Power of attorney

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A blank power of attorney is a comprehensive, possibly even all-encompassing power of attorney . The exhibitor does not provide any further information to restrict the scope of the power of attorney. If such a blanket power of attorney offends against morality in terms of its content, it can be legally challenged as immoral and may then be declared invalid if successful.

Word origin

In monetary and accounting, the word blanko has the meaning of l eer, unwritten and was borrowed from the Italian word bianco (white) at the end of the 17th century and adapted to the German word blank (mere, uncovered). The adverb blanko is used especially for word compositions such as blank power of attorney or blank check , so it means not completely filled out .

history

The historical blank power of attorney or the blank check from 1914 is understood as the declaration of the German Emperor Wilhelm II , " to stand loyally at the side of Austria-Hungary in accordance with his alliance obligations and his old friendship " (from: Telegram of the German Chancellor to the German Embassy in Vienna, July 5, 1914).

This power of attorney gave Austria-Hungary the necessary backing for an ultimatum to Serbia during the July crisis . The blanket power of attorney is the last prerequisite for the outbreak of the First World War . With this power of attorney, the German government gave Vienna the green light for action against Serbia and urged rapid action “in order not to let the current moment, which is so favorable for us, go unused,” as Kaiser Wilhelm said. He believed that Russia was not yet ready for war and that a two-front war could thus be prevented. If Germany does not assume the will to the “Great War” at this point, as, for example, Fritz Fischer did, this blanket power of attorney could even reflect the German belief that the war can be localized. For example, Volker Berghahn thinks that the German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg only issued this blank check for a limited campaign in the Balkans . In this case, the power of attorney could have performed a deterrent function by making it clear to powers that might have had plans to attack Austria-Hungary because of their war with Serbia that in this case they would not only have to fear Austria-Hungary as opponents, but also Germany. Perhaps, according to Berghahn, the emperor actually believed at that time that he could limit the war locally - that it would be fought in the Balkans - and that the great war with Russia, France and England could be avoided.

In the years since 1890, Bismarck's alliance system had collapsed: Germany was largely isolated in Europe due to a series of inevitabilities and its own mistakes. Most of the other major European powers were allied with one another. Their alliance was not explicitly directed against Germany, but there was a risk that a conflict between a German allied and a member of the Triple Entente could lead to Germany becoming involved in the war. The last remaining partner of the German Reich was Austria-Hungary. In order not to lose this too, the German government gave Vienna the blank check and thus accepted the war.

The Australian historian Christopher Clark , who largely shares Berghahn's view in assessing the German "blanket power of attorney", speaks analogously of a French "blank check" by the Paris government to Russia (ie the French assurance that Russia will participate in any conflict of any kind To support Austria-Hungary unconditionally), which was issued before the July crisis.

art

Blank power is also the title of a surrealist painting by René Magritte .

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Bibliographical Institute (Mannheim). Dudenredaktion .: Duden, the dictionary of origin: Etymology of the German language . 5., rework. Edition Dudenverlag, Mannheim 2014, ISBN 978-3-411-04075-9 , p. 173 .
  2. ↑ Duden | blank | Spelling, meaning, definition, origin. Retrieved March 9, 2018 .
  3. ↑ a b Volker Berghahn: The First World War . Verlag Beck, Munich 2004, ISBN 3-406-48012-8 , p. 31f.
  4. ↑ Christopher Clark: The Sleepwalkers. How Europe moved into World War I. DVA, Munich 2013, ISBN 978-3-421-04359-7 , p. 525.