Germany proclaims a state of imminent danger of war

In the early afternoon of 31 July 1914 Emperor Wilhelm II proclaimed a “state of imminent danger of war” (Zustand drohender Kriegsgefahr) in Germany. The War Minister, Erich von Falkenhayn, informed the Chancellor and the Secretary of State in a brief note: “Zustand der drohenden Kriegsgefahr befohlen” (state of imminent danger of war ordered). It was the response to the news that Russia had ordered general mobilisation. The ambassador’s telegram from St Petersburg had reached Berlin before noon.

The last step before mobilisation

The state of imminent danger of war was not yet mobilisation. Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg explained to the British Ambassador that it signified the taking of certain precautionary measures consequent upon strained relations with a foreign country. The Secretary of State, Gottlieb von Jagow, told the French Ambassador, Jules Cambon, that it allowed the authorities, if they saw fit, to proclaim a state of siege, suspend some public services and close the frontiers. That day the General Staff had already closed the border with Switzerland, citing fears of French espionage.

Within the government, however, nobody had any illusions. The day before, at a session of the Prussian Ministry of State, Bethmann Hollweg had said that proclaiming a state of imminent danger of war meant mobilisation, and under present conditions, with both sides mobilising, it meant war. He admitted that the military had already demanded the proclamation, but he had persuaded the Emperor to wait for Vienna’s answer to the German and British mediation proposals. The Russian mobilisation settled the matter. The French, for their part, believed that under cover of the state of imminent danger Germany had already begun actual mobilisation.

The day of decision

At 3 p.m. the proclamation of the state of imminent danger was announced at a session of the Federal Council (Bundesrat), the body representing the states of the Reich. The Bavarian legation in Berlin reported to Munich that mobilisation would follow within 24 to 48 hours, and that the Reichstag would be summoned as soon as it was announced. Bethmann Hollweg telegraphed to the allies in Vienna that the state of imminent danger would be followed by mobilisation, and “this inevitably means war”.

At the same time Berlin moved on to diplomatic steps. That same afternoon an ultimatum went to St Petersburg, in which the Chancellor wrote that Russia’s preparations had forced Germany to proclaim the state of imminent danger of war, “which does not yet mean mobilisation”. Mobilisation would follow, however, unless Russia suspended every war measure against Germany and Austria-Hungary within twelve hours. The ambassador in Paris was instructed to ask France whether it would remain neutral.

“The sword is being forced into our hand”

In the evening tens of thousands of people gathered in front of the royal palace in Berlin, in the Lustgarten. Wilhelm II gave a short speech from the balcony. According to the contemporary translation published in the “New York Times Current History”, he said: “A fateful hour has fallen for Germany. Envious peoples everywhere are compelling us to our just defence. The sword is being forced into our hand.” He expressed the hope that if his efforts at the last hour did not bring his opponents to see reason, Germany would with God’s help so wield the sword as to restore it to its sheath with honour. He warned that war would demand enormous sacrifices of blood and property from the nation, and ended: “And now I commend you to God. Go to church. Kneel down before God and pray for His help for our gallant army.”

The speech was meant to convince Germans that if war came it would be a defensive war. The state of imminent danger of war lasted less than a day. The following afternoon, when the deadline of the ultimatum had passed without an answer, the Emperor signed the order for general mobilisation.