594. The First World War: The Invasion of Belgium (Part 1)

A stupendous fate is breaking over Europe. For forty-four years, since the time we fought for and won the German Empire and our position in the world, we have lived in peace and have protected the peace of Europe. like a silent vow, the feeling that animated everyone, from the emperor down to the youngest soldier, was this Only in defence of a just cause shall our sword fly from its scabbard. The day has now come when we must draw it, against our wish, and in spite of our sincere endeavours. Russia has set fire to the building.

We are at war with Russia and France a war that has been forced upon us. Now the great hour of trial has struck for our people. But with clear confidence we go forward to meet it. Our army is in the field, our navy is ready for battle, behind them stands the entire German nation, the entire German nation, united to the last man. And indeed woman, he should have said, but he didn't, because this is the 4th of August, 1914, and the Chancellor of Germany, Theobald Bettmann Holveg, who was dressed in a dragoons uniform and was addressing the Reichstag, he just wasn't a feminist, was he, Dominic?

No, he wasn't at all. Actually, Tom, I felt that that reading became more Germanic as it proceeded. There was a bit of Tom Holland in there, but you were progressing basically towards the Kaiser. No, I wasn't. What I was doing there was conveying the sense of a peaceful nation, maybe one of the most cultured, the most intellectually advanced nation in Europe and perhaps the world, slowly mutating into an army of spike-helmeted Huns.

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