Literate Lifetime

"Today a reader, tomorrow a leader." -- W. Fusselman
Looking for something great (and free) to read? Enter an author's name and/or a key word from a book title to search for entries in our database of public domain works.


In the World WarDownload Now...

by Ottokar Czernin (Author)

In the World War
Text Source:Project Gutenberg
Text URL:http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/18160
Language:en
Type:E-book
Description:Not available
Table of Contents:Not available

Amazon.com Information:
Sales Rank: 82197
ISBN:
Page Count:
Detail Page: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ECQJVW


Download this text: In the World War

Product Description

Photos included.

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY REFLECTIONS
The bursting of a thunderstorm is preceded by certain definite phenomena in the atmosphere. The electric currents separate, and the storm is the result of atmospheric tension which can no longer be repressed. Whether or no we become aware of these happenings through outward signs, whether the clouds appear to us more or less threatening, nothing can alter the fact that the electric tension is bound to make itself felt before the storm bursts.

For years the political barometer of the European Ministries of Foreign Affairs had stood at "storm." It rose periodically, to fall again; it varied—naturally; but for years everything had pointed to the fact that the peace of the world was in danger.

The obvious beginnings of this European tension date back several years: to the time of Edward VII. On the one hand England's dread of the gigantic growth of Germany; on the other hand Berlin's politics, which had become a terror to the dwellers by the Thames; the belief that the idea of acquiring the dominion of the world had taken root in Berlin. These fears, partly due merely to envy and jealousy, but partly due also to a positive anxiety concerning existence; these fears led to the encircling policy of Edward VII., and thus was started the great drive against Germany. It is well known that Edward VII. made an attempt to exercise a direct influence on the Emperor Francis Joseph to induce him to secede from the Alliance and join the Powers encircling Germany. It is likewise known that the Emperor Francis Joseph rejected the proposal, and that this decided the fate of Austria-Hungary. From that day we were no longer the independent masters of our destiny. Our fate was linked to that of Germany; without being conscious of it, we were carried away by Germany through the Alliance.

Book Categories:

Books / Subjects / Biographies & Memoirs / General
Books / Subjects / Biographies & Memoirs / Memoirs
Books / Refinements / Format (feature_browse-bin) / Kindle Books
Kindle Store / Categories / Kindle Books / Biographies & Memoirs / Memoirs
Kindle Store / Categories / Kindle Books / History / Europe / General
Kindle Store / Categories / Kindle Books / History / Military / World War I
Kindle Store / Categories / Kindle Books / History / World / 20th Century

Pick of the Day



Lists of Interest

Modern Library 100 Best Novels Modern Library 100 Best Novels: In 1998, Modern Library picked the top 100 Novels of the century. This list contains all of the bo ...

Webmaster's Favourites Webmaster's Favourites: These are my selections, humbly presented as books that I particularly enjoyed.



Other ways of browsing