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The Guns of August

Barbara Wertheim Tuchman

Barbara Wertheim Tuchman

The Guns of August

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16min

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In her Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Guns of August, Barbara Tuchman recounts the convulsive series of events that led to the outbreak of the First World War. Beautifully researched and easy to read, The Guns of August describes the attempts at discussion, the emergency meetings, and the struggles to communicate between the key players in the European governments. An intense exchange of messages and threats that escalated, and which ended up escalating into one of the bloodiest global conflicts of all time. 

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Analysis and key concepts

01.

The funeral of Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom, was the last time the sovereigns of Europe gathered peacefully before the outbreak of the First World War

02.

Belgium’s involvement in the German attack on France came as a shock to all the European leaders, because it had always been neutral

03.

The assassination of the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire sparks renewed hostilities between the European powers, and inevitably brings them closer to a global war

04.

Following a series of misunderstandings, Germany decides to invade France

05.

In England, the government is divided between one wing in favour of military intervention in defence of France, and the other wing against it

06.

The Belgians struggle to believe in the possibility of a German invasion, because they feel protected by the neutrality pact they signed with the Germans years earlier

07.

Britain sends an ultimatum to Germany, which is struggling more than they predicted in their invasion of Belgium

08.

Europe is at war, with all the major powers engaged on the western and eastern fronts

09.

Quotes

10.

Take-home message

01. The funeral of Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom, was the last time the sovereigns of Europe gathered peacefully before the outbreak of the First World War

It is May 1910, and an important funeral is taking place in London. On this day Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, of the British dominions and of India, is being buried. As you can imagine, all the major European sovereigns are present at the funeral, which takes place with great pomp and ceremony. It is a parade of royalty which, among other things, are almost all related to each other. The German Emperor Wilhelm II, for example, is none other than the direct nephew of the late King, since Wilhelm’s mother, Victoria, is his sister. George V of England, heir to the throne of Edward VII, is a cousin of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II. All those present are related in some way, and have reached geopolitical agreements through military alliances.

While these unusual relationships have maintained stability in Europe up to now, they are about to dissolve, forever; the king's funeral is in fact the last peaceful meeting between the representatives of the great European powers. Wilhelm II, behind the impeccable and solemn behaviour he managed to maintain at the ceremony, is hiding his profound relief about the passing of his uncle. The German Kaiser has always regarded King Edward as an obstacle to Germany's plans for expansion. The book describes the visit that the British King had made to Italy some time earlier, during which he expressed his intention, according to Wilhelm, to convince the king of Italy to break away from the Triple Alliance, a military pact between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Kingdom of Italy. This move had disturbed the German sovereign immensely. In fact, while King Edward had been alive, he had maintained friendly relations with France, Russia, Italy, and Spain, while he had always been a bit colder towards Germany. Basically, the various encounters between the monarchs, including when they gathered for Edward's funeral, were nothing more than customs, habits carried out to keep up appearance, because hidden beneath the formalities, rivalries and hostile intentions were brewing.

02. Belgium’s involvement in the German attack on France came as a shock to all the European leaders, because it had always been neutral

03. The assassination of the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire sparks renewed hostilities between the European powers, and inevitably brings them closer to a global war

04. Following a series of misunderstandings, Germany decides to invade France

05. In England, the government is divided between one wing in favour of military intervention in defence of France, and the other wing against it

06. The Belgians struggle to believe in the possibility of a German invasion, because they feel protected by the neutrality pact they signed with the Germans years earlier

07. Britain sends an ultimatum to Germany, which is struggling more than they predicted in their invasion of Belgium

08. Europe is at war, with all the major powers engaged on the western and eastern fronts

09. Quotes

10. Take-home message

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Many useful tips to:

  • Find out what went on behind the scenes that ended up dragging Europe into the First World War.
  • Understand the system of alliances that regulated relations between the states in the decade of 1910.
  • Go beyond our common knowledge of the Great War.

Born in New York in 1912, Barbara Wertheim Tuchman comes from two of the most prestigious families of intellectuals and merchants in the city. Her grandfather, Henry Morgenthau Senior, was ambassador to Turkey, and his father, Maurice Wertheim was a highly successful investment banker. Tuchman worked as a journalist, historian, and writer, and won the Pulitzer Prize twice. She also taught at Harvard University and the University of California.

Publishing house:

Random House

Year:

1994

Pages:

608

ISBN:

978-0345386236