Austria-Hungary was willing to go to war with Serbia after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand as long as they could be provided with Germany’s support of the situation. Germany, terrified of being encircled by the Triple Entente and confident that Russia would not intervene, offered unconditional support for Austria-Hungary in the event of a war with Serbia through a telegram, now known as the “Blank Cheque,” to Emperor Franz Joseph II. This guarantee from Germany is what prompted Austria-Hungary to officially declare war on Serbia, because the support would mean an immediate upper-hand over Serbia in the event of a war. If the “Blank Cheque” telegram was never sent to Franz Joseph II, Austria-Hungary would never have issued an ultimatum to Serbia, thus never causing Serbia to reject the ultimatum. The withholding of German support would have prevented Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war on Serbia, Russian mobilization which led to German declaration of war on Russia, and German declaration of war on France on 3 August. Furthermore, the German troops would have never crossed through Belgium to invade France, causing Britain to finally declare war on Germany on 4
Austria-Hungary was willing to go to war with Serbia after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand as long as they could be provided with Germany’s support of the situation. Germany, terrified of being encircled by the Triple Entente and confident that Russia would not intervene, offered unconditional support for Austria-Hungary in the event of a war with Serbia through a telegram, now known as the “Blank Cheque,” to Emperor Franz Joseph II. This guarantee from Germany is what prompted Austria-Hungary to officially declare war on Serbia, because the support would mean an immediate upper-hand over Serbia in the event of a war. If the “Blank Cheque” telegram was never sent to Franz Joseph II, Austria-Hungary would never have issued an ultimatum to Serbia, thus never causing Serbia to reject the ultimatum. The withholding of German support would have prevented Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war on Serbia, Russian mobilization which led to German declaration of war on Russia, and German declaration of war on France on 3 August. Furthermore, the German troops would have never crossed through Belgium to invade France, causing Britain to finally declare war on Germany on 4