100 years ago today, 29 July 1914: Russia.Germany. ==[100.AM, to Aug.02] > The Czar and the Kaiser exchange the increasingly frantic ‘Willy-Nicky’ telegrams - the Czar wires “I foresee that very soon I will be overwhelmed by the pressure brought against me…” Germany.Austria-Hungary. ==[430.AM] > Bethmann sends Telegram 174, an ambiguous attempt to limit Austria to an occupation of Belgrade - German Ambassador Tschirschky hesitates to deliver it Russia. ==[720.AM] > Without authorization, Russian Chief of Staff Yanushkevich tells his generals that a general mobilization will begin on Jul.30 - ~the Czar signs both partial and general mobilization decrees Britain. ==[700.AM] > The British First Fleet departs Portland for Scapa Flo, passing through the Straits of Dover in the night ==[morning] > A British Cabinet meeting bitterly divides over the European crisis: most members strongly support neutrality in opposition to Grey and Asquith - there is uncertainty on how to react if Germany invades Belgium France. ==[early afternoon] > Poincaré and Viviani finally arrive back in Paris, traveling through fervent patriotic demonstrations Britain. ==[200.PM] > British government departments are instructed to implement war precautions - ~authorities throughout the Empire, including the Royal Navy, are ordered to a state of readiness - ~the Committee for Imperial Defense opens its War Book - ~the Cabinet rejects Churchill’s request to mobilize the fleet ==[afternoon] > When Austrian Ambassador Mensdorff says it’s too late for a settlement with Serbia, Grey responds “Then it is perhaps too late also to avert a general war.” - Grey declines to give assurances to French Ambassador Paul Cambon, but grimly warns German Ambassador Lichnowsky that Britain might intervene in a French-German conflict Russia.Austria-Hungary. ==[late afternoon] > Sazonov ominously warns Austrian Ambassador Szápáry that “Russian interests were identical with those of Serbia;” he angrily ends the meeting when he’s informed of the Austrian shelling of Belgrade Germany.Russia. ==[late afternoon] > Berlin learns of the imminent Russian partial mobilization and receives reports that Russian forces are moving to frontier assembly points - Jagow angrily tells Russian Ambassador Sverbejev that “Germany would be obliged to mobilize as well. There was therefore nothing more to do: from now on diplomats would have to let the cannons talk.” Germany. ==[late afternoon] > ~Moltke is aware that an Austrian mobilization will provoke a Russian one and bring on a general war, which he describes as “the mutual butchery of the civilized nations of Europe”… but he urges Bethmann to stand firm ==[440.PM] > Bethmann and German military leaders meet with the Kaiser, who refuses to allow Bethmann to propose a naval accord to ensure British neutrality Russia.Germany. ==[700.PM] > German Ambassador Pourtalès warns Sazonov that Russian preparations will force a German mobilization - Sazonov is convinced that a general war is virtually inevitable France.Germany. ==[530-730.PM] > The French Council of Ministers meets - German Ambassador Schoen warns Premier Viviani against undertaking preparations for war Russia. ==[800.PM] > The Czar briefly approves a general Russian mobilization Russia.Germany. ==[940.PM] > The Czar receives a telegram from the Kaiser warning that Russian war preparations will cause a European war - the Czar cancels the Russian general mobilization Austria-Hungary.Germany. ==[late evening] > German Ambassador Tschirschky at last mentions Bethmann’s restraining Telegram 174 to Austria, but Berchtold refuses to limit military action against Serbia Germany.Britain. ==[1100.PM] > The ‘infamous offer’: unaware of Grey’s warnings to Lichnowsky, Bethmann proposes to British Ambassador Goschen that in the event of a German-French war, Germany will not annex French territory if Britain pledges neutrality - Britain is not impressed Russia.Austria-Hungary. ==[midnight] > Russia orders a partial mobilization directed against Austria Serbia. ==Prince Alexander issues a war manifesto calling on Serbs to “Defend your homes, hearths, and Serbia with all your strength.” Serbia.Austria-Hungary. ==(to Aug.12) > Austrians make eighteen unsuccessful attempts to cross the Danube between Belgrade and Gradishte Germany. ==The German fleet is mobilizing Britain.Ottoman Empire. ==The British Admiralty considers the seizure of the just-completed Turkish dreadnought Sultan Osman I just as five hundred Turkish sailors arrive at the Tyne to fetch her Belgium. ==Belgium strengthens the fortifications at Liège Italy.Austria-Hungary. ==An Austrian proposal that does not promise compensation for Italy is angrily rejected by Foreign Minister San Giuliano, who is planning to declare Italian neutrality rather than honor its alliance with Austria and Germany Italy. ==Italian Chief of Staff Cadorna recommends moving fortress artillery from the Austrian to the French border - the proposal is approved by the King on Aug.02 Africa. ==Defensive precautions are undertaken in French Equatorial Africa International. ==(to Jul.30) > International socialist leaders hold an emergency meeting in Brussels, with Jaurès, Haase, Luxemburg, Adler, and Hardie in attendance - the Frenchman Jaurès and the German Haase publicly embrace, despite a “sense of hopelessness and frustration” - the International Socialist Congress is rescheduled from Aug.23 in Vienna to Aug.09 in Paris, but it will be overtaken by events
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 10:17:34 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015