CHAPTER III - GREAT BRITAIN AND THE FRANCO-RUSSIAN ALLIANCE

Abstract

Most German historians believe that the general mobilization of Russian forces constituted the starting point of the First World War. But if the facts are taken in their chronological order, one is confronted with two successive decisions more or less contradictory. Instructions for partial mobilization were issued from St Petersburg on July 29, 1914. Then the Czar ordered general mobilization. Apparently, the latter decision meant a general progressive mobilization. Between the announcements of the two decisions, events of primary importance were taking place at St Petersburg. On learning of the declaration of war on Serbia by Austria–Hungary, the Russian General Staff drew up two edicts for the Czar's signature. The edicts decreed, respectively, partial and general mobilization. Partial mobilization was but a step toward general mobilization, details of which had only recently been perfected by the Imperial General Staff and involved a cumbersome operation. The distinction made later between general and partial mobilization was specious. From a technical point of view, general mobilization was the only one possible. In the event of the mobilization of the forces of the Triple Alliance, or any of the powers of which it is composed, France and Russia simultaneously mobilize their entire forces and bring them as near as possible to their frontiers.