... the newly unified Germany of the coal-rich territories of Alsace and Lorraine. The plan was fatally flawed, and relied to an untenable extent upon the "élan" which was believed to form an integral part of the French army - an irresistible force that will sweep over its enemies. Germany's Path to War As for Germany, it was unsettled socially and militarily. The Chancellor, Bethmann Hollweg, became most despondent, came to believe that Germany's only hope of avoiding civil unrest sooner rather than later in war: preferably a short, sharp war, although he did not rule out a European-wide conflict if it resolved Germany's social and Political woes. This outlook on life fuelled his decision of 6 July 1914 - whilst the Austro-Hungarian government was weighing its options with regard to Serbia - to offer the former what has been commonly referred to as a "blank cheque"; that is, an unconditional guarantee of support ...

See this essay or coursework document in full right now