An article in Die Welt argues that Germany was “not alone” to blame for the outbreak of the First World War, and that in the context of the the modern European Union led by Germany, believing otherwise “is not only historically inaccurate, but politically dangerous”.
The article states that historians are increasingly “looking to Paris, Vienna, St. Petersburg and London” instead of Berlin, in order to explain the causes of the war. The article also suggest that Germany sought a “limited hegemony” in Europe and that “the violation of Belgium’s sovereignty was not the reason, but the welcome pretext for British intervention”.
The article – published on the 4th January 2014 – comes as a political argument in Britain – which began on the 2nd January – continues over “left-wing” readings of history and who is to “blame” for the outbreak of the First World War.
The argument has drawn opinions from the Education Secretary for England, the Shadow Education Secretary, Blackadder actor Sir Tony Robinson and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. Details of the row have been reported by Centenary News here.
To read the German language Die Welt article, which contains arguments by professors Weber, Neitzel and Stephan, click here.
Date of article publication: 04/01/2014
Images courtesy of Die Welt
Posted by: Daniel Barry, Centenary News