THE ALLIANCE SYSTEMS

1
THE ALLIANCE SYSTEMS

• The Road to War
• in Europe, 1870 - 1907

2
The Franco-Prussian War

• 1870. After two wars against Denmark and Austria,
  all of N. Germany is united, with Prussia as the
  dominant nation. But Prussia wants Entire German
  Unification. Bismarck, chancellor of Prussia,
  knows that Napoleon III of France will oppose the
  unification of all German states. So Bismarck has
  to humiliate or defeat France before completing
  unification
• He provokes France (telegraph) into declaring war
  on Prussia and then defeats her at the Battle of
  Sedan. The Prussian troops are better organised,
  equipped and more numerous. Napoleon III is
  captured. Total defeat for France.
• Forced abdication of Napoleon III, 5,000,000,000
  franc fine for France, German army of occupation,
  proclamation of new German Empire at Versailles,
  and loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany. France is
  humiliated. All of France wants revenge
  (Revanche!)

3
Alliance Systems

• France
• Humiliated and weakened, but desperate for
  revenge on Germany.

• Germany
• Suddenly the most powerful state in Europe.
  Industrial and military power. Other countries
  are worried, especially GB.

4
Bismarcks policy

• In order to isolate France, because he was
  worried about revanche, Bismarck created the
  DreiKaiserBund, an alliance between the emperors
  of Austria, Russia and Germany. By doing this, he
  hoped he would be isolating his main enemy,
  France, but also reassuring the other countries
  in Europe of his peaceful intentions and avoiding
  his worse fear a war on two fronts (against
  Russia and France).

5
Alliance Systems

• France
• Isolated, no allies.

• Germany
• Still most powerful state, Bismarck was
  satisfied by status quo
• Austria
• Strongly allied to Germany by culture and
  language
• Russia
• Her army was considered the most powerful in
  Europe, but she was more concerned with domestic
  reforms than foreign policy.

6
The Balkans to Berlin

• 1878, Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire
  (the sick old man of Europe) to defend fellow
  Slav people in the Balkans. Russia wins, and
  creates Big Bulgaria at the Treaty of San
  Stephano, a large independent Balkan state over
  which she would have much influence. However,
  Austria too has an interest in the Balkans,
  notably in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and so conflict
  looms between the two allies
• In order to preserve the peace between his two
  vital friends, Bismarck steps in (honest
  broker), and holds the Congress of Berlin, at
  which he divides Bulgaria into three a third is
  given back to Turkey, the middle third becomes
  independent Rumania and the last section goes to
  Russia. Austria gets to keep control over
  Bosnia-Herzegovina, although doesnt directly own
  it.
• The Russians feel cheated by this treaty, and
  relations between the Tsar and the other two
  Emperors cool.
• Germany and Austria sign the Dual Alliance to
  strengthen their cooperation and prepare for an
  eventual war with Russia.

7
Reinsurance treaty

• To make up for the decision at Berlin, Bismarck
  signed the second DreiKaiserBund (1879) and then
  the Reinsurance treaty with Russia (1887). This
  agreement guaranteed that Russia would not become
  allied with France in any way, leaving Bismarck
  satisfied that he would not be faced with a war
  on two fronts.
• Bismarck also signed the Mediterranean treaties
  with GB, Austria and Italy which again were aimed
  at the isolation of France. Despite the mistake
  of Berlin, it seemed Bismarck was back in control
  of European affairs.
• The Dual Alliance was extended to the Triple
  Alliance with the inclusion of Italy in 1882.

8
Alliance Systems

• France
• Still alone on the continent, still bent on
  revenge.

• Germany
• Worried about Russias reaction after Berlin.
  Strong allies with Austria.
• Austria
• Strong allies with Germany.
• Italy
• Newest member of Alliance, a young country with
  a small army and little political weight.
• Russia
• Very frustrated by the treaty of Berlin, but
  kept in alliance by reinsurance treaty.

9
Dropping the Pilot

• - In 1888, William II became Kaiser of Germany.
  He was an ambitious and military man, who wanted
  an empire for Germany and was very happy to fight
  for it.
• - In 1890 Bismarck was fired, and this meant
  that the reinsurance treaty was not updated (it
  had to be re-signed every three years). Russia
  was also cautious of William IIs aggressive
  foreign policy, and therefore drifted away from
  the two members of the Dual Alliance.
• - A state visit to Russia by the French
  President in 1892 quickly secured a military
  agreement between the two countries, which then
  evolved into a full alliance, the Dual Entente,
  in 1894.

10
Alliance Systems

• France
• No longer in isolation, France now has a
  powerful ally in Russia, and can threaten Germany
  with a war on two fronts.
• Russia
• Her erstwhile allies are now her enemies, and
  indeed there is much reason for conflict, notably
  in the Balkans. France is her new ally, and the
  bond will stay strong.

• Germany
• She has lost her eastern ally at a great cost
  she must now fight on two fronts in the event of
  a war. The effects of William IIs policy are
  starting to be felt.
• Austria
• Still united with Germany, Austria is possibly
  the weakest of the Great Powers of Europe. She
  has to deal with many internal difficulties
  (uprisings) because she is composed of so many
  nationalities.
• Italy

The Dual Entente
The Triple Alliance
11
Britain joins in

• Since 1815, Britain had been in glorious
  isolation, pre-occupied by her Empire and not by
  the state of affairs in Europe, her fleet in
  complete control of the high seas. However,
  following Germanys support for the Boers in
  South Africa (1889-1902) and Williams
  expansionist attitude of Weltpolitik in Africa
  (the Scramble for Africa had opposed several
  European states), Britain felt she needed an ally
  in Europe. In 1904 she signed the Entente
  Cordiale with France, and following this the
  Triple Entente was agreed between the members of
  the two Ententes GB, Russia and France. This
  alliance would become gradually stronger as
  Germanys aggressive policies continued in Africa
  and Europe, notably the Moroccan crises and the
  naval arms race.

12
The Alliance Systems

• The Triple Entente
• France
• Russia
• Great Britain

• The Triple Alliance
• Germany
• Austria
• Italy

France was driven by a desperate desire for
revenge, Britain was increasingly enraged by
Weltpolitik and especially by the German naval
laws and Russia was still frustrated by Berlin
and wanted to help the Slavs of the Balkans to
increase here authority there.
Germany and Austria were tied by a common
heritage and culture. Germany was driven by an
emperor who couldnt get enough land for his
country, Austria relied on Germanys power and
support, and Italy wanted more land and influence
for herself, although she would change sides in
1915.
These alliances would now last until the outbreak
of war in August 1914.