Our thirtieth episode! This week, we take a look at the so-called “Concert of Europe,” the informal arrangement by which Europe has kept itself (mostly) at peace for the past 85 years. We also examine the Hague Peace Conference of 1899.
Playlist:
Fanfare
Opening Theme
“Rule, Britannia!”
Composed in 1740 by Thomas Arne. Public domain.
Aragonaise from Carmen
Composed in 1875 by Georges Bizet. Public domain.
Performed by Papalin, and used pursuant to a Creative Commons license. Details.
Closing Theme
Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are
© and ℗ 2015, 2016 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.
Hi Mark,
I am absolutely loving the podcast on my first listen through. You mentioned in this episode that Kaiser Wilhelm made a comment about the Peace Conference that was too explicit to repeat on the podcast. Could you let me know/hint at what that was or direct me to where I can find out?
Thanks!
-Ethan
Honestly, I’m not sure I remember anymore. I think it was to the effect that the conference was full of shit.
[…] This podcast discusses the Concert of Europe, the Hague Peace Conference of 1899, and the run up to World War One. The discussion of the Hague Conference is perhaps a bit too detailed. Focus on the first part of the podcast. […]
This was the comment of Wilhelm II on The Hague Peace Conference of 1899:
I consented to all this nonsense only in order that the Tsar should not lose face before Europe, in practice however I shall rely on God and my sharp sword! And I s**t on all their decisions.
In the original German:
Werde in meiner Praxis auch für später mich nur auf Gott und mein scharfes Schwert verlassen und berufen! Und scheiße auf die ganzen Beschlüsse.