Is Germany's Responsible For World War I?

World War I has been a controversial topic in the sense that who should take responsibility for not only causing it but how it brutally affected the world. Professor V. R. Berghahn makes the argument that evidence indicates Germany’s role in World War I was the main factor responsible for the conflict. To prove his argument he focuses on the framework of Germany’s economy, society, culture, and politics from 1871 to 1914. While Samuel R. Williamson argues that the factors and conditions that led to World War I was a shared responsibility and should not be blamed on one nation’s actions. He focuses on the actions in which lead to the war starting with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Berghahn begins his argument dating back to
These events are the German mobilization order, the ultimatum, the blank check, Willhelm II ordering the occupation of Luxemburg, and the gathering in the Imperial Palace in Berlin. He also uses people such as Willhelm II, Moltke, the Reich Chacellor, and all of the Kaiser’s advisers. All of which were used to provide a very one sided argument that Germany was responsible for World War I. The author uses many quotes and states his arguments periodically throughout his writing. In the document the author states, “Moltke nos pressed Willhelm II to order the occupation of Luxemburg as a first step to the German invasion of a Belgium and France. This time he won; World War I had definitely begun” (Berghahn 126). This passage simply proves that people like Moltke and the Kaiser wanted to invade Belgium and France which led to the definite beginning of war, all because of Germany. Another passage the author states to
He uses events such as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the Pašić’s conspiracy, Habsburg leaders meeting in Paris, the ultimatum, the blank check, and Germany and other countries mobilizing. The author also uses people like the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Pašić, Habsburg leaders, and Sir Edward Grey to convey his argument that World War I was a shared responsibility and should not be blamed on one country. Williamson looks at all these events and actions taken from countries including Germany and does not in any way defend Germany but rather point out there actions as well as other countries. The structure of this document is in subsections broken down into the events of the Sarajevo, the response of the assassination, the ultimatum, and finally his argument. He provides little to no evidence in the text and does not state his argument till the very end. At the end, is where he starts assigning responsibilities of the war onto countries to prove his argument. In the document the author states, “The most significant, immediate, and dangerous response came not from the Germans, but from the Russians. Upon learning of the ultimatum, Foreign Minister Serge Sazonov declared war inevitable. His actions thereafter did much to endure a general European war” (Williamson 139). Unlike Berghah, Williamson provides a bigger spectrum on who is to blame for World War I. In this case, he is saying that the biggest