Western Civilization II / Unit 14 WC2 1303 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Alliance Blocs, Million-Man Armies, and the General Staffs' Ultimatums
Captions available
The idea
Germany and Austria were allied from eighteen seventy-nine, France and Russia from ninety-four; Britain protected Belgium; Russia patronized Serbia. Armies numbered a million or more, and general staffs held pre-packaged plans. In a crisis generals gave their own governments ultimatums: mobilize fully now, or lose.
In practice
"Generals fight the last war", the anchor says.
Where people slip
The anchor's "ninety-three" is the convention ratified in ninety-four.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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