When Diplomacy Fails presents the July Crisis Anniversary Project, a day-by-day account of the events that occurred 100 years ago.

No one can stop.

Today is the 1st of August 2014, and on this day in history 100 years ago, occurred the following events.

The French chief of staff, General Joffrey, was in a heap of nerves, handing the French War Minister in note detailing,

The imperative necessity of ordering our mobilization.

Geoffrey cited examples of German mobilization, even though at this stage Germany was still

in its pre-mobilization stage.

Concerned that any further delaying tactic would give Malta, the German chief of staff,

a dangerous head start, Geoffrey insisted that,

The last possible time limit for publishing the order would expire at 4pm.

Geoffrey further insisted that,

if the order to mobilize was not forthcoming, then he would resign.

I cannot possibly continue to bear the crushing responsibility

of the high office which has been entrusted to me.

The war minister, Adolf Messimmee, persuaded Geoffrey to make his case to the assembled French government within the hour, and Geoffrey agreed.

At 9am, the French cabinet convened for the day.

Despite Geoffrey's sense of urgency, the cabinet reminded him that

Germany's ultimate under Russia to stop its mobilisation would not expire till noon, and that they thus

had a couple of hours before the gap between the two states became notable. Meanwhile,

important news had come in from Italy that promised to have a dramatic effect on the shape of the

upcoming war. Italy had remained in a difficult position during the July crisis.

Sandwiched as it was between the obligations of the Triple Alliance and the friendships and secret

...