When Diplomacy Fails Podcast
A weekly podcast covering the build up to, breakout of and consequences of various conflicts in history.

How could the powers of Europe push through the recent diplomatic calamities? You'll be sorely dissappointed if you think they were at all capable of doing so...

Direct download: 23_The_Last_Day_of_Peace.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 10:05pm UTC
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On 30th July Germany was reacting to the news that Russia had effectively been pulling the wool over its eyes for the past 5 days. As the last efforts to acquire peace came to nothing, Sazonov was attempting round 2 of mobilisation in St Petersburg...

Direct download: 22_United_We_Stand.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 6:28pm UTC
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The aftermath of Austria's war declaration was felt across Europe, when the real intentions of all seemed to appear more and more clear. By the end of the day, it was clear to all where Europe was going.

Direct download: 21_End_of_Innocence.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 4:25pm UTC
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On 28th July, contrary to both their previously declared policy and common sense, A-H declared war on Serbia. Europe scrambled to understand what had just happened.

Direct download: 20_War_On_Serbia.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 12:30am UTC
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How were the powers in Europe on so many different levels? The dissemination of information, barely considered in most histories of the event, was in fact a key point for all involved.

Direct download: 19_Grey_Areas.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 1:00am UTC
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On 26th July 1914 Sazonov met with numerous officials from foreign states. He said one thing to them while his country was doing another...

Direct download: 18_Sazonovs_Deception.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 1:00am UTC
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How would Serbia react to the deadline now that they had Russian support? Could Britain do anything to dissuade the powers away from their respective courses? On a day that three states mobilised, was there any stopping anyone anymore?

Direct download: 17_Expiration_and_Mobilisation.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 1:00am UTC
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24th July greeted the Russian foreign minister as instantly busy. He had much to do...

Direct download: 16_Sazonovs_Day.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 12:30am UTC
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The process that landed Austria-Hungary in the position of delivering an ultimatum to Serbia has been covered in previous episodes, the details of the ultimatum and its delivery is covered here.

Direct download: 15_Ultimatum.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 1:00am UTC
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Over the course of 20-23rd July 1914, the French President and the Russian Tsar met in a summit that had been many months in the making, but which happened to coincide with the plans of Habsburg statesmen back in Vienna...

Direct download: 14_The_President_and_the_Tsar.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 12:30am UTC
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By the time of 19th July, the word of the ultimatum had already reached the majority of European capitals; yet, in Vienna, Habsburg ministers carried on blindly...

Direct download: 13_War_Council.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 12:30am UTC
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On 15th July the French president and Prime Minister set off from Paris to join the Russian Tsar for a summit in St Petersburg on 20th July, herein we recount the journey.

Direct download: 13_Away_from_Vienna.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 12:30am UTC
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The story of how Russia came to be opposed against Germany and Austria is one you have heard many times. This time, we take a different tone, and suggest that Russia's old enemy may not have been as forgotten as some histories would have you believe...

Direct download: 11_Profiles_3_Russia.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 10:55pm UTC
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Armed with his pro-action arguments, the Austro-Hungarian foreign minister believed he had finally acquired the tools he could use to persuade the most ardent opposer of his plans: the Hungarian minister president...

Direct download: 10_Persuading_Tisza.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 12:30am UTC
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Picking up the pieces after the death of the Russian ambassador, the Habsburg foreign minister acquires evidence which he believes, will finally persuade the Hungarian minister president towards war.

Direct download: 9_Belgrade_Alight.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 12:30am UTC
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On 10th July, as Berchtold and Conrad attempted to overcome their own respective obstacles, an event occurred in Serbia which dramatically changed the atmosphere...

Direct download: 8_Death_of_a_Statesman.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 12:30am UTC
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On 7th July Austro-Hungarian statesmen met to discuss the previous events and formulate policy. The result was a fundamental transformation of how the Habsburgs planned on representing themselves in the coming days.

Direct download: 7_Tiszas_Pressure.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 12:30am UTC
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On 5th-6th July the infamous 'blank cheque' was created in Berlin. Here we trace its origins and expel the myths that surround it.

Direct download: 6_Hoyos_Mission.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 12:30am UTC
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WW1 is a story incomplete without Austria-Hungary. Herein lies the tale of Habsburg decline, and should help explain the mind-set of its statesmen during the July Crisis. 

Direct download: 5_Profiles_2_A-H.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 5:56pm UTC
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