War as Facts:World War IThe Origins, Conduct, and Lessons of World War I

Presentation by Tim Borck

»What are the origins of the ›Cult of the Offense‹? Do you think this was a decisive factor that led to the outbreak and extended duration of WWI?«

Contents

1) Brief history: 1871-19142) The Cult of the Offense 3) »Reality«4) The »Blame-Game« - Conclusion

1) Brief history: 1871-1914

The Alliances 1887

Source: http://www.benoroe.de/kaiser/kaiser_02.htm

1) Brief history: 1871-1914

The Alliances 1914

Source: http://www.benoroe.de/kaiser/kaiser_02.htm

1) Brief history: 1871-1914

Major crises prior to WWI:

1905 – 1st Morocco Crisis1908 – Annexation of Bosnia and Herzegowina 1911 – 2nd Morocco Crisis1912/13 – 1st and 2nd Balkan War

1914 – June: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo

July-Crisis

2) The Cult of the Offense• Core belief: Offense is always superior to the defense• In spite of technological advancements favoring the defense• »Mind prevails over matter; morale prevails over machine

gun«• 5 consequences of the Cult (according to Stephen Van Evera):

1) Adoption of aggressive foreign policies2) Believed strategic advantage to whoever mobilizes and strikes

first3) Devaluation of diplomacy4) More rigid and provocative diplomacy (»faits accomplis«)5) Secretive policymaking and military planning

Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Schlieffen_Plan_fr.svg

»What are the origins of the ›Cult of the Offense‹?«

3) »Reality«

Imperialism

German Example• Wilhelm II rise to power

Shift in leadership‘s orientationImperialist/Chauvinist

• German domestic difficulties SPD and democratic movementSelf-preserving military

4) The »Blame-Game«Conclusion

Responsibilty for the war:• Germany?• Austria-Hungary?• Russia?• France?• Great Britain?

»Do you think [the Cult] was a decisive factor that led to the outbreak and extended duration of WWI?«

Q&A

Sources• Scott D. Sagan, “1914 Revisited: Allies, Offense, and Instability”,

International Security 11-2 (Fall 1986).• Stephen Van Evera, “The Cult of the Offense and the Origins of the

First World War”, International Security 9-1 (Summer 1984).• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_of_the_offensive • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_World_War_I

Pictures:• http://www.benoroe.de/kaiser/kaiser_02.htm• http://

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Schlieffen_Plan_fr.svg