The Guns Of August

Tuchman begins Chapter 17 by explaining that at the beginning of the war, a sense of hope exists. Germany sees the war as a chance to exert her dominance and rule the world. Some in France believe that, although the war will require a terrible sacrifice, out of it will come “the rejuvenation and enlargement of France, the moral regeneration of Europe” (313). National hatred of Germany has not yet taken hold. The change—the hatred of Germany by all nations—begins in Belgium as the Germans shoot Belgian civilians and burn villages. The Germans convince themselves that not only are the Belgian civilians fighting back, but that they are doing so under orders, and so the German terror campaign increases; in one village, the Germans murder 612 Belgian civilians.

On August 25, the burning of Louvain begins. Though historical inquiries fall short in determining who fires first, Tuchman says it does not matter: the burning of Louvain is “a gesture of German might before the world” (319). The result of the burning is that all countries become more adamant in their war goals. France, Britain, and Russia sign the Pact of London, stating that they will not seek separate agreements with Germany.