Revision Session 4 The Road to War: The Alliance System
The Alliance System • First half of 19th Century Germany was made up of more than 30 small states • By Late 1860’s Prussia had absorbed nearly all of them • Prussia had defeated Austria in 1866 and established itself as the leading German-speaking state • By end of 1870 Prussia had forced all German states to accept its authority • The King of Prussia became the Kaiser of the new German Empire • This unification was achieved at the expense of France who was heavily defeated in the Franco-Prussian war • The BITTERNESS which followed was a long term cause of the First World War
The Alliance System • The unification created a new and very powerful country in Europe • It was a threat to the other Great Powers – particularly Britain • The DISTRUST and RIVALRY which followed were another long term cause of the war
The Alliance System • The driving force behind the unification was Chancellor Prince Otto Von Bismarck • He brought about war with Denmark in 1864 and war with Austria 1866 both of which were massive victories for the Prussians • Bismarck needed to find a way of getting the southern German states to join Prussia • The main obstacle was France as Napoleon III distrusted Bismarck and believed he was trying to dominate Europe
The Alliance System • Bismarck knew that Napoleon III would try and stop him if he tried to take the southern states • He believed it neccessary to defeat France before unification of Germany could take place
The Impact of the Franco-Prussian War • July 1870 Bismarck persuades France to declare war • Bismarck changes the wording of a telegram sent from King Wilhelm I to the French Ambassador • He made it appear insulting • The news leaked to the French press • France was horrified and demanded vengeance • The French government was forced to declare war
The Impact of the Franco-Prussian War • France was no match for the Prussians • The Prussian railway in the 1850’s and 1860’s had been massively improved • Troops could be moved around quickly and easily • 200,000 French troops faced 380,000 Prussian troops • The Prussian Dreyse rifle was far better than the French rifle • The Prussian army had fought 2 wars in past 6 years and was more experienced
The Impact of the Franco-Prussian War • 180,000 French troops were trapped in the fortress of Metz • An army sent in to help them was forced to surrender • Napoleon was taken prisoner • Metz surrended in October • The harsh terms of the peace treaty (Treaty of Frankfurt 1871) included – Giving the Prussians Alsace-Lorraine, paying an indemnity of 5,000,000,000 Francs, Germany occupying various parts of Northern France until the sum had been paid
The Impact of the Franco-Prussian War • Bismarck emerged as a hero • The South German states all agreed to join Prussia/ The German Empire • King Wilhelm I became Kaiser • Germany was the most powerful country in Europe • Economy dominated the continent
The Impact of the Franco-Prussian War • Bismarck realised this dominance needed to be handled carefully • He avoided offending other countries • He feared the French desire for revenge • His aim was to create alliances for Germany but ensure France was kept isolated • In France, the defeat was a humiliation • Napoleon left to live in exile • French politicians talked of revenge • Bismarck’s main task was to ensure France could not threaten Germany = The Alliance System
Relations between Germany and Russia • Bismarck wanted to prevent France from gaining allies in Europe • Wanted to avoid a war on two fronts • This meant isolating France and staying friendly with Russia • It also meant ensuring that France and Russia would NOT form an alliance
Relations between Germany and Russia • In 1873 the DreiKaiserBund was signed by the Emperors of Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Tsar of Russia • The 3 powers agreed to crush subversive movements and to defend monarchy • It linked the 2 most powerful mainland European countries to Germany • It had WEAKNESSES the DKB was a vague agreement rather than a formal alliance and it also involved 2 countries who were rivals for power in the Balkans – Russia and Austria-Hungary
Relations between Germany and Russia • Bismarck wanted Russia and Austria-Hungary to be friendly with Germany but they were rivals • Russia had wanted to extend its Empire into the Mediterranean – this plan had largely failed – but its mission was still to protect Slavs and Orthodox Christians (this meant the Serbs) in the Balkans • Austria-Hungary wanted to extend its Empire and this meant occupying Bosinia-Herzegovina (where the majority of the population was Serb)
Relations between Germany and Russia • The DKB proved to be largely worthless • Russia declared war on Turkey in 1877 • Russia tried to create a Big Bulgaria a the Treaty of San Stefano • Bismarck was going to have to do something if he wanted to keep the peace with Russia
The Congress of Berlin • Russia signed the Treaty of San Stefano (1878) with Turkey – where it tried to gain control over a Big Bulgaria • Bismarck stepped in to try and keep the peace between Russia and Austria and to make sure they both remained allies of Germany • Treaty of Berlin (1878) replaced the Treaty of San Stefano – here Russia was allowed southern Bessarabia, Austria retained control of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Big Bulgaria was split into 3 – southern part given to Turkey and the other two parts became independent
The Congress of Berlin • Treaty not popular in Russia • Bismarck had appeared to support Austria-Hungary rather than Russia • It didn’t help that in 1879 Germany signed the Dual Alliance with Austria-Hungary (this gave Bismarck and Germany some security but isolated Russia)
The Second DreiKaiserBund • 1881 – Attempt to bind the three Empires together • In case of one of the three powers being attacked by a fourth power the other two would remain neutral • Russia agreed to respect Austria-Hungary’s interests in the Balkans and Austria reserved the right to annex Bosnia-Herzegovina in the future • The DKB was renewed in 1884 but in 1887 Russia refused to sign it
The Mediterranean Agreements • Bismarck was faced with the possibility that Russia and France may join closer together. • He continued with his programme of isolating France and formed the first Mediterranean Agreement with Britain, Italy and Austria in 1887 • The countries would not allow changes in the Mediterranean – Italy and Britain agreed to protect each other if attacked by France
The Reinsurance Treaty • At the same time as forming the First Mediterranean agreement Bismarck concluded a secret treaty with Russia – the Reinsurance Treaty (1887) • This was to prevent Russia from forming an alliance with France • In December there was a Second Mediterranean agreement formed this time Germany, Italy, Britain and Austria agreed to help Turkey if she was attacked by Russia • The complicated system of alliances shows how Bismarck was desparate to protect Germany • The Med Agreements are the only foreign involvement that Britain had in late 19th C – it actually committed itself to very little
The Creation of the Triple Alliance • In 1879 Bismarck had signed the Dual Alliance with Austria-Hungary • In 1882 this was extended to become the Triple Alliance with Italy • Austria H and Germany promised to support Italy if it was attacked by France • If any two or more countries attacked one of the allies the others would support it • If any of the allies went to war with another country the other two would remain neutral • This alliance was renewed in 1887, 1891, 1902 and 1912
The Creation of the Triple Entente • In 1890 Bismarck was forced to resign when Kaiser Wilhelm II came to the throne • The Reinsurance Treaty with Russia lapsed – Wilhelm II refused to sign it • As a result, France and Russia grew closer and signed a military agreement in 1892 • In 1894 they signed the Dual Entente
The Creation of the Triple Entente • Russia agreed to support France against attacks by Germany or Italy and Germany • France agreed to support Russia against attacks by Germany or Austria Hungary and Germany • If any of the Triple Alliance mobilised their troops so would the Dual Entente • It created a situation that Bismarck had tried for years to avoid – the war on two fronts
The Creation of the Triple Entente • In 1904 Britain and France signed The Entente Cordiale – this was developed after the king Edward VII visited Paris and settled territorial disputes with France (particularly in N.Africa) • The two navies agreed to divide up responsibility for European waters
The Creation of the Triple Entente • In 1907 Britain signed an Entente with Russia – this was not a formal alliance like the Dual Entente but was designed to settle territorial disputes e.g. in Persia and Afghanistan • Both of these ‘agreements’ drew Britain into the alliance system • And Britain’s agreements with Russia and France became known as the Triple Entente • Britain was not committed to helping the other two powers but it did make it MUCH more likely that Britain would support them • Europe was now officially made up of 2 armed and opposing camps
