The Willy-Nicky Correspondence

The Willy-Nicky Correspondence

The Willy-Nicky Correspondence is a phrase derived from a book by Herman Bernstein in January of 1918. The book was based on a set of telegrams that revealed the secret relations between Wilhelm II of the German Empire and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. The telegrams were originally published by Bernstein in September 1917 in the New York Herald. The dates on the telegrams show that Wilhelm II and Tsar Nicholas II had secret personal relations from June 16, 1914 up until August 2, 1914. The emperors usually signed the telegrams with their nicknames. Both monarchs used their formal names only when either one of them was upset or distressed.

The telegrams start with a plea from the Tsar to the Kaiser to try to stop the serious developments that led up to World War I. An excerpt:

:"I foresee that very soon I shall be overwhelmed by the pressure forced upon me and be forced to take extreme measures which will lead to war. To try and avoid such a calamity as a European war I beg you in the name of our old friendship to do what you can to stop your allies from going too far. Nicky."

Ultimately, the correspondence changes tone and the two leaders warn each other of impending mobilization due to factors out of their control, while retaining the notion that mobilization does not mean war. An excerpt of the last telegram:

:"Immediate affirmative clear and unmistakable answer from your government is the only way to avoid endless misery. Until I have received this answer alas, I am unable to discuss the subject of your telegram. As a matter of fact I must request you to immediately" [sic] "order your troops on no account to commit the slightest act of trespassing over our frontiers. Willy"

References

*Fay, Sidney B. "The Kaiser's Secret Negotiations with the Tsar, 1904-1905." "American Historical Review" 24:1, pp. 48-72. October 1918.

External links

* [http://www.lib.byu.edu/~rdh/wwi/1914/willynilly.html The Complete Correspondence]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20001021081451/http://www.terravista.pt/guincho/2104/1914_e.html "History of the Last Days before the Day of Fate"]


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