by David Fromkin
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Product Description
When war broke out in Europe in 1914, it surprised a European population enjoying the most beautiful summer in memory. For nearly a century since, historians have debated the causes of the war. Some have cited the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand; others have concluded it was unavoidable.
In Europe’s Last Summer, David Fromkin provides a different answer: hostilities were commenced deliberately. In a riveting re-creation of the run-up to war, Fromkin shows how German generals, seeing war as inevitable, manipulated events to precipitate a conflict waged on their own terms. Moving deftly between diplomats, generals, and rulers across Europe, he makes the complex diplomatic negotiations accessible and immediate. Examining the actions of individuals amid larger historical forces, this is a gripping historical narrative and a dramatic reassessment of a key moment in the twentieth-century.
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 How Germany hijacked a regional war between Austria and Serbia and started World War I, 2008-09-16
Finally, a clear explanation of how the Great War started and who did it. Late 20th century history as relayed in public education survey courses relied on vague statements of wonderment about how millions could fight and die in a world-wide struggle triggered by the assassination of an inconsequential Archduke of some type in some country in Eastern Europe.
In fact, the murder of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife was a pretext to trigger the war that Austria-Hungary wanted with Serbia. In the meantime, their erstwhile ally Germany hoped for a reason to attack Russia in a conservative move to maintain its status quo against what Germany saw as the rising Slavic tide from the Russian East.
So Germany egged on the Dual Monarchy to declare war and crush Serbia quickly so that Austria-Hungary's armies could turn north and shield Germany's Eastern borders from Russian invaders while Germany's armies turned west to seal off France by invading through Belgium. Germany wanted this chain of events to occur sooner rather than later because of its perceived position of declining strength relative to Russia.
Given these conflicting desires, Austria attempted to manipulate Germany to hold off Russia while Austria eliminated Serbia, and Germany attempted to manipulate Austria to hold off Russia while Germany eliminated France and then turned to crush Russia. So essentially Germany hijacked a regional war between Austria and Serbia and had turned it into a continental war involving all of Europe.
But the diplomatic maneuvering resulted in the involvement of England to defend France and Russia, which turned a continental war into a World War because the far-flung British Empire touched every sector of the globe.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Thought provoking in this day, 2008-09-02
A terrific book that I recommend to friends. Fromkin is a wonderful writer. Theoretically one could draw parallels between the world situation on the eve of the Great War with world political climate of the George W. Bush presidential years. Certainly the cautionary tales of this book might inform discussions of current world foreign political engagements. Where will we be in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years? Will the struggle over natural resources (oil) put China at odds with the US and in war with US or Russia? As we look to the mid-east as a terrorist threat are we ignoring the potential for conflict between the US and S. America? The changes in social class, distribution of wealth, economics, technology (transportation, etc.), foreign policy of various countries and a host of other factors near the turn of the 19th-20th century are worth studying when hypothesizing potential current and future world-wide conflicts. Blabber, blabber - at any rate, I would enjoy reading Fromkin's book again.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
 How is it possible?, 2008-07-27
Europe's Last Summer by Fromkin is, hands down, the worst book I have ever read about World War 1. Given the sheer volume of material available today, It is difficult to understand the lugubrious prejudicial flapdoodle disgorged by Fromkin. Germany, says Fromkin, decided upon war before the Russian mobilization of July 30th. Kaiser Wilhelm, says Fromkin, decided on war to avenge his friend, Archduke Ferdinand. Not a shred of evidence is cited to support these absurdities.
The incriminating Isvolsky/Sasonov correspondence; the damning words spoken by the Czar and Sasonov just before ordering mobilization; Bethmann's strenuous efforts to moderate Austria; Poincare's refusal of Buchanan's "direct conversations" proposal - none of these are to be found in Fromkin's palace of poop. Serious students and history buffs alike should spare themselved the expense of Fromkin's nonsense. Germany did not start the Great War.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
 2/3 of the story, 2007-10-12
All major actors are discussed properly here except the Russians.
David Fromkin towards the end does state it is one interesting what-if would be what if Russia did not get involved. He provides little information why they did? But he provides no answer why.
By 1914 the Slavic idea was, a little bit worn out issue in Russia plus Russia was then recovering from a major war with Japan and the 1905 revolution. It was not prepared economically or ideologically for a major war.
The Austria Hungry conflict with Serbia was to Russia an issue of little importance. Surely any competent diplomat would have told Russia that German could not stand back if Russia did successfully fight Austria. Any such conflict was likely to become a major conflict.
So I am left after reading the book wondering why the Russians got involved in a conflict between Serbia and Austria!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
 Well written, but with a flawed premise. , 2007-04-29
The author has written a book that flows nicely and is very fascinating to read. Characters smoothly enter the narrative and with a little knowledge of the War, it's a book that can be absorbing.
However, the premise that a single individual was to be blamed for the First World War is a terribly flawed premise. This is not an Agatha Christie novel; there is no smoking gun. To say that a single German general was to be blamed for the First World War is fairly ridiculous. von Moltke's fears of the future Russian steamroller or the re-arming of the French and their obsessive need for revanche were understandable in his milieu, but he hardly had a red button which pushed would blow up pre-War Europe.
I also found this book a bit redundant. German war guilt has been pronounced since the first declaration of war in the Russian Foreign Office by Sasonov, the Russian foreign minister. Saying that the Germans of 1914 are to be blamed for starting the First World War is hardly original. However true it might be (and I personally would give the Austro-Hungarians no small measure of blame also), it's terribly redundant as another reviewer mentioned.
Overall it's a good read, but with a flawed premise. It's still enjoyable enough to read to get another angle on the origins of the War.
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