As Interpreted by Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg, German Imperial
Chancellor.
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"YOUR HEARTS FOR GOD, YOUR FISTS ON THE ENEMY."
Speech from Balcony of Chancellor's Official Residence,
Berlin, Aug. 1.
At this serious hour in order to give expression to your feelings
for your Fatherland you have come to the house of Bismarck, who
with Emperor William the Great and Field Marshal von Moltke welded
the German Empire for us.
We wished to go on living in peace in the empire which we have
developed in forty-four years of peaceful labor.
The whole work of Emperor William has been devoted to the
maintenance of peace. To the last hour he has worked for peace in
Europe, and he is still working for it. Should all his efforts
prove vain and should the sword be forced into our hands we will
take the field with a clear conscience in the knowledge that we did
not seek war. We shall then wage war for our existence and for the
national honor to the last drop of our blood.
In the gravity of this hour I remind you of the words of Prince
Frederick Charles to the men of Brandenburg:
"Let your hearts beat for God and your fists on the enemy."
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