It has finally come to pass: On August 4, 1914, the United Kingdom declared war on Germany.
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"The storm of war has broken," declared the Daily Telegraph of London. Britain bowed to the inevitable and joined the first continent-wide general war in a century.
For Britain, the tipping point that brought it into war was Germany's threat to invade Belgium. Britain was bound by treaty to defend the neutrality of small nation. German troops already were marching toward the Belgian frontier.
Five of the Great European Powers are now at war. The sixth, Italy, is staying neutral. It wisely decided to sit out its commitment to join Germany and Austria-Hungary against France and Russia.
By the end of September, Germany conquers most of Belgium, slaughtering civilians and destroying dozens of towns and villages; the travesty in Belgium hardens public sentiment against Germany in the United States.
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Germany comes within 50 miles of taking Paris. It captures France's rich iron region, which enables it to stay in the war for the next four years. France turns back Germany's advance but fails to repulse the Germans from its territory. Trench warfare creates a virtual stalemate in eastern France from Switzerland to the English Channel.
Russia loses an entire army in East Prussia to the Germans, and the commander commits suicide. Russia fares better in the front against Austria-Hungary, which proves to be an equally inept military force. Russia captures Galicia, part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, takes 130,000 prisoners, many through desertion, and severely damages Austria's army for the rest of the war.
The origin of the conflagration—Serbia—initially is able to push Austria-Hungary back. But the Serbs' gains are short-lived. Austria has 12 times the manpower of Serbia, and Serbia lacks advanced weaponry. After four years of war, Serbia's army is crushed and the nation loses more than 11 percent of its overall population to death, the greatest rate of any belligerent in the war. French and British troops liberate Serbia toward the end of the war.
The United States proclaims its neutrality and tries to work out a peace deal with the belligerents. The peace move fails. Ultimately the United States enters the war against Germany.
The war ends on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The victors begin redrawing the world's borders, creating more mischief for the world than they can ever anticipate.
Today, the Balkans, where The Great War began, remains unsettled. But the tinderbox today is the Middle East. Every nation, ethnic faction and terrorist organization in the region is armed to the teeth.
As Mark Twain pointed out: "History doesn't repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme."
For Britain, the tipping point that brought it into war was Germany's threat to invade Belgium. Britain was bound by treaty to defend the neutrality of small nation. German troops already were marching toward the Belgian frontier.
Five of the Great European Powers are now at war. The sixth, Italy, is staying neutral. It wisely decided to sit out its commitment to join Germany and Austria-Hungary against France and Russia.
By the end of September, Germany conquers most of Belgium, slaughtering civilians and destroying dozens of towns and villages; the travesty in Belgium hardens public sentiment against Germany in the United States.
Germany comes within 50 miles of taking Paris. It captures France's rich iron region, which enables it to stay in the war for the next four years. France turns back Germany's advance but fails to repulse the Germans from its territory. Trench warfare creates a virtual stalemate in eastern France from Switzerland to the English Channel.Russia loses an entire army in East Prussia to the Germans, and the commander commits suicide. Russia fares better in the front against Austria-Hungary, which proves to be an equally inept military force. Russia captures Galicia, part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, takes 130,000 prisoners, many through desertion, and severely damages Austria's army for the rest of the war.
The origin of the conflagration—Serbia—initially is able to push Austria-Hungary back. But the Serbs' gains are short-lived. Austria has 12 times the manpower of Serbia, and Serbia lacks advanced weaponry. After four years of war, Serbia's army is crushed and the nation loses more than 11 percent of its overall population to death, the greatest rate of any belligerent in the war. French and British troops liberate Serbia toward the end of the war.
The United States proclaims its neutrality and tries to work out a peace deal with the belligerents. The peace move fails. Ultimately the United States enters the war against Germany.
The war ends on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The victors begin redrawing the world's borders, creating more mischief for the world than they can ever anticipate.
Today, the Balkans, where The Great War began, remains unsettled. But the tinderbox today is the Middle East. Every nation, ethnic faction and terrorist organization in the region is armed to the teeth.
As Mark Twain pointed out: "History doesn't repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme."