Greece to roman road

For companies with close ties to the royal family and the government, Constantine has used his influence to inform them to be on guard. read

As for those purely private companies, Constantine was helpless as to whether they would heed the call of politicians.

After all, private enterprises are for profit and will only obey the orders of their own bosses. The government itself has no right to interfere forcefully.

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After that, Constantine focused his attention on the mysterious diplomatic situation in Europe and paid close attention to the direction of the situation in Europe.

One month after the Sarajevo incident, a series of reactions triggered by this incident continued to ferment.

On July 23, 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Empire issued an ultimatum to Serbia, demanding that Serbia provide the murderer and compensation. However, Serbia, knowing that it was outmatched, chose to ask Russia for help.

On August 1, Austria-Hungary officially declared war on Serbia.

At seven o'clock in the afternoon that day, in the office of Russian Foreign Minister Sasonov in St. Petersburg, the German Ambassador to St. Petersburg, Putales, walked in with a solemn expression under the guidance of his secretary.

Seeing Putales' figure, Sasonov stood up from behind his desk and came to greet his old friend.

Putales has lived in St. Petersburg for seven years and has deep feelings for Russia, so today's task is a bit heavy for him.

"Can Russia agree to Germany's ultimatum?" Putales asked with a serious face.

Although he tried his best to suppress the turbulent emotions in his heart, Putales' voice was still trembling.

Just yesterday (July 31) morning, Germany issued double ultimatums to France and Russia respectively.

The content of the ultimatum to Russia is: If Russia does not immediately stop military operations against the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Germany will launch military mobilization in 12 hours.

Facing Putales' inquiry, Sasonov replied calmly: "Although Russia has been unable to stop war mobilization, Russia hopes to continue to participate in negotiations. Russia believes that there is still hope to avoid war."

Putales took out the ultimatum from his pocket and read it aloud: "If Russia does not immediately stop military operations against Austria-Hungary, Germany will launch military mobilization in 12 hours."

After reading it, Putales loudly said again: "The consequences of disagreeing with the German ultimatum are extremely serious."

Sasonov repeated his previous answer: "Although Russia has been unable to stop war mobilization, Russia hopes to continue to participate in negotiations. Russia believes that there is still hope to avoid war."

Putales said again: "The consequences of not agreeing to the German ultimatum are extremely serious"

Sasonov repeated his answer again.

There was silence in the empty office.

After a moment of silence, Putales took out Germany's declaration of war from his arms and handed it to Sasonov.

At this moment, both of their eyes were a little moist.

On August 3, Germany declared war on France. On August 4, Britain declared war on Germany on the pretext that Germany had violated Belgium's neutrality.

The smoke of war ignited throughout Europe.

Although the war first broke out along the Danube River in the Balkans, Greece remained calm at this time.

At this time, all European countries believed that the war would be decided through several decisive battles between large armies, just like the Franco-Prussian War. It would be over in just a few months.

Therefore, all countries participating in the war have no intention of expanding the scope of the war.

At the Ministry of Defense Building in Athens, Constantine convened the top brass of the Greek army to discuss the development of the war situation in Europe.

Chief of General Staff Emmanuel first told everyone the details of the battlefield.

"Now the whole of Europe is in chaos because of the war. What do your general staff think? Do you have any plans?"

Emmanuel immediately said: "Your Royal Highness, the war in Europe is currently in full swing. I think that although there is no sign of the war expanding in a short period of time, our Greek army still needs to be prepared for precautions."

"Once the war shows signs of turning into a long-term war of attrition, I am afraid that the two major groups, the Entente and the Central Powers, will use coercion and inducement to win over or force the neutral countries in Europe to take sides in order to enhance their own strength and weaken the other."

After Emmanuel finished speaking, he asked Constantine: "What about our Greek tendency? In your opinion, which side wins is more beneficial to Greece?"

Which side will win, the Allies or the Entente, which will be more beneficial to Greece?

After careful consideration, Constantine still preferred the victory of the Entente, which was more in line with Greece's national interests.

First of all, the Allied Powers, Britain, France and Russia, are all established powers. Overall, these three countries are in decline.

Although Britain is still the world's hegemon, it has passed its peak and its glory is no longer there.

France and Russia are in a similar situation.

Britain has been aware of this theme since the Boer War.

Moreover, Britain's status as world hegemon was not achieved by relying on its undisputed tyranny.

Relying on the geographical location of the island country, Britain exploited its strengths and circumvented its weaknesses, exploited both sides, and established a large fleet to dominate the oceans.

But similarly, the small space of the British Isles results in a limited expansion of the British mainland and also limits the UK's development potential.

Just look at the difference between the territorial area of ​​later Russia and the territory of Britain, and you can see the restrictions that island countries placed on Britain's development.

It was also two hundred years of expansion, and later Russia retained most of the results of its expansion.

Even the navy that helped Britain rise was not completely invincible. It had always faced challenges from France. For example, during the North American War of Independence, the French fleet under the rule of Louis XVI defeated the British fleet many times.

In other words, Britain's status as world hegemon relies more on its fleet that dominates the oceans and its excellent diplomatic methods. The two support each other and help Britain move towards the position of hegemony.

During the Napoleonic Wars, Britain organized an anti-French alliance to win over Russia, Prussia and other countries to fight against France.

During the Crimean War, Britain wooed France and joined forces to defeat Russia.

Now, the British are using the same method to win over Russia and France to fight against Germany.

The British's diplomatic skills are even better than his fleet record, because Britain has never lost in diplomacy since its rise.

It can be clearly seen from these strengths that Britain's world hegemony is not achieved by relying on pure hard power.

British politicians have always had a clear understanding of their own strengths. They know their strengths and weaknesses.

Take the army, for example. In modern times, Britain has almost given up on the army. Her standing army is only a tiny one hundred thousand men strong.

By comparison, Germany's standing army before the war was 800,000, and France's 680,000.

After the war began, Britain began to expand its army on the mainland.

Her excellent diplomatic skills, combined with her powerful naval fleet, allowed Britain to stand out from many competitors and become the world's hegemon.

(In comparison, after World War II, the industrial output value of the United States at its peak accounted for more than half of the world's total industrial output value. In other words, the industrial output value of all other countries combined is not as much as that of the United States. The United States really relies on With undisputed hard power, they rose to the position of world hegemon. Later, Americans even deliberately learned the art of diplomacy from Britain)

Not to mention France. After the Franco-Prussian War, France's status in Europe plummeted. In order to avenge the Germans, it did not hesitate to spend a lot of money to win over Russia as an ally.

Russia's strength was externally strong but internally incompetent, which was undoubtedly exposed in the Russo-Japanese War.

Apart from the jaw-dropping 5 million "gray cattle" (a derogatory name for Russian soldiers), there are not many highlights.

Among the major powers, Russia's social system was the most backward, with its feudal autocratic system, low efficiency, rampant corruption, and backward production.

If the Allies win the war, the situation in Europe will not change drastically, because the current situation is more favorable to these established countries.

Even for the strategic goal of European balance of power, the British will try their best to prevent the French from completely dismembering Germany.

Germany is different.

Similar to the United States, Germany is an emerging country with rapid economic development and rapid growth in overall national strength.

In other words, because its national strength is in a period of rapid rise, Germany has a stronger desire to expand.

What would happen if Germany's Allied Powers won the war?

Germany, which defeated Britain, France and Russia, would become the France of the Napoleonic period, even more tyrannical than the France of the Napoleonic period, because during the Napoleonic period, at least there was Russia and Britain to check and balance France.

Germany, which has defeated Britain, France and Russia, will have no one to check and balance. Europe will once again usher in a situation of dominance, and the whole of Europe will tremble in front of Germany.

The situation in Europe will be completely unbalanced.

Even if Germany objectively does not have the ambition to dominate Europe, it is no longer important. The key is not whether it wants to do so, but whether it can do so.

And who can guarantee that Germany does not have this idea?

Secondly, if the Allies win, it also means that the Austro-Hungarian Empire wins.

A victorious Austria-Hungary would undoubtedly annex Serbia and then become neighbors with Greece.

After all, the reason why Austria-Hungary formed an alliance with Germany was because its goal was to expand to the Balkans, which conflicted with Russia's expansion into the Mediterranean. For the purpose of balancing Russia, Austria-Hungary chose to form an alliance with Germany. .

Once the Austro-Hungarian Empire annexes Serbia, the Austro-Hungarian Empire's power in the Balkans will surge, and Greece itself will bear the brunt.

Greece will face heavy defense pressure because Greece will become a neighbor to a real European power.

According to the standards of European powers, the total population reaches tens of millions, the number of troops after mobilization reaches more than two million, and it has a developed military industrial system that can produce large-caliber artillery.

With Greece's current strength, it is far from enough to fight against a great power.

When the time comes for Greece's living environment, you can refer to the current Serbia and Romania, which is also facing the edge of the great power Russia.

Let alone realizing its great ideals, I am afraid that Greece cannot even protect itself.

More seriously, will the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which won the European War, be satisfied after successfully annexing Serbia?

Would Austria-Hungary want to go one step further and annex Greece as well, just like it did with Poch and Serbia?

From the perspective of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, if it could further annex Greece, there would be many benefits.

If it could annex Greece, Austria-Hungary would be freed from the constraints of its narrow Adriatic exit.

For the current Austro-Hungarian Empire, both their navy and overseas trade are very easy to be cut off.

As long as the Italian Navy sends a small fleet to blockade the Adriatic Sea, Austria-Hungary will immediately become a landlocked country and cut off its connection with the sea.

Why are the senior leaders of the Austro-Hungarian Empire always reluctant to develop their own navy?

Why did the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as a great power, not seize colonies like other great powers? The Austro-Hungarian Empire had no overseas colonies at all.

Just because its location is really awkward.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire, which gained Greece, could expand its territory to the Mediterranean and completely get rid of the restrictions of the Adriatic Sea on the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

By then, the value of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's fleet will have increased several times.

Because the strategically important Dardanelles Strait and the world's golden waterway, the Suez Canal, will be within the sphere of influence of the Austro-Hungarian naval fleet.

This would bring huge economic and military benefits to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The sphere of influence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire will be greatly increased.

According to Constantine's idea, if he were the emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, after annexing Serbia, he would definitely continue to work hard to win over Greece. The benefits are too obvious.

The reasons why Austria-Hungary annexed Greece were exactly the same as the reasons why it annexed Serbia and Poch.

Therefore, if the Allied Powers win, the general pattern of Europe will not change much.

If Germany and Austria win, the situation in Europe will change dramatically, and Greece's situation will also take a turn for the worse.

After Constantine told these considerations to the top officials of the Greek army present, everyone looked serious.

Frankly speaking, these soldiers have really never thought about these grand strategic issues that encompass almost the entire Europe.

"The logic of His Highness's deduction is clear and very reasonable. In this way, the victory of the Allied Powers is indeed more beneficial to Greece," said Chief of General Staff Emmanuel.

"It's really shameful that as the Chief of General Staff of Greece, there has been no clear strategic plan since the outbreak of the European War."

Constantine shook his hand: "Soldiers and politicians look at problems from different perspectives. For politicians, military means are just one of many ways to solve problems, and unless it is absolutely necessary, an outstanding politician will not advocate the use of military means." Means, that is only the last choice.”

“Politicians need to look at problems from a comprehensive perspective”

"And you are soldiers. You only need to know how much logistical supplies are needed to defeat the enemy, how many troops are needed, and what tactics are used. That's it. You look at the problem more concretely."