it did not want to face, that of Germany's accountability for the First World War. While most West German scholars and politicians were willing to accept Hitler's-if not Germany's- responsibility for starting the Second World War, they proved remarkably unwilling to confront the possibility that the same could be said of the First World War." The study of the origins of the First World War is still relevant to students today. While the divisions of Europe into the two major blocks of the Cold War seem to be over, the whole world is again preoccupied with the Balkans. It might be comforting to think that nations jusT "slither" into war as Lloyd George says below, but human beings make the decisions or fail to make the decisions which lead to or prevent wars. Among the factors which set the stage for The Great War were: Nationalism Entangling Alliances Militarism, Arms Races, and War Plans Imperialism Domestic and Human Tensions Psychological Fear of Loosing One's Allies Exhaustion from Relentless Crises & Tensions Cultural Dispair & Fatalism Willingness to Risk War for Minor Goals The crutial turning points in the short range were: The Assassination of the Archduke and His Wife The German-Austrian Conference at Potsdam on July 5 The Austrian Ultimatium and Their Declaration of War The Mobilizations: Austrian, Russian, and German Variety of Opinion:Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles said that Germany and her allies were to blame for the outbreak of the war:"The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies. David Lloyd George, who became the Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1916, has written in his memoirs:"How was it that the world was so unexpectedly plunged in...
