1914 — The Third Balkan War: Origins Reconsidered

Abstract

Fritz Fischer’s decade has ended. It began, neatly enough, in 1961 with Der Griff nach der Weltmacht, and drew to a close, in 1969, with Krieg der Illusionen. In between, there has been more discussion, scholarly and otherwise, than has been caused by any other single historian in our lifetime. Some of it has been stimulating. But the debate has just about run its course. Brecht’s lines come to mind. I always hear Caesar did, Caesar conquered. Was not there at least a cook along?

Everything the statesman creates is perishable, and in the long run, every decision is wrong. If it were otherwise, we would have no ‘history.’

(Golo Mann)