“Britain made mistake in joining WW1”: Twitter reacts to Niall Ferguson claim

Historians, journalists and members of the public have taken to Twitter to discuss Niall Ferguson’s assertion that Britain should have stayed out of the First World War.

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Published: January 30, 2014 at 10:30 am

In an interview with BBC History Magazine, Ferguson claimed “it would have been in Britain’s interests to stay out in 1914”.

Military historian Professor Gary Sheffield wrote on the social networking site:

Contrary to Niall Ferguson’s views, for Britain to have stayed out of First World War would have disastrous for Britain & Europe. #WW1

— Gary Sheffield (@ProfGSheffield) January 30, 2014

Meanwhile, a student at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand tweeted:

Ferguson talking sense, and I think most historians would agree with him. WW1 was an “error” not a moral crusade http://t.co/FqWEteIHQV

— Jorde (@JordanMcCluskey) January 30, 2014

And Irish entrepreneur Declan Ganley wrote:

Ferguson not alone in these thoughts: Britain entering WWI was ‘biggest error in modern history’ http://t.co/E8YbB3Yd7D via @guardian

— Declan Ganley (@declanganley) January 30, 2014

Meanwhile, Sir Richard Evans, historian of modern Germany and Europe, said:

Niall Ferguson undermines Michael Gove’s charge that Leftie historians deny Britain had to fight the Germans in 1914: http://t.co/neidh5s8fk

— Sir Richard Evans (@RichardEvans36) January 30, 2014

And Toby Helm, the Observer‘s political editor, asked:

I wonder whether the Ed Sec thinks Niall Ferguson’s views should be taught in schools – or banned? http://t.co/ua7cu3YnRA

— Toby Helm (@tobyhelm) January 30, 2014

The story was also promoted on Twitter by Alan Rusbridger, editor in chief of Guardian Newspapers:

Britain should have stayed out of WW1, claims Harvard historian @nfergus http://t.co/ENsAUjGcUn

— alan rusbridger (@arusbridger) January 30, 2014

And a marketer from Austin wrote:

“Absolutely 100% true. Britain was destroyed by entering a war between and among cousins. Their best and… http://t.co/U9VgsHC69e

— davedix (@davedix) January 30, 2014

Meanwhile, Traditional Britain Group tweeted:

The Great War: We should not be doing anything other than remembering our fallen in this tragic centenary year…. http://t.co/HQJ9aW7Uzq

— TraditionalBritain (@TradBritGroup) January 30, 2014

The full story can be found in the February issue of BBC History Magazine, on sale from today.