Sidney B. Fay's The Origins Of Serbi The First World War

Although Germany is often painted as the sole belligerent in the onset of the Great War, it is evident by actions taken during and before the July crisis that Germany played no larger role than other European nations. These actions include the Russian empire’s decision to mobilize in addition to their support of Serbia as well as Serbia’s unwillingness to accept consequences sent by Austria-Hungry.

The Kingdom of Serbia’s actions leading up to as well as during the July Crisis can be labeled as the reason for an outbreak of war in Europe. Serbia’s failure to act against the Black Hand terrorist and inability to accept the consequence of its actions directly or indirectly aiding this radical group. Both Samuel R. Williamson and Sidney B. Fay

This sole act escalated the war to the point of no return as the German Empire was soon required to follow with preparations for war out of self-defense. Germany did not want a world war, this is evident in an extract from Sidney B. Fay’s “The Origins of the World War (1930)” where he presents the evidence that “[Germany] sent ultimatums to St. Petersburg and Paris, warning that German mobilization would follow unless Russia suspended mobilization within twelve hours.” Although there may be biases within Fay’s writing, his logic is sound; Germany was forced into a war which soon became a world war by Russia’s hasty mobilization and lack of consideration for Germany. The Kaiser of the German Empire pleaded in the name of the two cousin’s old friendship for the Tsar of Russia to stand down. This seemed successful until Tsar Nicholas reinstated the general mobilization. This is seen in the Willy-Nicky correspondence, several telegrams sent back and forth from Kaiser Wilhelm and Tsar Nicholas on the eve of the Great War. In this correspondence, both leaders beg for a solution to the problem at hand and agree for Germany to act as a mediator to avoid war. This was short lived as Russian mobilization began soon after. Sadly, this time Russia was unwilling to call off mobilization even when the Russian foreign minister Sergey Sazonov was begged by an emotional German ambassador, the answer was no. This single act of mobilization is what brought a small, localized Balkan war into a large European conflict or World