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Germany Not Guilty in 1914

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M.H. Cochran's book titled GERMAN NOT GUILTY IN 1914 was orginally a refutation Prof. Schmitt's THE COMING OF THE WAR. Cochran's book is more than a thorough discrediting of Schmitt's book. It is a reminder of what honest historians are supposed to so. Cochran's concern with documents, traslations, and details is important to anyone who wants to seriously study history.

Harry Elmer Barnes' forward and Henry Adams' introduction are worth reading. These sections introduce readers what the controversy was about about as to actual origins and causes were regarding World War I.

One of the factors that led to the actual fighting in 1914 was the mobilization of the huge Russian army on Germany's borders in conjunction with French mobilization. Cochran does gives an extremely precise sequence of events re Russian mobilization in late July of 1914. Cochran informs readers that international law clearly stated the full mobilization of another political border was an act of war which the Germans correctly understood. In spite of repeated German appeals to end such mobilization, the Russians, with encouragement from the French and the British, continued with full mobilization. Cochran shows a careful historian's concern with time sequence and documents.

Readers should also pay close attention to the British excuse for declaring war on the Germans in 1914. The official reason for this declaration of war was German invasion of Belgium in 1914. Supposedly the British were bound to defend Belgium neutrality. This was not true. The British were only treat bound to honor Belgium neutrality which is significantly different than defending it. Cochran is also clear that the Belgium authorities were not neutral. They entered negotiations with French and British to land their forces in Belgium to invade Germany. The Germans attempted to get an understanding over Belgium neutrality but to no avail. Once the Germans realized that Belgium could be used as a base to invade German along with Russian mobilization on their borders, the Germans had to act. They were outnumbered, and the Germans did not have time.

Russian, French, and British insincerity in late July of 1914 (July 28th. and July 29th., 1914)was openly admitted by the Russian Foreign Minister, Sazonov. Cochran uses sources to indicate that the "allies" were intent on war in 1914, and the War Guilt Clause, Article 231 of the Versailles Treat, was so much arrogant hypocrisy.

M. H. Cochran's GERMANY NOT GUILTY IN 1914 is a good introduction to the actual origins of World War I. Readers should also consider reading Sidney Bradshow Fay's THE ORIGINS OF THE WORLD WAR, Harry Elmer Barnes' THE GENESIS OF THE WAR, and Tansill's AMERICA GOES TO WAR. Cochran's book is also useful as it gives readers a good look at authenic history as opposed to contemporary history which is baseless (little or no use of docuements) and more concerned with political correctnesss than honesy and truth.