Create A Catchy Slogan About The Events In The Balkans

Starter Create a catchy slogan about the events in the Balkans in the lead up to WWI. Who, in your opinion should the finger have pointed at for the outbreak of war? What are your reasons for this?

To What Extent was Germany Responsible for WWI?

Learning Objectives: Assess the contribution of Germany in causing the First World War

Success Criteria: Assess the contribution of historians’ Fischer & Ferguson in the debate of blame for origins of WWI.

The debate about responsibility began immediately after the war had ended….. The Treaty of Versailles blamed Germany for the outbreak of the war. How would Germany have reacted to clause 231? Germany published selective documents that pushed the blame for the war onto other shoulders. By the late 1930’s many accepted Lloyd George’s words of slithering over the brink.

Franco German Historians’ Commission This belief lasted until after the Second World War. In 1951 a group of French & German historians met in a Franco-German Historians’ Commission. One of the subjects discussed was the outbreak of the First World War. Their conclusions were accepted by most historians for the next 10 years. They were determined to build a peaceful relationship between France & Germany.

Source The documents do not permit attributing a conscious desire for a European War to any one government or people. Mutual distrust had hit a peak, and in leading circles it was believed that the war was inevitable. Each one accused the other of aggressive intentions, and only saw a guarantee for security in an alliance system and continual armament increases. From the Franco-German Historians’ Commission 1951

Question The history textbooks in France & Germany in the 1950’s & 60’s were based on the line expressed by the Franco-German Historians’ Commission. In your opinion, was that line accurate?

Key Term Historiographical Revolution Turning points in the writing of history when new ideas are put forward that change how people think. These ideas can constitute a revolution in the writing of history.

The Fischer Controversy In 1961, a German historian, Fritz Fischer, launched a historiographical revolution. In his book Griff nach der Weltmacht, which became abridged into the English version Germany’s Aims in the First World War (1967) Fischer came to several conclusions:

• Germany had gone to war to achieve Europe & Worldwide domination very similar to that aimed for by Hitler and the Nazis in the Second World War; it was a bid for power. • Germany had hoped that the ‘blank cheque’ given to Austria in July 1914 would result in war. • The root cause of German expansionism were to be found as much in the social, economic and political tension in Germany in the period pre-1914

Sensational views…. From what you know, how far do you agree with Fischer?

Fischer’s evidence Fischer based his evidence partly on a document found in the German archives written by Bethmann-Hollweg’s private secretary Kurt Riezler on 9th Sept 1914 in which he outlines the Chancellor’s plans for the peace negotiations, which he expected to take place in the near future. Fischer argued that these plans were the continuation of policy made by politicians, military leaders and industrialists before the outbreak of war in 1914. The plans were not just the ideas of Bethmann-Hollweg or even the leading political, military and industrial figures of the day. To Fischer, these plans had the support of the wider political nation. To Fischer the plans in the 9th Sept programme represented ‘a complete revolution in European political and power relations’. The logic was clear: plans for annexation that were being written down in Sept 1914 did not come from nowhere – they must have been already considered in July 1914. Therefore, Germany was not the victim but the perpetrator of war. Fischer’s thesis broke new ground in other ways:

• It placed Chancellor BethmannHollweg at the centre of the drive for expansion. • It removed the distinction between the expansionist military and the supposedly more moderate politicians. • It linked foreign and domestic policy by suggesting that the proposed annexations were seen as a means of maintaining domestic dominance.

Look at the following sources and answer the questions below

1. What is the significance of The September Programme for Fischer and what are Ferguson's criticisms. 2. Who do you believe is right and why? 3. Summarise the arguments from all four sources about the extent of German blame for the outbreak or war. 4. To what extent do Sources C & D agree with A & B? Explain your answer fully with reference to the sources and your own knowledge.