Bid for world power? : new research on the outbreak of the First World War / edited by Andreas Gestrich and Hartmut Pogge von Strandmann.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Gestrich, Andreas, editor.

Pogge von Strandmann, H. (Hartmut), editor.

German Historical Institute in London, issuing body.

Series:

Studies of the German Historical Institute London

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

World War, 1914-1918--Causes--Congresses.

World War, 1914-1918.

Genre:

Conference papers and proceedings.

Physical Description:

xi, 444 pages ; 22 cm.

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2017.

Summary:

Over fifty years ago the German historian Fritz Fischer published his famous book 'Germany's aims in the First World War.' It departed from the established consensus that many countries and governments had a shared responsibility for the outbreak of the war, and put the onus primarily on Germany. The book initiated a fierce international debate which Fischer seems to have mostly won. By the middle of the 1970s many of his controversial positions had become mainstream. More recent research, however, started to question this consensus again. Many scholars moved away from focusing on the responsibility of individual countries or politicians and turned to the complex structures and mechanisms of the international system. How does this 'systemic' perspective alter the importance Fischer's findings and interpretations? This volume brings together the latest research by many of the most prominent historians of the First World War from a wide range of countries and it presents the most important trends and results of recent international scholarship, frequently based on new archival findings unavailable to Fischer at the time.

Contents:

1 Introduction / Andreas Gestrich Gestrich, Andreas, Hartmut Pogge von Strandmann Strandmann, Hartmut Pogge von 1

Part I German Auskreisung or Einkreisung (Self-Exclusion or Encirclement)?

2 Auskreisung? Anglo-German Antagonism and the Tirpitz Plan / Frank Nägler Nägler, Frank 37

3 '... the greatest danger to this country that exists': German Plans for Commerce Warfare in British Naval Thinking / Matthew S. Seligmann Seligmann, Matthew S. 63

4 '... two rival syndicates': The British Service Departments and the German Naval Threat. Towards a Fritz Fischer-Like Approach to British Foreign Policy / Andreas Rose Rose, Andreas 77

Part II New Evidence on the Decisions for War: Germany and Austria-Hungary

5 War Premeditated? The 'War Council' of 8 December 1912 Revisited / John C. G. Röhl Röhl, John C. G. 105

6 Russian Horses: The German Army Leadership and the July Crisis of 1914 / Stig Förster Förster, Stig 127

7 Austria-Hungary's Decision for War in 1914 / Günther Kronenbitter Kronenbitter, Günther 149

Part III New Evidence on the Decisions for War: France, Italy, and Britain

8 France's Armaments and Military Situation in July 1914 / Gerd Krumeich Krumeich, Gerd 163

9 Italy's Wars of Illusion, 1911-1915 / R. J. B. Bosworth Bosworth, R. J. B. 181

10 Peace and Retrenchment? The Edwardian Liberal Party, the Limits of Pacifism, and the Politics of National Defence / Matthew Johnson Johnson, Matthew 201

Part IV New Evidence on the Decisions for War: Russia and the Balkans

11 The Mobilization Crises of 1912 and 1914 in Russian Perspective: Overlooked and Neglected Linkages / Bruce W. Menning Menning, Bruce W. 223

12 The Balkan Inception Scenario: Serbia and the Coming of War in 1914 / Christopher Clark Clark, Christopher 263

13 Fritz Fischer and the Ottoman Empire: Illusions on the Bosporus? / Alexandre Toumarkine Toumarkine, Alexandre 289

Part V The War Aims of the Central and Entente Powers

14 The Foundations of British War Aims in the First World War / Keith Neilson Neilson, Keith 313

15 Russia's War Aims / David Schimmelpenninck van der Ove Ove, David Schimmelpenninck van der 335

Part VI Revolutionizing Policies in the First World War

16 Jihad or Nationalist Uprising? Germany's 'Programme for Revolution' in the Middle East / Jennifer L. Jenkins Jenkins, Jennifer L. 357

17 The Peace at Brest-Litovsk: Forgotten or Precedent-Setting Peace? / John W. Steinberg Steinberg, John W. 377

Part VII Continuities in German History

18 From One War to the Other: The Impact of the First World War on the Second World War / Gerhard Hirschfeld Hirschfeld, Gerhard 405.

Notes:

"... a conference ... to take stock of new research on the outbreak of the First World War."--Page v.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780198792413

0198792417

OCLC:

965766635

Publisher Number:

99972795090