Between the assassination and 6 July, Kaiser Wilhelm II moved from qualified support to urging Austria-Hungary to strike Serbia quickly. The resulting blank check encouraged Vienna to act while it was still reeling from the assassination. It remains unclear how fully Wilhelm appreciated that action against Serbia could draw in Russia, France, and eventually Britain. German military planning concentrated on defeating France and Russia, treating the destruction of the British army ashore as the answer to British intervention. The navy's expected task was to prevent the Royal Navy from interfering.
Chapter · 47:05-54:39
Germany gives Austria-Hungary a blank check
Berlin encouraged rapid Austro-Hungarian action against Serbia while underestimating the alliance chain and Britain's likely reaction.