The Guilt of William Hohenzollern

London: Skeffington & Son, LTD., 1919. — 269 p. The personality and position of Karl Kautsky puts his unique book in the front rank of authoritative records, and settles, once for all, the question of the personal responsibility of William Hohenzollern for the outbreak of the Great War. Appointed by the German Republican Government to examine the secret archives of the German Foreign Office, Kautsky was able to study the documents which passed between the German authorities and the other parties to the great conspiracy, documents which passed through the hands of the ex-Kaiser and bear his notes and comments in his own hand. Those notes and comments show William Hohenzollern as the driving force behind the war-party in Germany, as a man determined not to let slip what seemed so favourable an opportunity of settling accounts with Russia — and, if necessary, the world. Contents Preface Who are the Guilty? The Isolation of Germany German Provocations Austria The Balkan Crises The Situation before the War Materials relating to the Origin of the War Serajevo William's Monarchial Conscience The Conspiracy of Potsdam The Conspirators at Work William's Insistence Austria's Hesitation A False Calculation The Hoodwinking of Europe The Ultimatum to Serbia The Deliver of the Note The Localization of the War The Sabotage of the Peace Efforts The Beginning of Uncertainty in Germany Italy England Up to July 29th July 29th Last Efforts to preserve Peace The Mobilizations The Declaration of War on Russia The Preparation for the Declaration of War The Reason for the Declaration of War The Opening of the War by Russia The Declaration of War on France The Neutralization of France The Mysterious Airmen The Declaration of War on Belgium The Breach of Faith a Political Blunder The Justification of the Breach of Faith The World Revolution The World-War and the German People Appendix