http://ed607978.friendlinkup.com/ Student Journalism at Miami Beach Senior High en http://ed607978.friendlinkup.com/2008/08/22/final-essay.html At the close of the war, the victors declared Germany to be the primary aggressor as well as forced the country to pay steep reparations.  To what extent was German aggression to blame on behalf of the start of World War I?                 “The soldiers who marched off to war in the summer of 1914 thought they would win a quick victory. However, the war lasted four years as well as was filled with horrors never before seen.” (World History: Chapter 27; Section 2; The Belligerents, Pg.709) What in the world sparked such a controversial situation as this one? The answer to this is the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria & his wife the Duchess of Hohenberg by Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip on June 28, 1914 during their visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia. (http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/harrachmemoir.htm) This bloody war was separated by two sets of powers, the Allied Powers consisting of Russia, the British Empire, France, Italy, the United States, Romania, Serbia, as well as Belgium; the Central Powers consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, as well as Bulgaria.  The war ended November 11, 1918 on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11:00 in the morning. (http://www.firstworldwar.com/onthisday/1918_11_11.htm) At the closing of World War I, surely numerous were asking to what extent was German aggression to blame on behalf of the start of World War I? Well, look at the picture this way, Germany may not have in truth started the war itself, but it definitely ignited the train of countries fighting. It was the first to mobilize its troops as well as weaponry, as well as it influenced Austria-Hungary to attack the Serbians.                  Shortly at the end of the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria occurred, Germany took charge in place of Austria-Hungary, as well as declared war on Serbia. (http://www.firstworldwar.com/timeline/1914.htm) “It took the Austro-Hungarian government four weeks to send an ultimatum to Belgrade, demanding far-reaching powers to investigate the murder as well as the implication of the Serb government. The Serb government accepted an estimated all clauses but rejected some, knowing well that this would mean war with Austria. Russia had encouraged Serbia not to give in completely. Austria-Hungary was unwilling to consider a compromise as well as declared war on Serbia on 28 July.” (Raffael Scheck, Article: German Responsibility on behalf of the Outbreak of the War; http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/germanresponsibility.htm). The Germans put themselves in a position which made it seem that they were victims of the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria.                  “As I write, Germany is reported to have declared war against Russia as well as France … Nothing like it has occurred since the great Napoleonic wars … All of Europe is to be a battle-ground … The future looks dark indeed.” (William Howard Taft, “A Message to the People of the United States”) July 28, 1914 marked the beginning of a dark four years. Since the Napoleonic period (one hundred years ago) no war had ever affected large areas of Europe.  “The Franco-German war of 1870-71 had been the last violent conflict between industrially advanced nations in Europe.  It had been decided within a few weeks.  Fast mobilization, massive gun power, fast communications (telegraph), as well as the support of railroads …” (Raffael Scheck: http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/germanresponsibility.htm) On August 4, 1914, German soldiers disrespected the Belgian neutrality guarantee as well as marched straight through Belgium on to France. Germany also persuaded Bulgaria, a Slavic rival of Serbia, to enter the war on its side in October 1915.                   If Germany would’ve just minded its business it wouldn’t have stirred up such a controversial situation which eventually led to the war. Austria-Hungary as well as Serbia could’ve simply worked this out on their own, without the negative influences of other countries intervening.                      Another reason to blame German aggression on behalf of the start of World War I is the advance weaponry of Germany. The weapons in World War I were mass-produced using the same efficient methods used on behalf of manufacturing other products of the new industrial age. Each side of the war used weapons that had never been tried before. Allied shipping suffered greatly because of the fact that of the attacks from German U-boats. The Germans also introduced poison gas as a weapon against enemy infantry. (World History: Chapter 27; Section 2; Innovations in Warfare, Pg.710) Machine guns were shot left as well as right, as well as there were fights battled in mid-air on war planes. In 1916 Britain introduced the war tank, a heavily armored vehicle with guns mounted on it.                     The gruesome war was fought hiding in trenches an estimated all of the time by both sides. It was constant stalemate between the two powers. The Germans pulled out numerous intelligent tactics as well as plans as well as decided to utilize poison gas. “The German attack through Belgium as well as into France in August 1914 promptly stalled into a static trench war. Germany, looking to break the deadlock, decided that a possible solution was the utilize of poison gas.“(Brian Blodgett: Germany’s utilize of Chemical Warfare in World War 1).                      As I previously mentioned the Germans invaded Belgium, completely disregarding the nation’s neutrality. Belgium’s neutrality agreement stated that they wouldn’t help any belligerents, or warring nations. Mostly all great powers came to an agreement not to attack, but not Germany. Belgium’s location between Germany as well as France became highly important. The Germans wanted to be done as well as over with defeating France so they scoffed at the 1839 guarantee of Belgian Neutrality as well as marched right through on August 4, 1914. After four years of terror-filled war, the fighting ceased on November 11, 1918. The eleventh day, of the eleventh month, at 11:00. “By the autumn the German Army was no longer able to continue fighting.  With revolution imminent, Germany’s political leadership petitioned on behalf of an armistice.  It took effect at 11am on 11 November - the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.  The war was over, as well as with its end numerous of the European dynasties fell.” (http://www.firstworldwar.com/timeline/1918.htm).                     In sum, there are numerous factors to which German aggression to blame on behalf of the start of World War I. The Germans took control of the Austrian-Hungarians as well as convinced them to declare war on Serbia on account of the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria. The German’s advanced technology as well as mobilization of weapons opened the eyes of allying countries of both powers. Obviously, the easiest as well as quickest way to be done as well as over with the defeating of the French was to cut right through Belgium disregarding the nation’s neutrality guarantee. As you can see there are numerous valid points as well as reasons to blame the German’s on behalf of their unnecessary aggression on behalf of the start of World War I. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:16:48 -0400 ed607978