On July 29th, George V ordered the world’s most powerful British fleet to prepare for war.
On July 3o, the Tsar’s re-mobilization made Germany’s request for Russia to stop the general mobilization rejected.
On July 31, the Royal Vienna Army issued a general mobilization order.
On July 31st, Berlin submitted an ultimatum to Russia and France respectively. In the ultimatum to Russia, Germany asked Russia to withdraw its general mobilization order "within 12 hours". In the ultimatum to France, Paris asked Paris to announce within 18 hours that if Russia and Germany were at war, France would remain neutral. If France remained neutral, it would have to hand over the fortresses in Turkey and Verdun to Germany for occupation, and ensure that they would be returned after the war. Russia did not want to reply to this, but France gave a brief reply "We will take actions according to its own interests".
At this time, Germany does not choose.
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Berlin, January 1, 1914
The streets are crowded with people in front of the palace.
In his speech announcing the danger of war the night before, the emperor told people that they were "forced to take up arms"
At the moment, they are nervously and excitedly waiting for the last moment.
Germany declared war on Russia at exactly 5: 00 p.m.
An officer appeared at the entrance of the palace and read the mobilization order to the crowd. At the entrance of the palace, the German people were ecstatic and sang the national anthem respectfully.
As soon as the mobilization button is pressed, the huge machine for recruiting, equipping and transporting 200,000 people will be put into operation. The reservists will collect the system, equipment and weapons from the designated soldiers, first organize them into companies, then organize them into battalions, and then send them to the neighboring border junction points according to the scheduled railway schedule.
From the moment the order arrived, everything was running according to the scheduled timetable. It took 10,000 carriages and hundreds of trains to transport officers, infantry, cavalry and quartermaster. The timetable was very detailed, and there were specific regulations on how many train carriages would cross what bridge when.
Kaiser Wilhelm II organized his army into a regiment, among which the 17th regiment formed the first regiment along the Derby and German-French borders, namely the Chentian East Prussia Corps, which was responsible for resisting the Russian attack on the Eastern Front.
East Prussia also quickly mobilized 100,000 reserve troops to complete the first regiment in Konigsberg in three days. The four infantry troops (corps), one armored army, one cavalry division and the aviation team directly under the regiment all reached full capacity, and 2.46 million people were ready to go to the battlefield at any time.
With 2 cruisers, 16 destroyers, 4 seaplane carriers, 2 carrier ships, 24 submarines, 13 torpedo boats, 35 patrol gunboats and 273 aircraft of all kinds, the Baltic sub-fleet also took action. Cruisers, destroyers and submarines came out of the port one after another to patrol turrets and torpedo boats in the Baltic Sea of Germany and Sweden, while they patrolled the coast of Gdansk Bay.
Four destroyers, a large aircraft carrier, 17 submarines, four torpedo boats and six gunboats are lying in the dock of Konigsberg Shipyard.
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At 7: 00 p.m. on August 2nd, the 16th German Division entered the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
At 7: 00 p.m. on August 2, Belo, German ambassador to Brussels, submitted an ultimatum to Belgian Foreign Minister Davignion.
Germany has received reliable information that France intends to invade Germany through the Belgian border. It is doubtful that the Belgian army can be expected to stop the French army from advancing. Therefore, it is necessary to pre-empt this hostile attack according to the need of self-defense. If the Belgians regard Germany’s entry into Belgian territory as a hostile act against it, Germany will deeply regret it. If Belgium can remain neutral in good faith, Germany will promise to withdraw from its territory as soon as a contract is concluded to ensure the sovereignty and independence of the Belgian kingdom.
If Belgium passes through its territory against Germany, it will be regarded as an enemy country, and it will be subject to "guns" in the future.
Belgium must give a "true and false answer" within 12 hours.
Belgian prime minister Brockovelli agreed at the cabinet meeting that night when the government finally decided to resist Germany’s "defending Belgian dignity"
At 7: 00 p.m. on March 3, Belgium submitted a reply to the German minister, saying that if the Belgian government accepted Germany’s proposal, it would "betray its righteousness to Europe at the expense of its national dignity", so it would "resolutely resist the infringement of its power by all means within its power"
On March 3, Germany declared war on France because France refused to be "neutral"
Germany declared war on Belgium at 6: 00 a.m on April 4th.
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It was raining cats and dogs in Berlin on the afternoon of April 4th when the German army advanced to the Belgian border.
Members of Parliament gathered in the Capitol to listen to the imperial edict. In the building, there was a large painting of Kaiser William I and Marshal Mao Qi of the Sixth Army together in front of the galloping horse in Sedang battlefield. A soldier spread a French flag on the horseshoe of the Emperor.
Members of parliament marched into the palace and sat in Whitehall. The Kaiser came in quietly accompanied by several generals, waiting for the throne to read the speech.
He wore a helmet and hat and held the hilt with one hand.
"We have drawn our swords and our hearts are ashamed and our hands are innocent."
He said that the war was started by Serbia with the support of Russia, and then he recounted Russian crimes, which aroused a "shameful" cry.
After the speech, the emperor shouted, "From today on, I don’t recognize the party and recognize the Germans!"
Then he asked the leaders of all parties to shake hands with him if they agreed with him. In the "frenzy", all party leaders did not obey, while others present burst into ecstatic cheers.
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At 8: 00 p.m. on April 4th, the first wave of earthy gray waves crossed the German-Belgian border in Gemmerich, 4 kilometers away from Liege, and Belgian soldiers caught fire from the post.
Britain declared war on Germany on April 4 because of Germany’s invasion of Belgium.
This war game, which makes the world hold its breath, is like a nightmare on a huge chessboard. It has become a reality composed of bloody terror, heroism and death.
Chapter 22 Swallow the Sun Beast
St Petersburg, Russia, May 5, 1914
Paleolog, the French ambassador, drove to see the czar and asked Russia to attack Germany quickly. On the way, he met a group of Cossack cavalry on the way.
When the cavalry leader saw the French flag of the ambassador’s car, he warmly invited the ambassador to review his troops, and the ambassador readily agreed
When reviewing the troops, the cavalry chief made a big speech and shouted, "We will destroy those despicable Prussians. Prussia will forget that Germany will die and exile William II to St. Helena!"
After the inspection, he galloped away with his troops galloping, waving sabre.
The high morale of Cossack cavalry has greatly increased the confidence of the French ambassador. With the support of Russian giants and cooperation, France will surely defeat its old enemy and win the war.
The Russian giant does have a magical power that not only confuses the French and Europeans, but also confuses the whole world.