Responsible For War example essay topic

The ideology of who is responsible for any war is always a delicate subject. When dealing with a World War, such as World War I, it is not only a fine issue but is also controversial and highly disputed one. Many authors have attempted to present an argument for the culpability of one country over another, two authors being Sidney B. Fay and Fritz Fischer. Sidney B. Fay presents the culpability of many countries while trying to shy away from the blame of Germany. Fay indicates that each and every country had partial responsibility - some countries having more responsibility than others - this was because of different actions that each political leader had taken.

Fay's main argument can been isolated to the Versailles Treaty. He concludes that the Treaty must not be validated, due to the fact that it was based on propagandas, and was biased account filled with misconceptions. (Reference) Although many countries were filled with partial blame, Fay argued that the assassination of Franz Ferdinand was the factor that made for war, and therefore Serbian Nationalism was responsible for war. (Reference) Although Fritz Fischer also believed that no government of any European power is free of responsibility, he also believes that there is a distinct link between Germany's 'world policy' and her war aims policy after August 1914.

(Reference) Fischer suggests that German leaders must take the majority of the responsibility for the General War. Even though German leaders attempted to halt the attack on Belgium, their responsibility should not be diminished; because there efforts to halt the attack can be directly related to the threats made by Britain to intervene. Fischer proves in the following statement that Germany caused her own downfall, "Germany's 'real' guilt, her constant over-estimation of her own powers, and her misjudgment of realities". (p. 54) This demonstrates some of Germany's direct responsibility in the cause of World War I. There are limited similarities between the articles, but perhaps the most notable one, would be that both authors concur that the blame of the war cannot be held by only one country. Nevertheless both authors conclude by laying most, if not all of the blame on one country. Fay's account of each country leading up to the war is well taken, but claiming that Germany did not plot a war, nor did it want one, but that she was a victim of her alliance Austria (reference), is perhaps less consistent than the account made by Fischer. As it was said told by Fischer the German's seemed cocky and ready for the war, in this statement made by Moltke on June 1, 1914, "We are ready, and the sooner it comes, the better for us".

Also, Fischer reads that many official documents prove that German leaders were pressing Austria-Hungary to strike against Serbia without delay, doing this they took a risk of a war against Russia and France. Germany was well aware of its situation, both geographically and politically, and by consenting to Austria's movement into Serbia, that this encouragement could only to lead to one outcome. The product being that any local war in Europe, involving a great power, was going to lead to a general war..