Don’t blame the Germans for First World War

I AM not a professional historian but I have read widely on the First World War.

I do think the old belief branding Germany as solely responsible for the 1914 war can now be seen as simplistic.

As the European powers industrialised, they became more powerful and a headlong arms race developed which was unprecedented at the time. So tension built over a period and pressure rose to use the weapons newly available to obtain an advantage for a particular country.

It is perhaps not realised that at the time it was assumed any war in Europe would be a short one. Unbelievable as it seems now, the thought of going to war was popular with many.

The old films show grinning Tommies going gaily off to their deaths.

The Irish question was coming to the boil and the UK government felt that a short conflict on the continent might prove a welcome distraction and stir feelings of patriotism, which of course it did.

One thing we have learned since is that increasing armaments and putting generals in the driving seat, e.g. Kitchener, is a recipe for disaster. More recently the UK has found to its cost that powerful forces on paper do not necessarily guarantee success.