Chapter Questions for Guns of August

Chapter 9: “Home Before the Leaves Fall”

  1. What evidence could be provided to illustrate the belief by several of the future belligerent countries that their troops would be “home before the leaves fall?” What realities foretold that to be an illusion? Who, and for what reasons, envisioned a long war? (pp. 133-143)
    Troops believed they would be home early because of the financial and economic situations of the countries and armies. Furthermore, Germany believed the British were insignificant and the British thought they would have a quick victory.
    This happened to be an illusion when Germany discovered how to fix nitrogen out of air and when France lost 80% of their iron ore.
    Kitchener said, “a nation like Germany after having forced the issue will only give in after it is beaten to the ground.”
    Joffre said, “If France won first, Germany’s national resistance would increase or vice versa. Also, more nations would be drawn into the war.
  1. What arguments did British Foreign Minister Edward Grey employ in his August 3rd speech before Parliament in which he sought support for British involvement in the coming war? What happened two hours after his speech? (pg. 136-145)
    Edward Grey mentioned the naval agreement they had with the French. Furthermore, he said that the North and West coasts of the Mediterranean were undefended and that it was their duty to defend the French. He said that they could not just stand aside and that they must take a stand. Moreover, he said the Mediterranean was a British interest.
    Two hours after the speech, Germany declared war.
  1. What accusations were made in the German declaration of war on France? (pg. 145) What famous quote did Sir Edward Grey utter on the evening of August 3rd as the reality of the war set in?
    The accusations included “organized hostility”, air attacks on Nuremberg, and a violation of Belgian neutrality by French aviators.
    The famous quote was “the lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.”
  1. What was meant by the quote “when we Germans lost the first great battle in the eyes of the world,” attributed to the German Crown Prince? (pg. 146)
    Since Germany was attacking a neutral world (Belgium), all the other nations saw Germany as bad.
  2. How does Tuchman describe the mood of the people in Brussels after King Albert received the consent of his parliament to defend Belgium against the Germans? (pp. 148-149)
    The French and Belgians were cheering. Everyone was waving banners and flags while riding their horse. Also, they were gathering their men and weapons together.
  1. What was French Premier Rene Viviani able to announce about the Triple Alliance and how did that assist France? (pg. 150)
    Viviani announced that Italy would be neutral.
    This assisted the French because this made it worth an extra four divisions or 80,000 men.
  1. After proclaiming that the war was provoked by Serbia and Russia, what proclamation did the Kaiser make? Analyze what this statement meant for opposition to the war in Germany. (pg. 151)
    The Kaiser said, “Frome this day on I recognize no parties but only Germans.” This meant that Germany was going to be FOR war and enter it as a unit. Kaiser did not care if you opposed going to war.
  1. What did Admiral Tirpitz consider the greatest blunder ever spoken by a German statesman? How did liberals in the Reichstag view the Chancellor’s statement? (pg. 152)
    The greatest blunder was “our invasion of Belgium is contrary to international law but the wrong that we are committing we will make good as soon as our military goal has been reached.”
    This message was a relief to the liberals because it absolved them from any guilt they were feeling from invading Belgium.
  1. How did the German Chancellor describe British Ambassador Sir Edward Goschen’s ultimatum to German and ultimate decision to make war on Germany? In what terms did he refer to Belgium’s neutrality treaty? (pg. 154)
    The German Chancellor described the ultimatum as “unthinkable” for making war on a kindred nation. He said it was like “striking a man from behind while he was fighting for his life against two assailants.”
    He referred to Belgium’s neutrality as a scrap of paper.
  1. What did Britain’s mobilization order fail to mention and why did that cause concern? What fear threatened to paralyze British military assistance to France? (pp. 156-158)
    It failed to mention whether they would be sending the Expeditionary Forces to France and how far in they would be going. The British Army was supposed to be two days behind the French but they were three instead. This caused concern because if the French were defeated by the Germans, Europe would endure some serious changes.
    A German invasion threatened to paralyze the British military assistance to France.