3.2 Evaluating historical interpretations

Now, looking at the evidence we have on decision making, particularly in Berlin and Vienna. Now, it seems to me that Berlin put a lot of pressure on Vienna at various points during the July crisis, particularly if you look at the blank cheque. It's not just a blank cheque saying yes, we'll support you, but it is the case of saying, but you need to do it now and now or never. And there is the fear in Vienna that the ally might abandon them if they don't appear strong enough. Does that, in your opinion, constitute to some extent, german responsibility for the outbreak of war?

I think that the Germans, in offering the blank cheque in the first place, and then in pressing the Austrians to take action, they certainly made their contribution to the escalation of the crisis, there's no question. And it would be crazy to pick the Germans as German propagandists stood up to the verse treaty in the as the innocent lambs in this story, that it'd be crazy. But on the other hand, I think it's not true, as some scholars have argued, including incidentally Jean Roux, that the Germans bullied the Austrians into seeking a war against Serbia. The Austrians were grown ups. They made up their minds about what they wanted to do as soon as the assassinations took place. You can trace this in the Austrian documents. There's a kind of groupthink, they say, right, this time it's war. We can't tolerate any further provocations of this kind from Serbia. We've got to take action. And the language of the Austrian appeal to Germany made this absolutely clear. We know what we're doing. Will you back us, however, once the Austrians have assured the Germans that that's what they want to do, and the Germans have assured the Austrians of their support, yes. Berlin then does start worrying about the time that it's taking. I mean, the days pass, then weeks. And so the Germans get more and more anxious about their localization strategy. They think the war can only be localised if action is taken quickly. So they press very hard on Vienna. They keep on saying, when is something going to happen? What's up? What's going on? But it's not pressuring for war. It's pressuring to secure swift action, which will enable them to maintain a plausible localization strategy.