BooNZ
Banned
Cuut and paste is so boring especially when the source is something as discredited as Sleepwallkers. IN any event, nothing here changes anything. The Austrians were free to write a note with less outrageous demands, were free to accept the Serbian response and were also free to make proposals to the other powers to respect their interests. Austria choose to do neither but instead Declared War. Austria starts the war. Any other argument is childish
Sorry, some of us prefer arguments to be supported by reference to reputable sources, instead of your habit of making bold assertions unfettered by the facts. Can you clarify for us how a widely published work citing primary sources (Russian communications) has been discredited?
1. Given both Russia and France saw July 1914 as an opportunity for a wider war, why would Russia (in collusion with Italy) want A-H to back down?this thread is supposed to be about how the Austrians, Germans and others respond to a firm declaration by Italy that she will resist Austria. It is not another rehash o who started the war.
2. Why would Italy have any expectation of getting Albania, when it is near the top of Serbia's shopping list?
3. Italy had a fine navy, but their army was very poorly prepared for war in 1915, let alone 1914 - why the rush?
4. Russia and France were firm allies, but it was only after protracted discussions at the highest level that those nations confirmed their support for Serbia and that was not initially public - why the rush?
5. The mindsets and OTL actions of various administrations are directly relevant to this rather curious POD
The Kaiser is referring to the diplomatic mission in Belgrade. He stated that if he had received such a response he would never have declared war and the Austrian mission remained.
Nope again. According to the Kaiser:
"Nevertheless this scrap of paper together with what it contains can only be regarded as of limited value as long as long as it is not translated into deeds. The Serbs are Orientals, therefore liars, deceitful, and master hands at temporizing. In order that these fine promises may become truth and fact, the exercise of gentle violence will be necessary. This will best be done by Austria’s occupying Belgrade as security for the enforcement and execution of the promises and remaining there until the demands are actually carried out….On this basis I am ready to mediate for peace in Austria…This I will do in my own way and thus in a manner sparing of Austrian national sentiment and the military honor of her army."
Sorry to bore you with facts again...