On Sunday, June 28, 1914, in the afternoon, German Kaiser Wilhelm II and Crown Prince Qin Tian were on a yacht in Kiel, visiting the nearby scenery. He was apanied by Marshal Count Tirpitz, Minister of the Navy.
Another very important purpose of this visit is to inspect the widened Kiel Canal. After the Kiel Canal is widened, naval warships moored in Kiel can pass through the canal and go directly to Wilhelmshaven without having to go around the Jund Penins. This not only saves a lot of time, but also ensures the safety of the fleet. After all, if you go around the Jund Penins, you are very likely to encounter the siege of the Royal Navy.
"Your Majesty, the Kiel Canal has been widened across the board. In this way, we no longer have to worry about the separate deployment of the fleet." Marshal Count Tirpitz smiled.
"Well, I am very satisfied that the imperial navy is getting stronger and stronger. This time, the possibility of us defeating the British will be very high." William II was very satisfied with having such a powerful navy. He seems to have seen that his goal is being seeded step by step.
"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has contributed a lot to the navy''s current scale! If it weren''t for the support of the Crown Prince and the warships he designed, the Navy would not have been so powerful." Marshal Earl Tirpitz A face full of praise.
"Your Excellency Marshal, you are serious. It is my duty to do my best for the strength of the empire." Qin Tian is very humble.
At this moment, a staff officer stepped onto the deck of the yacht.
"Your Majesty, there is an urgent call from the Austro-Hungarian Empire." The staff officer said.
"Oh? What happened?" William II asked.
Qin Tian''s eyes shed with joy, and he knew that it should be that thing happened. You know, he is a little worried today, for fear that history will change. Now, he can finally put his heart back into his stomach.
"Austro-Hungarian Crown Prince Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo." The officer continued.
"What?" Both William II and Marshal Count Tirpitz eximed.
But then, a smile appeared on the faces of both of them. They don''t care about the life and death of Archduke Ferdinand. What they care about is what kind of opportunity this incident brings to Germany.
"Your Majesty, that''s great! The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand undoubtedly gave the Austro-Hungarian Empire an excuse to go to war with Serbia. The Russians will certainly not just watch Serbia being attacked by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They will definitely send troops Helping the Austro-Hungarian Empire. ording to our alliance with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, we are obliged to help the Austro-Hungarian Empire!" Marshal Earl Tirpitz said excitedly.
William II nodded again and again. Once Russia and Germany both make moves, Britain and France will inevitably be involved. This war will break out because of this.
"This is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" William II said with emotion.
"Return to Berlin immediately and gather the main generals of the army and navy. The war is about to break out!" William II ordered.
For Germany, which wants to change the current national structure through war and obtain a broader colony and market, the Sarajevo incident is indeed a golden opportunity. Germany''s military preparations have already beenpleted. The mobilization of the troops was secretlypleted as early as March, and an attack can beunched at any time.
And Germany''s main opponents, Russia and France, their armies are still undergoing reorganization. This will allow Germany to have a greater advantage in the war.
In Moscow, the capital of Russia, at the Summer Pce, after Nichs II received the Serbian ambassador to Russia, he summoned senior Russian military and political officials.
"Gentlemen, Serbia has asked us for help. They are about to face the invasion of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. And we must not allow the Austro-Hungarian Empire to invade Serbia. Once they upy the Balkan Penins, it will be a disaster for the Russian Empire !" Tsar Nichs II''s attitude was very tough.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Regardless of whether the death of Archduke Ferdinand has anything to do with Serbia. Once the Austro-Hungarian Empire upies the Balkan Penins, it will be very detrimental to the Russian Empire. Therefore, we must stop them!" Prime Minister Vyachev ? Previ said.
"When will our army be mobilized?" Nichs II looked at Minister of War Sukhomlinov.
"Your Majesty, our mobilization will take at least three months." Sukhomlinov replied.
Nichs II couldn''t help but frowned. Three months was obviously too long. However, there is no way around it. Who made the Russian Empire too vast, with extremely backward infrastructure, and a mobilization system full of loopholes?
"Your Majesty, even if the mobilization is notpleted, we don''t have to worry. The main force of the Germans is on the Western Front, and our standing army is enough to attack East Prussia and defeat them. If we are lucky, we can even fight to Berlin! Grand Duke Nichs,mander of the Russian army, smiled.
Tsar Nichs II couldn''t helpughing, he would be very happy if the Russian army could reach Berlin. He really wanted to see what the wayward and conceited distant cousin would have to say.
"What about the navy?" Nichs II asked.
"Your Majesty, the navy is no match for the Germans. But there is no problem in ensuring the safety of St. Petersburg." Admiral Ivan Griglovich, Minister of the Navy replied.
Nichs II nodded in satisfaction. After the Russian Navy experienced a disastrous defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, it began aborious reconstruction. Although, the development is fast. But there is still a big gap with the German Navy. However, Russia''s most powerful is the army, not the navy. Therefore, Nichs II did not expect the navy to perform any miracles. It is enough for the navy to cooperate with coastal fortifications and ensure the safety of the Russian maind. What''s more, although the German navy is powerful, their enemy is not Russia, but the maritime hegemony Britain.
"Everyone, I have already promised Serbia that once they encounter the invasion of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, we will immediately attack the Austro-Hungarian Empire and support them. If the Germans dare to intervene, we will attack East Prussia!" Nichs II was full of spirits Said.
Russia made concessions and retreated three times in the past in the international crises of 1909, 1912 and 1913, but this time, Tsar Nichs II decided not to make concessions and retreat this time.