IB HL History Mr. Blackmon

OPVL Exercise: World War I # 1

Form yourselves into groups of 3 or 4 students. Your assignment to produce a DocumentAnalysis for each of the following documents. You are expected to consult the handout:“Document Source Types: Values and Limitations.” Be prepared to discuss your documentanalysis with the entire class. You will then be asked to submit a written analysis. Each memberof the group will receive the same grade, but each member should submit his or her own copy. The names of all group members must be in the heading, with the name of the individual studentsubmitting the analysis first, and all other group members in alphabetical order.

For each document, you will separately discuss:

Origin

Purpose

Value

Limitations

(W=2)

Document A The "Willy_Nicky" Telegrams in the original English

Tsar to Kaiser, July 29, 1:00 A.M.

Am glad you are back. In this serious moment, I appeal to you to help me.An ignoble war has been declared to a weak country. The indignation inRussia shared fully by me is enormous. I foresee that very soon I shall beoverwhelmed by the pressure forced upon me and be forced to take extrememeasures which will lead to war. To try and avoid such a calamity as aEuropean war I beg you in the name of our old friendship to do what you canto stop your allies from going too far

Nicky

Kaiser to Tsar, July 29, 1:45 A.M.[This and the previous telegraph crossed.]

It is with the gravest concern that I hear of the impression which theaction of Austria against Serbia is creating in your country. Theunscrupulous agitation that has been going on in Serbia for years hasresulted in the outrageous crime, to which Archduke Francis Ferdinand fell

IB HL History Mr. BlackmonOPVL Exercise: World War I # 1 Page 2

a victim. The spirit that led Serbians to murder their own king and hiswife still dominates the country. You will doubtless agree with me that weboth, you and me, have a common interest as well as all Sovereigns toinsist that all the persons morally responsible for the dastardly murdershould receive their deserved punishment. In this case politics plays nopart at all.On the other hand, I fully understand how difficult it is for you and yourGovernment to face the drift of your public opinion. Therefore, with regardto the hearty and tender friendship which binds us both from long ago withfirm ties, I am exerting my utmost influence to induce the Austrians todeal straightly to arrive to a satisfactory understanding with you. Iconfidently hope that you will help me in my efforts to smooth overdifficulties that may still arise.

Your very sincere and devoted friend and cousin

Willy

Document B Lafore, Laurence. The Long Fuse: An Interpretation of the Origins ofWorld War I. 2 Edition. New York: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1971nd

. “These needs and tensions [Alsace-Lorraine, Anglo-German Naval Rivalry,

Constantinople, German encirclement] had underlaid the tensions of Europe and hadshaped the alliance system and the policies of the Powers. But they none of them had ledto actions that produced war. They were either negotiable or repressible. The oneproblem that was neither negotiable nor repressible was that raised by threats to theintegrity of Austria-Hungary. The composition of the Habsburg Monarchy made it fatallyvulnerable to the activities of the Serbs; at the same time, it made it difficult to eliminatethose activities by rapid and resolute action; and it made it difficult for the government ofAustria-Hungary–or its ally, Germany–to retreat, to equivocate, to delay, once thedecision to take action had been made, ill defined and unsatisfactory as the decision was. It was this problem that caused the war which became the first World War.”

Document C Telegram from the Imperial Chancellor, von Bethmann_Hollweg, to theGerman Ambassador at Vienna. Tschirschky, July 6, 1914

The Austro_Hungarian Ambassador yesterday delivered to the Emperor [Wilhelm I] aconfidential personal letter from the Emperor Francis Joseph, which depictsthe present situation from the Austro_Hungarian point of view, anddescribes the measures which Vienna has in view. A copy is now being

IB HL History Mr. BlackmonOPVL Exercise: World War I # 1 Page 3

forwarded to Your Excellency. . . .

Finally, as far as concerns Serbia, His Majesty, of course, cannotinterfere in the dispute now going on between Austria_Hungary and thatcountry, as it is a matter not within his competence. The Emperor FrancisJoseph may, however, rest assured that His Majesty will faithfully stand byAustria_Hungary, as is required by the obligations of his alliance and ofhis ancient friendship.

BETHMANN_HOLLWEG

Document D Wilfred Owen, English poet, (b. 1893- d. 1918)

Who are these? Why sit they here in twilight?Wherefore rock they, purgatorial shadows?Drooping tongues from jaws that slob their relishBaring teeth that leer like skulls’ teeth wicked? Stroke on stroke of Pain–but what slow panic,Gouged these chasms round their fretted sockets?And from their hair and through their hands’ palmsMisery swelters. Surely we have perishedSleeping, and walk in hell; but who these hellish?

Document E British soldiers going “over the top”