37 Day Count Down to War - Day 16

13th July 1914

Now the tensions between Serbia and Austria-Hungary are becoming plainer to see. From Belgrade come reports that Austro-Hungarian officials fear being attacked in retaliation for assaults on Serbs in Bosnia, and specifically in Sarajevo. The Serbian press has circulated rumours that Hartwig, the Russian ambassador to Belgrade who died suddenly, might have been the victim of foul play. Responding to the mood, the Austrian ambassador has sent his family away from Belgrade.

From Vienna, the Telegraph's correspondent files a passionate statement from a 'source' close to Count Berchtold, the Austrian minister, laying bare the empire's attitude to Serbia – 'conspiracy and assassination are the principal weapons of the Serbian state'

On July 13, 1914, Friedrich von Wiesner, an official of the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Office, reports back to Foreign Minister Leopold von Berchtold the findings of an investigation into the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, and his wife Sophie the previous June 28, in Sarajevo, Bosnia. "

There is nothing to prove or even suppose that the Serbian government is accessory to the inducement for the crime, its preparation, or the furnishing of weapons. On the contrary, there are reasons to believe that this is altogether out of the question."

The only evidence that could be found, it seemed, was that Princip and his cohorts had been aided by individuals with ties to the government, most likely members of a shadowy organization within the army, the Black Hand. Nothing has been found to implicate the Serbian government in the assassination. Berchtold keeps the findings away from Franz Josef. Krobatin leaves for vacation in Bad Gastein as planned.

 "The note is being composed so that the possibility of its acceptance is practically excluded." German Ambassador to Vienna, Count Heinrich von Tschirschky, to German Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg 

In France, the shocking state of the army is discussed – millions of francs have been wasted and the military is short of 2 million pairs of boots

In Germany, soldiers are laid low for another reason – a heatwave

And in Russia, a woman attempts to murder the charismatic mystic Rasputin, stabbing him in the stomach

The following information resourced from the following websites:
http://www.worldwar1.com/tlplot.htm
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/richardpreston/100279736/ww1-22-days-to-go-austrians-in-belgrade-begin-to-panic-in-russia-rasputin-is-stabbed/
http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2014/07/liveblogging-world-war-i-july-13-1914-austrian-investigation-concludes.html

37 Day Count Down to War - Day 11

Day 11 1914

Count Tisza makes a grave statement in Hungarian Chamber concerning the murder of the Archduke.

On 8 July, Count Benckendorff, the Russian ambassador in London, remarked to Edward Grey that he ‘did not see on what a démarche against Serbia could be founded’.

The foreign secretary’s reply was characteristically tentative: "I said that I did not know what was contemplated. I could only suppose that some discovery made during the trial of those implicated in the murder of the Archduke – for instance, that the bombs had been obtained in Belgrade – might, in the eyes of the Austrian Government, be foundation for a charge of negligence against the Serbian Government. But this was only imagination and guess on my part. Count Benckendorff said that he hoped that Germany would restrain Austria. He could not think that Germany would wish a quarrel to be precipitated.

Szogyeny, still in Berlin, sends a wire prepared by Hoyos to Tisza and Berchtold. The wire intimates that "The Kaiser would deplore our not taking advantage of the present moment which is favorable to us." Hoyos had fabricated this statement, and by doing so, brought the shadow of the Kaiser to Conrad's cause.

Berchtold, detecting a change in the political wind also comes around to Conrad's side. Serbia must be invaded. Hungarian Prime Minister Tisza must be converted to the war camp.

Berchtold recommends that Conrad and Minister of War, Baron Alexander von Krobatin, proceed with their vacation plans lest something be suspected."It would be a good thing if you and the War Minister would go on leave for awhile so as to keep up an appearance that nothing is going on."" Austrian Foreign Minister Count Leopold von Berchtold to Austrian army Chief of Staff General Conrad von Hotzendorff

                                                         Count Leopold von Berchtold 

                                                      General Conrad von Hotzendorff

King George V and Queen Mary are in Scotland, and like the Queen a century later, are at the shipyards. They moor beside HMS Benbow, a 'super-Dreadnought'; commissioned in October 1914, she would go on to lead a squadron of the Fleet at the Battle of Jutland in 1916

Information resourced from the following websites

http://www.firstworldwar.com/onthisday/july.htm

http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/firstworldwar/index-1914.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Conrad_von_H%C3%B6tzendorf

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Field_marshal_Conrad_von_H%C3%B6tzendorf.JPG

37 Day Count Down to War - Day 9

July 6th 1914 - Day 9

Below is the text of the telegram sent by the German Chancellor, Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg, to the German Ambassador at Vienna. The telegram effectively offered Austria-Hungary a 'blank cheque' in terms of German support for whatever action Austria-Hungary chose to take in punishing Serbia for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June 1914.

Confidential - For Your Excellency's personal information and guidance

Berlin
6 July 1914

The Austro-Hungarian Ambassador yesterday delivered to the Emperor a confidential personal letter from the Emperor Francis Joseph, which depicts the present situation from the Austro-Hungarian point of view, and describes the measures which Vienna has in view.  A copy is now being forwarded to Your Excellency.

I replied to Count Szagyeny today on behalf of His Majesty that His Majesty sends his thanks to the Emperor Francis Joseph for his letter and would soon answer it personally.

In the meantime His Majesty desires to say that he is not blind to the danger which threatens Austria-Hungary and thus the Triple Alliance as a result of the Russian and Serbian Pan-Slavic agitation.

Even though His Majesty is known to feel no unqualified confidence in Bulgaria and her ruler, and naturally inclines more to ward our old ally Romania and her Hohenzollern prince, yet he quite understands that the Emperor Francis Joseph, in view of the attitude of Romania and of the danger of a new Balkan alliance aimed directly at the Danube Monarchy, is anxious to bring about an understanding between Bulgaria and the Triple alliance.

His Majesty will, further more, make an effort at Bucharest, according to the wishes of the Emperor Francis Joseph, to influence King Carol to the fulfilment  of the duties of his alliance, to the renunciation of Serbia, and to the suppression of the Rumanian agitations directed against Austria-Hungary.

Finally, as far as concerns Serbia, His Majesty, of course, cannot interfere in the dispute now going on between Austria-Hungary and that country, as it is a matter not within his competence.

The Emperor Francis Joseph may, however, rest assured that His Majesty will faithfully stand by Austria-Hungary, as is required by the obligations of his alliance and of his ancient friendship.

The news from Vienna is that the Emperor Franz Joseph is still adamant that the extreme provocation of the assassination of the Archduke will not sway him towards war with Serbia.

Kaiser Wilhelm embarks on his annual cruise to the North Cape, off Norway.

Winston Churchill and a Kaiser Wilhelm in 1909

Information resourced form the following sites:
http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/blankcheque.htm
http://www.emersonkent.com/history/timelines/world_war_I_timeline_1914.htm
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/richardpreston/100278873/ww1-29-days-to-go-asquith-pays-tribute-to-chamberlain-still-the-emperor-franz-joseph-insists-there-will-be-peace/

37 Day Count Down to War - Day 8

Day 8 - July 5th 1914

July 5th sees the start of the July crisis where most of the major political leaders of Europe were drawn in some form or another; some sought to avoid war while others seemed more inclined to see a conflict. Austria requests and receives Germany’s “blank check,” pledging unconditional support if Russia enters the war. The kaiser's pledge, which historians have referred to as the carte blanche ("blank check" ) assurance, marked a decisive moment in the chain of events leading up to the outbreak of the First World War in Europe during the summer of 1914. Without Germany's backing, the conflict in the Balkans might have remained localised. With Germany promising to support Austria-Hungary's actions towards Serbia, even at the cost of war with Russia, whose own powerful allies included France and Great Britain, the possible Balkan War threatened to explode into a general European one.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry sent an envoy, Alexander, Graf von Hoyos, to Berlin. Hoyos carried a memorandum from the office of the Austrian foreign secretary, Leopold Berchtold, expressing the need for action in the tumultuous Balkans region, as well as a personal letter to the same effect from Emperor Franz Josef to Kaiser Wilhelm. Both documents focused on the need for Austria-Hungary to establish an alliance with Bulgaria, in place of Romania—which Germany had previously favoured as a possible Balkan ally—due to the latter nation's increasing closeness with Serbia and its powerful supporter, Russia. Neither the memorandum nor the emperor's letter specified that Austria-Hungary wanted war, but the memorandum—a new version of an earlier, less emphatic text written before Franz Ferdinand's assassination—stressed the need for immediate action, pointed to increased Serbian and Russian aggression and stated as an objective the elimination of Serbia as "a factor of political power in the Balkans."
Austria's ambassador to Germany, Ladislaus Szogyeni-Marich, passed Hoyos' two documents to the kaiser over lunch on July 5, in Potsdam. Wilhelm was outraged by Franz Ferdinand's murder, and felt a sense of personal loss: the two had met at the archduke's country estate just two weeks before the assassination to discuss the situation in the Balkans. Though he initially demurred and said he needed to consult the German chancellor, Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg, he eventually—when pressed by the ambassador—responded with uncharacteristic decisiveness, promising Germany's "faithful support" for Austria-Hungary in whatever action it chose to take towards Serbia, even if Russia intervened. 

All but one of the seven assassins have now been apprehended. Mehmedbasic would be the only member of the assassination team to escape

With only 30 days until the start of the Great War, the Daily Telegraph reports of "The (lengthy) visit of the Royal Navy to Kiel closes with civilities and professions of friendship reinforced"

Information resourced from the following sites:

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/richardpreston/100278778/ww1-30-days-to-go-the-emperor-writes-to-the-austrian-people-the-royal-navy-ends-its-visit-to-kiel/

http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/ww1/section1.rhtml

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-gives-austria-hungary-blank-check-assurance

http://alphahistory.com/worldwar1/july-crisis/

37 Day Count Down to War - Day 7

Day 7 - July 4th 1914

In Britain, whatever the emotional impact of Franz Ferdinand's murder, it is still Irish Home Rule that was the paramount political issue in the papers and the issue that politicians believed would most likely to lead to war. 

Count Hoyos (Austrian foreign ministry official) was sent to Berlin to ascertain German policy. The German military were in favour of early aggressive action by Austria while Russia was unprepared. Note the influence on German government of Kaiser Wilhelm's written comment: "Now or never ... matters must be cleared up with Serbia, and that soon" 

More details of the Archduke and Duchess's funeral are published in The Telegraph

In London, the King and Queen (who were not invited to the Archduke's funeral in Vienna) were at the Hurlingham Club for the Inter-Regimental Polo Tournament

Information resourced from the following sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/richardpreston/100278749/ww1-31-days-to-go-sir-edward-carson-renews-the-assault-on-home-rule-more-detail-emerges-from-the-archdukes-funeral/

37 Day Countdown to War - Day 6

Day 6 - July 3rd 1914

On this day in history 100 years ago, there are moving scenes in Vienna at the funeral of Franz Ferdinand and his wife. The aged Emperor Franz Joseph looks forlorn and there is sobbing from other mourners. Foreign royalty has not been invited, with the exception of the Kaiser, who has pulled out, fearing for his security, according to reports the previous day – but the chapel is thronged with ambassadors and foreign military deputation.

The bodies were transported to Trieste by the battleship SMS Viribus Unitis and then to Vienna by special train. Even though most foreign royalty had planned to attend, they were pointedly disinvited and the funeral was just the immediate imperial family, with the dead couple's three children excluded from the few public ceremonies. The officer corps was forbidden to salute the funeral train, and this led to a minor revolt led by Arch Duke Karl, the new heir to the throne. The public viewing of the coffins was curtailed severely and even more scandalously, Montenuovo tried unsuccessfully to make the children foot the bill. The Archduke and Duchess were interred at Artstetten Castle because his wife could not be buried at the Imperial Crypt.

Kaiser Willhelm 11 wished to use the funeral as an informal peace conference and thus prevent the inevitable disaster. This plan was foiled, and a last chance at peace was wasted

You can watch a short vintage video clip of the procession by clicking the following link: http://www.firstworldwar.com/video/ferdinandfuneral.htm

On the streets of Vienna tempers are running high. More than 50,000 people are taking part in demonstrations at the Serbian legation and the Russian Embassy 

And a month before war, a scheme that might assist international peace is being discussed – a plan for a Channel tunnel

Information resourced from the following sites:

http://www.firstworldwar.com/video/ferdinandfuneral.htm

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/richardpreston/100278616/ww1-32-days-to-go-moving-scenes-at-franz-ferdinands-funeral-anti-serb-demonstrations-in-vienna/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Archduke_Franz_Ferdinand_of_Austria

37 Day Countdown to War - Day 5

Day 5 July 2nd 1914

The details of the assassinations of Franz Ferdinand and his wife were pieced together remarkably quickly – the narrative established by journalists in the two days after the killings is still pretty much the story we tell now – but each day brings fresh detail. Lifting its material from a Hungarian journal, The Daily Telegraph quotes Princip talking to his defence lawyer. He says he does not fear death, that the plot was hatched in Serbia and that he was given money and bombs in Belgrade.

There is an announcement that the Kaiser will not attend the Archduke's funeral.

Elsewhere, Shackleton is preparing for his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, which would go ahead despite the start of war in August

At Henley, foreign crews are winning – here is Harvard beating Leander

In today's news - Check out this lovely video of Joanne Lumley reading a letter that she was asked to write to an unknown solider as part of the 14-18 NOW project.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/10941438/Joanna-Lumley-reads-letter-to-unknown-soldier.html

Information resourced from the following sites:

http://www.firstworldwar.com/onthisday/1914_07_02.htm

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/richardpreston/100278434/ww1-33-days-to-go-the-bodies-of-the-archduke-and-duchess-arrive-in-vienna-shackleton-prepares-for-his-next-antarctic-expedition/

http://www.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/wwi/century/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Germany_during_World_War_I