"A Powerful Collision" - German postcard depicting a giant German soldier crushing British, French and Russian soldiers, 1914.
"A Powerful Collision" - German postcard depicting a giant German soldier crushing British, French and Russian soldiers, 1914. Today 109 years ago, on July 5, 1914, Germany issued its infamous Blank Cheque to Austria-Hungary, pledging their full unconditional support in the case of a war with Serbia. Following the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28, 1914, on July 5 Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Josef sent a telegram to German Kaiser Wilhelm II explaining that he was contemplating taking military action against Serbia for the assassination. Kaiser Wilhelm II felt compelled to support his Austrian ally, especially since he felt a personal loss with the death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. With Germany surrounded by France in the west, Russia in the east and Britain at sea, he also realized Austria-Hungary was Germany's only trustworthy ally, with Italy deemed unreliable in the case of war. In the afternoon of July 5, the Kaiser assembled a...