The Balkan Wars from Contemporary Perception to Historic Memory by Katrin Boeckh & Sabine Rutar

Author:Katrin Boeckh & Sabine Rutar
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer International Publishing, Cham

“What Frees the Brave?” The Balkan Wars and Irish National Liberation

At the outbreak of the First Balkan War, the Irish Times had expressed doubts about the Balkan League’s military strength. It described the Bulgarian army as inexperienced, the Serbian troops as “not well trained,” and the Montenegrins as “utterly unfit to undertake any extensive operation”—they had to deal with the Ottoman soldier, “one of the finest fighters in Europe.”55 However, a few weeks later, the unionist newspaper had to admit that it had underestimated the military strength of the small Balkan states: “The Balkan Federation … has proved her greatness as united Germany proved her greatness at Sedan.”56 Around the same time the paper declared an end to the Eastern Question: “The sword of the Balkan Confederacy has cut the Gordian Knot, and made a complicated situation almost ridiculously simple. It looks as though events will give a natural and final solution to the Eastern Question.”57 Similar depictions of the events in the Balkans in the autumn and winter of 1912–13 could be found in conservative English newspapers as well as most of the outlets of the German press.58 However, the period of enthusiasm for the Balkans was short-lived. The Irish Times described the Second Balkan War as “a breach of all laws of morality and international politics,” and the small Balkan states, which just a few months earlier had been celebrated as “gallant little nations,” were once again “half-civilised … greedy vultures,”59 whose selfishness threatened to turn the peace in Europe upside down.60

The nationalist Irish newspapers also did not deny that the First Balkan War was an extraordinarily cruel and violent conflict. As the Irish Freedom pointed out, the Balkan states “have thrown aside diplomacy and settled the freedom of Albania and Macedonia as men should settle such questions—by the sword.”61 Even the moderate Irish Independent saw the First Balkan War as a clear sign of what “self-sacrificing patriotism” can inspire even in small nations:Kings and Princes have taken their place at the lead of armies; Queens have devoted themselves to the personal direction of the Red Cross services. Reservists some of whom have made profitable business connections for themselves in England or America have hastened home at their own expense to take their places with the colours. The military organisation of the Allies has been as nearly as possible perfect in every detail.62

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