“This collection offers a superb compilation of documents related to all aspects of World War I. The well-translated sources with crisp commentary ensure students will have a strong, comprehensive set of sources to analyze. Most important, the collection offers views from all belligerents in the war, ensuring that it avoids Anglophone bias.” — Scott Moore, Eastern Connecticut State University
“I really enjoyed the narrow focus and the wide range of documents used to explore it. In many ways, this is an old-fashioned diplomatic history reinvigorated by new analysis.” — Peter Mortenson, Minneapolis Community/Technical College
“This is an amazing book for teaching crisis diplomacy. Students love the primary documents and analysis that accompanies them. I’m very grateful you got this book back into print.” — Andrew P. Owsiak, University of Georgia
“An excellent and valuable text for my course on WWI—indispensable and an excellent selection of primary source readings along with the superb introductions to each.” — Robert Pontbriand, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
“The Williamson and Van Wyk work is still the best single book to use in the classroom. It reprints the most essential documents and its narrative and analysis is exceptional. Here is an innovative analysis of the outbreak of the war that is far better than other standard texts. I use it, however, because it has something to say to scholars and it is a major interpretation in its own right. The book also has a useful chronology, list of key decision makers, and a bibliographical guide to writing papers.” — John A. Vasquez, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (International Studies Review)
284 pages, $23.95 list
1-4786-2286-5
978-1-4786-2286-4
© 2003
paperback
Similar Titles
July 1914
Soldiers, Statesmen, and the Coming of the Great War—A Documentary History
Williamson and Van Wyk’s carefully chosen primary documents—memoirs, diaries, government documents, newspaper editorials, and other contemporary accounts—introduce readers to the civilian and military leaders whose decisions contributed to events that led to World War I. The documents, along with the authors’ scholarly, engaging analysis and insights, reveal personal and national conceptions of war and peace, militaristic impulses, and influential contextual factors, including alliance structures, arms races, and mobilization arrangements of the time. Coverage includes all the major powers of the war—Austria-Hungary, Germany, Russia, Italy, France, England, and Serbia.
The authors’ conclusion that individuals, not monolithic governments and impersonal forces, made the decisions in the summer of 1914 that led to the First World War, is worthy of consideration in the current era of global tension and terrorism.
The authors’ conclusion that individuals, not monolithic governments and impersonal forces, made the decisions in the summer of 1914 that led to the First World War, is worthy of consideration in the current era of global tension and terrorism.
Reactions
Introduction: Civil-Military Relations and July 1914
1. July 1914: The Crisis
2. Pašic, Apis, and the Battle for Serbia
The Emergence of the Conspirator / Apis's Implacable Enemy: Nikola Pašic / The Plot to Assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand / Pašic after the Assassination: The Confrontation with Vienna / Serbia after the Ultimatum
3. Berchtold and Conrad Push Austria–Hungary to War
The Complex Habsburg Inheritance / Conrad and Berchtold before Sarajevo: The Struggle for Control / Vienna Resolves to Act / The Last Steps to War
4. Bethmann, Moltke, and German Support for Vienna
Bismarck, Kaiser Wilhelm II, and Germany's Weltpolitik / Military Influence in Pre-1914 Germany / Bethmann Hollweg and the Struggle to Control the Military / Moltke Prepares for War / Berlin and the July Crisis
5. Sazonov, Sukhomlinov, and the Russian Escalation of the Crisis
Reform and Reaction in Russia / Strategic Policy before 1914 / Governmental Structure and Public Expectations / Civil-Military Decision Makers in 1914 / Saint Petersburg after the Sarajevo Assassinations
6. San Giuliano, Cadorna, and Italian Neutrality
The Triple Alliance and Italian Politics / Constitutional Arrangements and Civil-Military Relations / Foreign and Domestic Policy on the Eve of War / San Giuliano before the Ultimatum to Serbia / The Road to Neutrality / General Cadorna's Confused Reaction to the Crisis
7. Poincaré, Joffre, and the Effort to Protect France
France after the Second Moroccan Crisis / The Impact of Poincaré on French Policy / Joffre Moves to Revamp French Strategy / Sarajevo, France, and Poincaré's Trip to Russia / Paris without Poincaré: The Civilians Retain Control / Poincaré Takes Charge
8. Grey, Wilson, and the Struggle to Commit Britain to War
Britain on the Eve of War / Grey and Britain's Strategic Interests / Grey's Initial Response to Sarajevo / Grey after the Habsburg Ultimatum / Wilson Finally Sees a Chance for War / Grey, Cabinet Politics, and the Military Politician / Belgian Neutrality Becomes the Break Point / The BEF to the Continent: Wilson Continues His Political Campaign
Epilogue
Appendixes: A Chronology of the Main Events Leading to the First World War (1870–1914) / Key Participants in the July 1914 Crisis / Selected Bibliography
1. July 1914: The Crisis
2. Pašic, Apis, and the Battle for Serbia
The Emergence of the Conspirator / Apis's Implacable Enemy: Nikola Pašic / The Plot to Assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand / Pašic after the Assassination: The Confrontation with Vienna / Serbia after the Ultimatum
3. Berchtold and Conrad Push Austria–Hungary to War
The Complex Habsburg Inheritance / Conrad and Berchtold before Sarajevo: The Struggle for Control / Vienna Resolves to Act / The Last Steps to War
4. Bethmann, Moltke, and German Support for Vienna
Bismarck, Kaiser Wilhelm II, and Germany's Weltpolitik / Military Influence in Pre-1914 Germany / Bethmann Hollweg and the Struggle to Control the Military / Moltke Prepares for War / Berlin and the July Crisis
5. Sazonov, Sukhomlinov, and the Russian Escalation of the Crisis
Reform and Reaction in Russia / Strategic Policy before 1914 / Governmental Structure and Public Expectations / Civil-Military Decision Makers in 1914 / Saint Petersburg after the Sarajevo Assassinations
6. San Giuliano, Cadorna, and Italian Neutrality
The Triple Alliance and Italian Politics / Constitutional Arrangements and Civil-Military Relations / Foreign and Domestic Policy on the Eve of War / San Giuliano before the Ultimatum to Serbia / The Road to Neutrality / General Cadorna's Confused Reaction to the Crisis
7. Poincaré, Joffre, and the Effort to Protect France
France after the Second Moroccan Crisis / The Impact of Poincaré on French Policy / Joffre Moves to Revamp French Strategy / Sarajevo, France, and Poincaré's Trip to Russia / Paris without Poincaré: The Civilians Retain Control / Poincaré Takes Charge
8. Grey, Wilson, and the Struggle to Commit Britain to War
Britain on the Eve of War / Grey and Britain's Strategic Interests / Grey's Initial Response to Sarajevo / Grey after the Habsburg Ultimatum / Wilson Finally Sees a Chance for War / Grey, Cabinet Politics, and the Military Politician / Belgian Neutrality Becomes the Break Point / The BEF to the Continent: Wilson Continues His Political Campaign
Epilogue
Appendixes: A Chronology of the Main Events Leading to the First World War (1870–1914) / Key Participants in the July 1914 Crisis / Selected Bibliography