendorff.
Arrived at Berlin Palace to meet with Kaiser Wilhelm II.
In addition to William II himself, the person with William II was naturally Hilde. William II was still wearing a military uniform, while Hilde was wearing a black backless evening dress.
Chersky saluted William II and Hilde.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness."
"Whatever Austria wants to do, just tell it directly."
"Your Majesty, the Vienna cabinet is discussing the war against Serbia. I think you should understand.
They need to ask you for your opinion, whether you will support them."
"Then tell them that they can take action against Serbia and I will give them whatever they want.
What to offer.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Chersky saluted William II and Hilde again.
Then he turned and left.
This conversation was very quick and simple.
William II complained to Hilde beside him.
"Serbia is a bunch of lunatics. I should have let Bulgaria occupy their capital Belgrade."
Obviously.
William II's words sounded a bit angry.
But it's more of a helplessness.
He thought Germany could control the situation in the Balkans, but he didn't expect that the Ottomans would lose control and the Serbs would
Something happened to Via.
Hilde asked back to William II.
"You think this war will never start."
"No."
"I think they will misinterpret your words to mean that Austria-Hungary must go to war with Serbia, otherwise William II will be unhappy about it and is ready to go to war with Russia."
"It doesn't matter. As long as they are not fools, this war will never start."
"So sure?"
"I know Franz Joseph very well. He is not a war advocate. He is old and he prefers a stable situation. Many of their civil servants are not war advocates. If they really wanted to fight, they would have fought during the Balkan War and would not have dragged it on until now. France and Russia are not ready yet."
William II said affirmatively.
He didn't think that Austria-Hungary would really fight with Serbia. From 1912 to 1913, Austria-Hungary had made countless war plans.
The old Emperor Franz Joseph I would never sign a declaration of war.
It is also difficult for Hungary to agree.
"Well, if you think so, I have to prepare for the war."
"What can you do to prepare?"
"Be prepared to lose. I don't want to become a trophy."
When Hilde walked out of the Hofburg Palace.
There is less than a month left before the war begins, and that is when Hilde's true road to power begins.
After the Viennese Ambassador returned to Vienna.
It was exactly as Hilde expected.
This was exaggerated and brought to the cabinet in Vienna.
This also gave the Austro-Hungarian Empire the confidence to declare war on Serbia, and also gave it the confidence to deal with Russia.
But Franz Joseph I was just as William II had expected.
Still did not agree to sign a declaration of war.
Hungarian Prime Minister Tisza also rejected the radical strategy.
final.
The Vienna Cabinet can only make changes, for example, put forward some conditions to Serbia that Serbia will never agree to, but it still has to wait because French President Poincaré will pay a three-day visit to Russia on July 20.
It was impossible for the Austro-Hungarian Empire to declare war while French President Poincaré was still in Moscow, which was equivalent to giving France and Russia an opportunity for direct negotiations.
It turned out that Austria-Hungary did not want war.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire deliberately released the news of war mobilization, hoping that Britain, France and Germany would put pressure on Russia. But France handled it in a
The approach was still relatively conservative. Not only in the cabinet, but also among the people, there were strong anti-war voices, especially from the Socialist Party.
They even released the captured Serbian Commander-in-Chief Putnik.
They are all expressing the signal of peace for the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
It seems that there is not much reaction from any country.
Including France.
The French cabinet has a strong sense of crisis about this incident. Ensuring the alliance between France and Russia is the most important thing.
If the French cabinet implements
If they are willing to join the war, it will be tantamount to giving the opposition an opportunity.
And in the British Cabinet.
The only ones who supported the war were Prime Minister Asquith, First Lord of the Admiralty Churchill, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Masterman. Except for those who did not express their views, almost half of the entire cabinet clearly expressed their opposition to the war.
The most crucial one is the intention of King George V of England.
As long as George V was against the war, it was meaningless for the cabinet to argue fiercely.
Relatively speaking.
The only relatively radical country is Russia.
This is not accurate enough. It was after Germany officially intervened in the Balkans in 1913 that a large number of radicals began to emerge in Russia, especially in the army. The army of the Russian Empire was almost entirely composed of war factions.
but.
It doesn't matter.
Because the Russian Emperor Nicholas II was not willing to go to war, as long as Nicholas II himself was unwilling, Russia's war faction was meaningless.
until.
July 23, 1914.
Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia.
Obviously, other countries did not take it seriously, which made the Austro-Hungarian Empire seriously dissatisfied.
Countries around the world are really feeling nervous.
The war may start soon, and they must come up with a response strategy.
British Empire.
London.
Cabinet meeting in Whitehall.
George V unceremoniously threw the document in the face of Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith.
"Is this what you promised me there would be no war?"
Even Asquith, the Prime Minister of the Empire, could only act like a primary school student admitting his mistake in front of George V, even though it was not he who guaranteed it at all, but the Foreign Secretary Grey. George V didn't care about it.
But Asquith had not anticipated this.
The entire imperial cabinet did not expect things to turn out like this.
Foreign Secretary Edward Grey stood up and said.
"Your Majesty, the worst has not yet happened. We can still stop this war."
"What are you going to do?"
"We can hold a four-nation meeting on the 26th to resolve this crisis through consultation."
"You better not give me a declaration of war to sign in a few days, telling me, Your Majesty, that maybe we should have done something, but now it's too late!
Finished.
George V turned and left.
The facts are indeed as George V said.
Perhaps the British Empire should have done something on June 28th.
But it's too late now.
July 25, 1914.
Serbia rejected the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum.
July 25, 1914.
Tsar Nicholas II signs a partial mobilization order.
July 26, 1914.
British Foreign Secretary Edward Grey's Four-Power Conference was rejected.
July 28, 1914.
Kaiser Wilhelm II sent a document to Vienna, asking Austria-Hungary to occupy Belgrade, the capital of Serbia
Germany, in order to demand that Serbia agree to Austria-Hungary's conditions.
However.
By the time Wilhelm II's documents arrived in Vienna, Emperor Franz Joseph I had already signed the declaration of war.
July 28, 1914.
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
July 29, 1914.
Russia.
St. Petersburg. Hermitage.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Dmitrievich Sazonov arrives at the Winter Palace to meet with Tsar Nicholas II.
Sazonov handed a general mobilization order to Nicholas II, which made Nicholas II frown.
The meaning is self-evident.
Sazonov spoke up.
"Your Majesty, we are not seeking war. We are only seeking to maintain our influence in the Balkans and to corrupt Austria."
"Is a partial mobilization order not enough?
"If it is only a partial mobilization order, our army may collapse under the attack of the German army."
"You mean we go to war with Germany?
It can be seen that Nicholas II was suppressing his anger.
Sazonov said.
"Your Majesty, I am the same as you. We are all trying our best to avoid this war. No one wants this war. Emperor Wilhelm is the same as us. He also does not want this war to happen. We can prevent this war. But we must prepare for the worst. We cannot be unprepared."
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Your Majesty, I do not want to start a war, I can assure you of that."
Nicholas II took a deep breath.
final.
Or sign your name under that general mobilization order.
"Tell Germany that we have been working for peace and we still want peace."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Even in the early hours of the night.
Nicholas II also couldn't sleep. He didn't know what this war meant. Perhaps it was even worse than the Russo-Japanese War. He knew he shouldn't escape, but Nicholas II didn't know what else he could do. He wanted to avoid this war as much as possible.
then.
Nicholas II got up from his bed and sent another telegram to Kaiser Wilhelm II in his personal capacity. They exchanged ten telegrams.
It makes no sense.
Nicholas II demanded that Serbian affairs be referred to the Hague Conference.
William II demanded that Nicholas II must cancel the general mobilization.
They couldn't convince anyone else.
July 30, 1914.
British Foreign Secretary Edward Grey once again warned Austria-Hungary, but it was no longer a warning.
July 31, 1914.
Russia's total mobilization has triggered the conditions for launching the Schlieffen Plan.
Kaiser Wilhelm II made a final effort toward war.
Russia.
St. Petersburg.
Friedrich von Portales, the German ambassador to St. Petersburg, met with Sergei Dmitrievich Sazonov, the Russian Foreign Minister. He had been the ambassador in St. Petersburg for seven years and was a very good friend of Sazonov.
only.
This time.
Portales delivered the ultimatum from Kaiser Wilhelm II to Sazonov.
"If Russia does not stop all military measures against Austria-Hungary, Germany will mobilize for war in 12 hours. Will Russia agree to Germany's demands?"
"Although Russia is unable to stop mobilization for war, it hopes to continue negotiations and believes there is still hope of avoiding war."
*The consequences of not agreeing to the German ultimatum are extremely serious."
"Although Russia is unable to stop mobilization for war, it hopes to continue negotiations and believes there is still hope of avoiding war."
"The consequences of not agreeing to the German ultimatum are extremely serious."
"Although Russia is unable to stop mobilization for war, it hopes to continue negotiations and believes there is still hope of avoiding war."
Portales took out the German declaration of war from his arms.
Handed it to Sazonov.
Sazonov took the declaration of war.
The two shook hands.
"I never thought of leaving St. Petersburg in this way."
Portales turned.
"Seryozha, we are no longer friends."
As German General Ludendorff said.
Germans only know how to love and hate.
There is no room for anything else.
Even those of noble status like them are just dust crushed in the torrent of history.
August 2, 1914.
Germany invades Luxembourg.
August 3, 1914.
Germany declares war on France.
Augus
t 4, 1914.
Germany declares war on Belgium and Britain declares war on Germany.
August 5, 1914.
Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia.
August 6, 1914.
Serbia declares war on Germany.
August 10, 1914.
France declares war on Austria-Hungary.
August 12, 1914
Britain declares war on Austria-Hungary.
The war to end all wars has officially begun.