Fritz Skowronnek (1858-1939) was a German writer and regional poet from East Prussia. He focused on the geography of Masuria and also wrote under the pseudonyms Fritz Bernhard and Hans Windeck. From the book: "The whole world stood under the spell of the impending disaster. For everyone perceived the war as such. Nevertheless, one could not understand Austria's stance. 'It must be afraid; otherwise, it would have declared war on Serbia long ago.' That was the general opinion. However, when the old inspector repeatedly asked, 'Will there be war, Mr. von Berg?' he was not asking for his own sake, but because of the wonderful state of the crops, which promised a harvest that would fill barns and granaries with the gold of the fields, making one's heart laugh with joy. More and more, however, dark, ominous clouds gathered below, where only the Turks had fought before, hiding that terrible lightning which was to set the whole world ablaze. Serbia, which had initially seemed to back down, suddenly became so outrageously bold, so arrogant, and so provocatively challenging that even Austrian patience had to be exhausted. It was not hard to recognize who had strengthened Serbia's sickly backbone. Russia, the peace-loving and peace-assuring Russia, was throwing regiment after regiment, army after army, not only to the Galician front but, with unmistakable intent, also far beyond to the Silesian, Posen, and East Prussian borders...".