It's Time to Stop Blaming Germany for WWI

[Onkel Neal]

Interesting article!
http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/...pisrc=obinsite

Serbia and its Russian superpower sponsor were genuinely trying to destroy the Habsburg empire. Franz Ferdinand's assassins really did have ties to the Serbian state. He was assassinated in part because he was known to be a moderate who favored further decentralization of imperial authority and concessions to the interests of South Slavs, and Serbian nationalists thought his rise to power would undermine their effort to incorporate Bosnia, Croatia, and Slovenia into Serbia.* The authorities in Vienna and Berlin had a legitimate interest in pushing back against the attempted dismemberment of the Habsburg state. And then things got nasty in no small part thanks to French politicians having persuaded themselves that a Balkan crisis would be the best possible shot at teaming up with Russia to wage a war against Germany and take back Alsace and Lorraine. Nobody is blameless in the whole affair, but it's much much more complicated than "Germans be starting wars." The Entente powers were essentially sticking up for a state sponsor of terrorism.

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

So World War 1 was the fault of Serbia, The Russian Empire and France?

[Red October1984]

I'm no expert on WW1 at all...but from what I understand, Europe was just itching for war. They were building up and somebody wanted it.

It just took a spark.

Germany wasn't even the one who started the war...I've never blamed them for it. But they were punished more than any other Central Power seems like.

It was a Serb who started it I do believe. When Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated....


Germans are always getting blamed for the World Wars seems like...while they did have those dark years of WW2....they weren't all bad. Not every single German was up in arms against the Jews and against France in early WW2....and I'm sure it was the same kind of deal with WW1. There were probably German leaders who didn't want to fight.... I'm not defending the holocaust or anything...but I do think the German point of view on the wars is interesting. And it's interesting to learn about the people from those times in Germany


But I'm no expert and I'm beginning to confuse myself.

[BrucePartington]

Originally Posted by Red October1984

Not every single German was up in arms against the Jews and against France in early WW2....(...) There were probably German leaders who didn't want to fight....

White Rose?
Those kids were hung, with wire for rope.

[Herr-Berbunch]

I blame FF's driver for taking a wrong turn.

[Cybermat47]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

I blame FF's driver for taking a wrong turn.

[Red October1984]

Originally Posted by BrucePartington

White Rose?
Those kids were hung, with wire for rope.

I did not know that. I'll do some research tomorrow.

EDIT: Ah...it is tomorrow. My curiosity got me. I've got the Wikipedia article loaded up.

Wiki says this: "The White Rose (German: die Weiße Rose) was a non-violent, intellectual resistance group in Nazi Germany, consisting of students from the University of Munich and their philosophy professor. The group became known for an anonymous leaflet and graffiti campaign, lasting from June 1942 until February 1943, that called for active opposition to dictator Adolf Hitler's regime. The six most recognized members of the group were arrested by the Gestapo and beheaded in 1943."

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

I blame FF's driver for taking a wrong turn.

The real culprit...

I blame the French, for insisting the blame was put on the Germans

[Betonov]

I blame Austria, poking at the Serbs is never a good idea

[kranz]

I was halfway through booking a ticket to Texas, with my chainsaw in the bag while I noticed WWI instead of WWII.

I hereby declare I will not blame Germany for WWI.

(because there was no such country in 1914 - and that's the only reason)

@WhiteRose kids

wasn't she beheaded on a guillotine?

[Kazuaki Shimazaki II]

Because I always thought that Germany was not really to blame for WWI. If anything, it is Russia's mobilization that forced Germany to react lest they be invaded.

Even for WWII, I think a very large part of the blame is the Allies' collective desire (usually the French is blamed but IIRC some people also blame Wilson's desire for "justice") to feel good about the whole thing. I actually think the reparations and land transfers were less important than the whole military crap (the true injustice in my mind) and the insistence on pinning the whole blame on Germany (a worthless, feel good endeavor).

As long as Germany is limited to 100,000 men ... etc (The Treaty of Versailles effectively is the world's first arms control treaty, and not only is it unilateral but probably the most detailed, with even headquarters composition being controlled), there is nothing to prevent the Allies from forever increasing their demands - in effect, it allows for infinite punishment. And we can certainly agree that whatever Germany's blame portion is, it cannot possibly substantiate a punishment value of infinity.

wasn't she beheaded on a guillotine?

Blame the French?

[Skybird]

Most wars have longer histories that led to somebody finally pulling the first trigger, which are mostly ignored. That is especially true for WWI and WWII. Who fired the first shots, is clear. How things got there, is a much more complex story.

[Wolferz]

All Wars are started with a LIE.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by kranz

@WhiteRose kids

wasn't she beheaded on a guillotine?

Yep. Though it were more than just Sophie Scholl.