HSTR 344A Lecture 4: Coursespaces
7 Feb 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Events in the east have a major impact on events in the west events in. Belgium and france result in a general european catastrophe. Advance through belgium: 4 aug: britain declares war, three german armies 1st, 2nd, 3rd, sweep through belgium, 14 aug: bef lands in france, 6 divisions under general french, 23 aug: battle of mons. German general staff never considered the political ramifications of invading neutral belgium: didn"t matter if britain then joined, because germany was going to win in a couple weeks. British army was inconsequential in size compared to the german army. But british soldiers were long-service professionals who had seen action and were crack shots, under general french: never consulted german political leaders because they simply didn"t care. German rape of belgium: germany was immediately portrayed in propaganda as an evil bully did commit atrocities. Encouraging the good guys v. bad guys mindset. Especially emphasized by the british appealing to the americans.
