Diplomacy's Failure: A Historical Perspective On England

The 'When Diplomacy Fails' podcast, hosted by Dr Zack Twamley, explores the intricacies of history, delving into how wars erupt, their conclusions, and the aftermath. Twamley's captivating narrative style enriches the listening experience, offering a nuanced understanding of historical events. This podcast has covered topics such as the Thirty Years' War, the July Crisis, and the intricacies of German diplomacy amidst the tensions with Russia.

In contrast, the 'History of England' podcast, hosted by David Crowther, takes listeners on a chronological journey through English history, commencing with the end of Roman Britain. Crowther's narrative is infused with humour and a deep affection for his country's history, making it an entertaining and insightful listen. The podcast covers a range of eras, including the Plantagenet era, the Wars of the Roses, the Tudors, and the Stuart age.

Both podcasts offer unique insights into the complexities of history, each with its distinct style and focus, enriching listeners' understanding of the past and its impact on the present.

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The July Crisis

Austria-Hungary, seeking to demonstrate its strength and quell Serbian support for Yugoslav nationalism, which it viewed as a threat to its multi-national empire, delivered an ultimatum to Serbia, demanding harsh concessions. Serbia, surprisingly, agreed to almost all of the demands, but Austria-Hungary was not satisfied and broke off diplomatic relations.

Britain proposed a mediation conference, but this was ignored by Berlin and Vienna. Instead, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, with German support. Russia, which had been closely guiding Serbia through the crisis, authorized a general mobilization, and Germany subsequently declared war on Russia. This marked the start of a general mobilization across Europe, as France and Britain joined the conflict, and World War I began to unfold.

The Thirty Years War

The Thirty Years' War was a series of conflicts fought by various nations for various reasons, including religious, dynastic, territorial, and commercial rivalries. It was fought primarily in Central Europe from 1618 to 1648 and was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history. An estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died from battle, famine, or disease, while parts of Germany reported population declines of over 50%. The war began as a continuation of the religious conflict initiated by the 16th-century Reformation within the Holy Roman Empire. The 1555 Peace of Augsburg attempted to resolve this by dividing the Empire into Catholic and Lutheran states, but over the next 50 years, the expansion of Protestantism destabilised the settlement.

The war is conventionally held to have begun in 1618 when the future Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand II, attempted to impose Roman Catholic absolutism on his domains, and the Protestant nobles of Bohemia and Austria rose up in rebellion. The principal battlefield for these intermittent conflicts was the towns and principalities of Germany, which suffered severely. During the war, many of the contending armies were mercenaries, and the "wolf-strategy" that typified this war left cities, towns, villages, and farms ravaged.

The Thirty Years' War was also a significant factor in the development of new tactics and technology, as well as the need to fund, supply, and direct permanent armies over long periods and across wide-ranging theatres. This led to the transfer of organised violence from "contractor" generals to nation-states and the emergence of sovereign states rather than empires. The breakdown of social order caused by the war often had more significant and longer-lasting effects than the immediate damage, leading to widespread rebellions in Upper Austria, Bavaria, and Brandenburg.

The war ended with the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, which changed the map of Europe irrevocably. The peace negotiations, which began in 1644 in the Westphalian towns of Münster and Osnabrück, resulted in the Spanish-Dutch treaty being signed on 30 January 1648. The treaty of 24 October 1648 included the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III, the other German princes, France, and Sweden. The Peace of Westphalia established the principle of Westphalian sovereignty, or the idea of non-interference in domestic affairs by outside powers.

The Sack of Magdeburg

Magdeburg was a strategic port city on the Elbe River and had been a refuge for Protestant scholars since the Schmalkaldic War of 1546-47, earning it the epithet "Herrgotts Kanzlei" or "Lord's Chancellery". The citizens of Magdeburg had turned Protestant in 1524 and joined the Schmalkaldic League against the religious policies of the Catholic Emperor Charles V. The city's councillors were emboldened by the support of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, who had landed a large invasion force in Pomerania in July 1630. Adolphus was a Lutheran Christian, and many Magdeburg residents were convinced that he would aid them in their struggle against the Roman Catholic Habsburg Emperor, Ferdinand II. However, not all Protestant princes of the Holy Roman Empire had immediately embraced Adolphus, and some believed his chief motive for entering the war was to take control of commerce in the Baltic Sea by capturing northern German ports.

In November 1630, King Gustavus sent ex-Administrator Christian William back to Magdeburg, along with Dietrich von Falkenberg, to direct the city's military affairs. Backed by the Lutheran clergy, Falkenberg fortified the suburbs and recruited additional troops. When the citizens of Magdeburg refused to pay a tribute demanded by Emperor Ferdinand II, Imperial forces under the command of Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly, laid siege to the city. By May 1, 1631, Tilly had taken all of Magdeburg's outer defences, and two days later, the suburbs fell. On the morning of May 20, Tilly launched his final charge, and within two hours, his infantry had breached the inner defences, followed by heavy cavalry. During the attack, fires broke out across the city, and Imperial soldiers began to massacre the citizenry and loot the city, with reports of rape and torture. The wind fanned the flames, and by ten o'clock, most of the city was on fire, destroying 1,700 of the city's 1,900 buildings. While Tilly sent some soldiers to save the cathedral, where 1,000 survivors had fled, he was unable to control his men, and the invading soldiers demanded valuables from every household they encountered. When civilians ran out of things to give, the soldiers began to beat, frighten and threaten them with extreme violence.

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Britain's neutrality

In the episode, the podcast host, Dr. Zack Twamley, explores the intricacies of Britain's neutrality promises during the July Crisis, a pivotal moment leading up to World War I. The episode examines the question of whether Britain's affirmation of neutrality was a deliberate strategy or a result of miscommunication between the British government and the German ambassador, Lichnowsky. This discussion sheds light on the complex diplomatic maneuvers preceding the war.

In addition to this episode, the "When Diplomacy Fails" podcast also dedicates several episodes to the Thirty Years' War, providing an in-depth analysis of the conflict. The podcast explores the complexities of the war, including the challenges of maintaining neutrality. The episode titled "The Sack of Magdeburg" highlights the dilemma faced by those caught in the middle of the conflict, where neutrality was impossible, yet choosing a side carried potentially catastrophic consequences.

Furthermore, Britain's neutrality has been a topic of discussion in the context of the American Civil War. In May 1861, the British government issued a Declaration of Neutrality, recognizing the Confederacy's status as a belligerent faction without acknowledging it as a sovereign nation. This stance generated debate among British politicians and the public, with some sympathizing with the Confederacy and others favoring British neutrality due to their opposition to slavery.

In summary, Britain's neutrality has been a recurring theme in the "When Diplomacy Fails" podcast, particularly in relation to World War I, the Thirty Years' War, and the American Civil War. The podcast provides insightful analyses of the factors influencing Britain's neutrality promises and the subsequent impact on historical events.

German diplomacy

The July Crisis

The July Crisis series delves into the pre-World War I diplomatic tensions and manoeuvrings that ultimately led to the outbreak of the First World War. German diplomacy during this period is a central theme. One episode examines the role of the German ambassador, Lichnowsky, in Britain's affirmation of neutrality and its offer to guarantee the neutrality of France. The podcast scrutinises whether this was a legitimate offer or a misunderstanding, and where the responsibility for this confusion lay.

The podcast also explores German diplomatic efforts behind the scenes. It reveals how Germany worked to court Romania and the Ottoman Empire, with a particular focus on the latter. Additionally, it discusses the challenges Germany faced in its dealings with Italy and Austria, and the German ambassador's continued pursuit of peace despite mounting pressures.

The series further delves into the complexities of German-British relations, including the Schlieffen Plan, and how a series of misunderstandings and shattered assumptions led to the breakdown of diplomacy and the eventual declaration of war.

The Thirty Years' War

The podcast also dedicates a series to the Thirty Years' War, with episodes released every second week. This conflict is set in motion by Frederick V of the Palatinate, a German ruler, accepting the Crown of Bohemia. The podcast examines the diplomatic implications of this move, including the reactions of Emperor Ferdinand's allies, Bavaria and Spain. It also explores the broader context of the conflict, including the involvement of England, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Protestants in Germany.

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