What Germany Thinks; Or, The War as Germans see it

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Smith, Thomas F. A., 1875-

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"What Germany Thinks; Or, The War as Germans See It" by Thomas F. A. Smith is a historical account written during the early 20th century, specifically around the time of World War I. The book explores the German perspective on the causes and implications of the war, reflecting a myriad of opinions within Germany regarding responsibility for the conflict and the unfolding events. Smith's analysis delves into the national psyche and public sentiment leading up to the war, providing insights from various segments of German society. The opening of the book establishes a complex backdrop for understanding the German viewpoint on World War I. It details the widespread belief in Germany that the nation did not blindly enter the war but rather did so with an awareness of the circumstances and consequences. Further, the narrative discusses differing political opinions regarding the origins of the conflict, with Germans attributing various degrees of blame to other nations while largely absolving their own actions. Smith introduces accounts from German newspapers of the time, illustrating both patriotic fervor and anti-war sentiments, such as protests by the Social Democrats against military aggression, thus setting the stage for a deeper exploration of how public opinion shaped the war's trajectory and Germany's role in it. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Contents:

The causes of the war

On the leash

The dogs let loose

Mobilization

Wars and rumours of wars

The débâcle of the Social Democrats

"Necessity knows no law"

Atrocities

The neutrality of Belgium and Germany's annexation propaganda

Saigner à blanc

The intellectuals and the war

The literature of hate

"Man to man and steel to steel".

Credits:

Produced by Jonathan Ingram, David King, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team

Notes:

Reading ease score: 59.3 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.

Release date is 2003-11-01