Walter von Below Saleske Quotes
Reliable information has been received by the Imperial Government to the effect that French forces intend to march … through Belgian territory against Germany. The Imperial Government cannot but fear that Belgium, in spite of the utmost goodwill, will be unable, without assistance, to repel so considerable a French invasion with sufficient prospect of success to afford an adequate guarantee against danger to Germany. It is essential for the self-defense of Germany that she should anticipate any such hostile attack. The German Government would, however, feel the deepest regret if Belgium regarded as an act of hostility against herself the fact that the measures of Germany's opponents force Germany, for her own protection, to enter Belgian territory.
This was the classic German method of invading a neutral country. First they claim that they have good information that their enemy, in this case France, is going to March through Belgium to attack Germany. Then they state that the Belgians are too weak to prevent this breach of their neutrality. Therefore, Germany as an act of “self defense” must send troops into Belgium to repel the French. The Belgians of course objected and stated that they would maintain their neutrality (see {613959} ) but the Germans then invaded the next day and could not understand why the world considered it aggression.
Walter von Below Saleske, *, German Ambassador to Belgium, Diplomatic Note, August 2, 1914
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
This was sent in response to the German invasion threat {613864}. It did no good as the Germans had already decided to invade Belgium which they did the next day.
A few months later, that is exactly what Germany did. She was hoping that England would not enter the war despite her treaty obligations, but she was willing to risk the possibility. The Czar had a strong espionage and intelligence service active in Germany, but, like so many other intelligence failures, the intelligence operatives and analysts had military and economic facts but had little understanding of the German culture which propelled Germany to what to most other cultures was “irrational policy making.” People and nations often engage in irrational activities, even against their own self-interest.
This is the kind of threat that was used by Germany before the First World War. It worked with Turkey, but King Albert realized that being an “ally” of Germany meant losing independence anyway. Belgium would not join Germany, so the Germans invaded Belgium in 1914. Belgians fought with the allies and at the end of WWI, they were able to rebuild their independent state and thrive until they were again invaded by Germany in WWII. Turkey, in contrast, lost their entire empire, as a result of their fighting as German allies in WWI.
The Times regretted that the Germans did not speak to the Austrians more vigorously when they were threatening to attack Serbia who harbored anti-Austro-Hungarian terrorists (see {642085}). What the Times editors did not realize was that the Germans had already made their war plans (see {642092}) and the Serbian issue was just the justification they needed to implement them. So there was no real reason for the Germans to discourage the Austro-Hungarian Empire from its mission to punish Serbia.
1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon. He was advocating British entry into WWI in defense of the Neutrality of Belgium as was their treaty obligation.
1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon. He was advocating British entry into WWI in defense of the Neutrality of Belgium as was their treaty obligation.
The King in his full dress military uniform had raced be carriage with his family to the Parliament building. The Germans had moved troops into Belgium and wanted that country to do nothing while they moved troops to attack France. The emotional question was answered with a shouted unanimous Oui! (Yes!). This meant that the small Belgian army would take on the huge and better equipped German Army and resist the invasion. They hoped for the assistance and intervention of England according to existing diplomatic agreements but they could not be sure. They did get the support of England and France, but later. In the meanwhile, the Germans used the Belgian defense of their land as an excuse for retribution and committing terrible war crimes and atrocities against Belgian military and civilian personnel.
The German war plan called for attacking France through Belgium. However, Belgium was intent on remaining neutral. International law prohibited a neutral country from allowing troops of either side to enter and maneuver in its territory. The Kaiser and the German leaders know they were violating International law and rationalized it by stating that after they defeated France, they would treat Belgium well.
There were actually very few incidents of civilian resistance to the German invaders and occupiers. However, they were exaggerated and used as a pretext for what amounted to atrocities and war crimes against the Belgian Civilians.
In both the First and Second World Wars the Western nations had a multilateral defense pact which did little good in the face of German aggression.
1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor
The highest court in New York. Kent did not originate this concept. He was stating an age old principle of law: Posse vicinum impediri, ne in suo solo, sine alia causa suaque evidenti utilitate, munimentum nobis propinquum extruat, aut aliud quid faciat, unde justa formido periculi oriatur.
Hitler ridiculed the letter after receiving it in public speech.
There were some anti-war forces in Germany in World War I.
The allies had differences in desirable strategy alternatives. Russia was facing the German Army on its Eastern front and causing huge German casualties but were paying for them in large loss of Russian life—civilian and military (The Russians suffered 22 million deaths as a result of WWII.) Stalin wanted to open a second front in France which would force the Germans to move some divisions from the Russian front, thereby relieving some of the pressure.
