Europe's Last Summer: Who Started the Great War in 1914?

David Fromkin has taken a revisionist perspective in analyzing the causes of the Great War. In the past, most history students have been taught that the war was started by Austria & Germany and became a global conflict primarily because of the entangling alliances that were so common in early twentieth century Europe. Fromkin dispells the theory that the two nations together started the war, thus causing the massive military outpouring during the years 1914-1918, and does so quite effectively by proposing the notion that there were indeed two separate wars that have been treated as one by scholars and students for years. Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarejavo on 28 June 1914 - this is "the" event that has historically been pointed to as the cause of the First World War. Fromkin says that it was far from the critical event - it was merely an opportunity for the Austro-Hungarian Empire to implement their pre designed plan for the elimination of Serbia as a globo-political entity. This Austria-Hungary war against Serbia was what Fromkin describes as the "first war". The second war brewed in the background as the supposedly allied German Empire was waiting for Austria to obliterate Serbia. Germany saw this as an opportunity to pre-emptively strike France & Russia to take advantage of the German military strength relative to the French & Russians. Their plans against these allied nations was the "second war". Fromkin does a nice job of explaining why he considers the two events to be linked, but separate entities, and why this became the global conflagration that it did. Indeed, it would appear that the entangling alliances had something to do with the escalation of the war, but not the cause - it was caused by Germany taking advantage of an assassination to further their goals of becoming the pre-eminent great power on the European continent. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding the geo-political reasons that war erupted in the summer of 1914.

It is amazing that the leader most opposed to war was the Kaisar, who ended up watching as his country started one. And the leader most in favor of Slav rights was the Arch-Duke, who died by the hand of a Slav who wanted more rights. You've probably heard the saying about if you don't want the answer then don't ask the question........If you really want to know about every twist and turn of how Europe found itself in a world war then this is the book for you. But..If you wanted a concise discussion you've come to the wrong place. To any student of history, professional or amateur, I would say read this book, it will open your eyes, but take it in small bites.

A military and civilian leadership bent on war; a threat assessment manipulated and invented to mobilize domestic public opinion; an ultimatim crafted to ensure rejection; and finally, a lightning invasion, a near victory, and a descent into a lengthy war of attrition. Iraq 2003? No, try Austria-Hungary versus Serbia, 1914. Of course, any parallel can be overdrawn and, the near victory and subsequent war of attrition is, in fact, Germany versus France, 1914. The theory that 1914 involved two separate, but not distinct wars - Austria against Serbia and Germany against Russia/France - is the novel thesis of the book. The tale gets really juicy as Professor Fromkin outlines his contention that Moltke and the German Foreign Ministry manipulated Austria into supporting the war Germany wanted, the one against Russia. And in the event, Austria ended up transferring the bulk of its troops to the Russian front, with the result that little Serbia held out until 1916. Much of the new evidence presented is circumstantial - the German leadership was ostentatiously out of town during July 1914 (but kept involved by trusted aides). The Austrian plans to crush Serbia were drawn up before Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated (even though all general staffs have plans to invade all their neighbors - although we are to believe the Great General Staff of the Second Reich had only one plan, to hold Russia and crush France, when even the hapless Austrians had two plans, one with Russia as the primary enemy and one with Serbia as the primary; perhaps the discovery of the plan to make Russia the primary German target, and Moltke's lie to the Kaiser that no such plan existed, will be the next great academic discovery of this whole tragic mess). All this is skillfully woven together, even if at times the ideas seem too oft repeated. If all of what Fromkin claims is true, all the apologists for Germany (down to Niall Ferguson in our own time) have it wrong and the drafters of the war guilt clause of the Versailles Treaty had it right. If the runup to World War I fascinates you, like it does me, don't miss this book.

Fans of the "slippery slope" view of the origins of the Great War, which has run rampant in this country since Sidney Fay made it popular in the 1920s, will not like his book, which places the responsibility for the war as it happened squarely on the shoulders of Germans and Austrians. However, not necessarily for the war as such, which, according to Fromkin, could have resulted from any of a number of crises and might have resulted from another one later anyway, but the specific circumstances in which it broke out and the form it took. His description of two wars, although unlikely to have been as clear to the participants as in hindsight, makes eminent sense as an analytical tool.Many historians fall into the habit of talking about "the Germans" as if they were one homogeneous group; one of Fromkin's merits is to clearly point out the policy differences and rivalries within the German government. Most surprising is his convincing rehabilitation of Kaiser Wilhelm, who, far from being the imperialist martinet as whom he was portrayed in the Allied propaganda and in many later histories, emerges as the one factor consistently wanting peace, and is outmaneuvered by his general staff and sabotaged by his own appointed chancellor and foreign minister in a period of grief and outrage over the murder of his friend Franz-Ferdinand.

Destined to be the definitive account of the causes of this conflict for years to come. The text is a concise 300 pages, broken into very short chapters of between three and ten pages each, making it a quick read. The form makes it an enjoyable history as well as lending to the clarity of the author's argument.This is not a history of the war itself but of the background and events leading to the start of hostilities. It provides an excellent analysis of the 37 days between the assassination in Sarajevo of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the declarations of war. A must read for those who have been confused by or have trouble remembering why exactly the catastrophe took place.The main thesis is that much of what has been accepted as conventional wisdom regarding the war's causes for the last century is misguided. High officials in the German and Austrian governments conspired to wage two wars of aggression - Austria against Serbia, Germany against Russia. These officials bear sole responsibility for the "Great War". This plot was formed well before June 28th, 1914. The date served only as a pretext for the violence previously planned by these two powers. The author disproves several myths. One - that the war came as a complete surprise to a peaceful Europe. Two - there actually was no Schlieffen Plan. Three - that a rigid structure of alliances coupled with railway schedules and irreversible mobilization plans caused the war.Much of the criticism of Mr. Fromkin's book from other reviewers on this site is, in the opinion of this reader, unfounded. This topic is too important and complex and encompasses too much history to be covered in a magazine article. Fromkin's research is complete. His A Peace to End All Peace should attest to his mastery of the era. Far from boring, the form only accentuates the author's case and reduces the confusing nature of the subject. Also, I'm not sure originality should be a goal in history writing - rather truth and clarity.A simple map at the beginning and a highly useful index of all the players at the end make this a great history as well as reference. This was a long-needed book. David Fromkin is a great historian.