Zweibund — the Dual Alliance — Germany and Austria-Hungary united, were the core of the Central Powers, and here join hands. The bars of Germany's flag border the top left, and those of the Habsburg Austrian Empire and ruling house the bottom right.
Schulter an SchulterUntrennbar vereintin Freud und in Leid!'Shoulder to shoulderInseparably united in joy and in sorrow!
"Tschirschky is reported to have declared, with the evident intention that it should be reported to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that Germany would support the Dual Monarchy through thick and thin, whatever should be decided against Serbia. . .. The sooner Austria attacked the better. Yesterday would have been better than today; today would be better than tomorrow. Even if the German press, which is wholly anti-Serbian today, should preach again in favor of peace, Vienna should not allow herself to be in doubt that the [German] Emperor and Empire would stick unconditionally to Austria-Hungary. One Great Power cannot speak more clearly to another than this."
A rumor gathered by one of the press agents in the Foreign Office that Austro-Hungarian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Berchtold sent to Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph and President of the Hungarian Ministry Tisza on July 4, 1914. Tschirschky was the German Ambassador to Austria-Hungary.
The Origins of World War I, Second Edition, Revised, in Two Volumes by Sidney B. Fay, 226, 227, copyright © 1928 and 1930, The MacMillan Company; 1956 and 1958, Sidney B. Fay; 1966, The Free Press, publisher: The Free Press, a MacMillan Company, publication date: 1966, originally 1928 and
Germany, Austria-Hungary
