Wilhelm delivered this speech in Bremerhaven on 27 July 1900, addressing German troops who were departing to suppress the Boxer rebellion in China.

"Should you encounter the enemy, he will be defeated! No quarter will be given! Prisoners will not be taken! Whoever falls into your hands is forfeited. Just as a thousand years ago the Huns under their King Attila made a name for themselves, one that even today makes them seem mighty in history and legend, may the name German be affirmed by you in such a way in China that no Chinese will ever again dare to look cross-eyed at a German."

Hence the Germans in the "Great War" became known and were refered to as the bestial Hun.

Under the Schlieffen Plan, for Germany to mobilize was to mean war because as part of the plan, German troops as they were called up were to invade Belgium automatically. Unlike the war plans of the other powers, for Germany to mobilize was to go to war. Both Moltke and Falkenhayn told the government that Germany should declare war even were Russia to offer to negotiate. Subsequent therefore to German mobilization for war the fates of both Luxembourg and Belgium were irrevocably sealed on the 1st August 1914. An ultimatum was delivered to the French the same day and that was when France mobilized. Sir Edward Grey warned Lichnowsky that if Germany invaded Belgium, Britain would go to war.

1st August 1914 – Luxembourg invaded

2nd August 1914 – Luxembourg occupied unopposed - Belgium given a ultimatum by Germany demanding free passage for its troops

3rd August 1914 – Germany declares war on France

4th August 1914 – Germany declares war on Belgium - German Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg told the Reichstag that the German invasions of Belgium and Luxembourg were in violation of international law, but he argued that Germany was "in a state of necessity, and necessity knows no law."

4th August 1914 – British ultimatum demanding that German troops withdraw from Belgium delivered and by 23:00 Britain was at war with Germany.