Germany issues the 'blank cheque'

1914 · Event

A week after the Sarajevo assassination, Kaiser Wilhelm II and his chancellor promise Austria-Hungary unconditional German backing for whatever it does to Serbia — then the Kaiser leaves on his yacht for a three-week cruise. Europe's largest army has just underwritten a war it isn't watching.

On these timelines: World War I, July Crisis & Outbreak of WW1, Master, Germany

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