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European Diplomacy and the First World War 1870-1923

European Diplomacy and the First World War 1870-1923. European Diplomacy and the changing balance of power after 1870. Europe in 1870-1914. The impact of the unification of Germany , 1871 -Germany became THE GREAT POWER OF EUROPE * economic and political rivalry

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European Diplomacy and the First World War 1870-1923

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  1. EuropeanDiplomacy and the First World War 1870-1923 European Diplomacy and the changing balance of power after 1870

  2. Europe in 1870-1914 • The impact of the unification of Germany, 1871 -Germanybecame THE GREAT POWER OF EUROPE * economic and politicalrivalry • The 1870-1914 period is considered to beone of the mostmomentousperiods in the history of the modernworld: - time of industrialgrowth and urbanisation - an age of imperialism - an eradominatedbynationalism - eachstateproducedmore and moresophisticatedweapons and eachbelieveditselfsuperiour → the idea that the warcouldnotbeprevented!

  3. The Great Powers of Europe • Germany • France • Great Britain • Austria-Hungary • Russia • Italy? • The Ottoman Empire? How did the Great Powers differ from each other in their politics, economy and foreign policy aims?

  4. Make a mind map dealing with the Great Powers Use these words: • Parliamentary monarcy - Pan-Slavism • Kaiser and chancellor - Military power • Authoriatarian state - Trade • Dual monarchy - colonial expansion • Democratic republic - slow economic growth • Industrialisation - slow population growth • Population growth - nationalities conflicts • Duma - Balkan interests • Autocracy - sea power • Foreign loans - battle fleet

  5. The Eastern Question; Turkey • Turkey= The Ottoman Empire * map p. 13; ” European Turkey” * The Sultan Rule faced problems; nationalism, European interests ( Serbia, Austria-Hungary, Russia..) * Balkan states wanted to gain independence * The Turkish economy was subjected to European commercial groups ( which exploited the Turkish economy) → Uprisings/ in 1909 a revolution in Turkey

  6. Bismarck and Europe • Bismarck´s aims/ foreign policy * to guarantee peace! * Germany was a very strong country; no challenge from Austria-hungary/ Russia or from France * B. wanted to reassure the leaders of Europe that he was a man of peace→ personal contacts between the leaders → DREIKAISERBUND/ three Emperors League in 1873 * the aim was to guarantee peace and stability

  7. ” the desire of the Emperors to stand together against republicanism and socialism” • To reduce the risks of war ( Austro-Russian interests in Balkan) • Consultations when needed, not a military alliance • ” Is war in Sight”, Berlin Post-article in 1875- a diplomatic warning for all other countries..

  8. Bismarck and The Crisis of 1875-8, Turkey • The Balkan area started to challenge the Turkish tule; Bosnia-Herzegovina, in 1875→Christian peasants started an uprising, spread to Bulgaria.. The Turks massacred over 10 000 Bulgarians *Austrian interests, Russian interests ( Pan-Slavism), the British interests →→ Bismarck wanted to follow a low approach, but was forced to change his approach to a more active role to ENSURE GERMANY´S SECURITY • Russo ( Serbia) -Turkish war 1877-78, Russia won and dictated a severe peace treaty of San Stefano → The European Turkey would be reduced a lot and the Russian interests would be guaranteed BUT OTHER GREAT POWERS DID NOT REGOCNISE THE TREATY AND IT WAS REVISED ( Austria-H and Britain were ready to start a war on Russia)→ The Treaty of Berlin of 1878, p. 23

  9. The Berlin Treaty of 1878 • Bulgaria was divided into four; Northern part was granted full independence ( under Russian supervision), one for Turkey (Macedonia) and Province named Rumelia was to get autonomy under Turkish Rule • Bessarabia and Batum to Russia ( map, p.13) • Bosnia-H. to Austria • Cyprus to Britain ( also the right to send war ships to the Black Sea)

  10. The Significance of the Berlin Treaty • The Russian domination on the Balkans was prevented • The Turkish behaviour on the Balkan people became under control • The Balkan countries were not given independence; the Treaty crushed down the idea of nationalism ( for a moment!) • Germany´s and Bismarck´s influence on the European affairs increased→ B. prestige as a statesman at its height.

  11. The Alliance System / Bismarck • The impact of the Berlin Treaty of 1878 - The Turkish question was solved for a moment.. - Russian hostility - Austria-Hungary became the priority for Bismarck→ The Dual Alliance, 1879 between Germany and Austria-Hungary ( a secret pact) * against Russian military attack * an attack by any other country would require neutrality

  12. Dreikaiserbund II, 1881 • Russia felt herself unsecure and Bismarck pressured Austria to join • The neutrality of the partners if she was at war with another Power • German security was increased; no Russo-Franco-hostility against Germany in the near future..

  13. The Triple Alliance, 1882 • Could Bismarck count on Russian´s reliability? * attempts to Franco-Russian alliance.. • Germany, A-H. and Italy ( Bismarck did not consider Italy one of the Great Powers..)guaranteed their neutrality or either support whenever they were attacked by France or by Russia - G. and I. were entitled to support from each other against an attack by France - If A.-H. was attacked by Russia; italy would stay neutral, but would secure the Southern frontier of Austria

  14. Bismarck and colonies, 1884-90 • Bismarck felt himself and Germany quite confident because of the alliance system→ he changed his approach on the colonial system and decided to favour the policy of acquiring colonies Why? • Colonies might serve a useful political purpose ( elections of 1884..) • Colonies would benefit the German economy ( new markets, raw materials..) • Use imperialism as a way of distracting attention from social problems in Germany

  15. Colonies/ Bismarck • In 1884-85 claims to territories in Africa ( map. P.45) - Togo -Cameroon - South West Africa - German East Afcia ( 1890) * B. wanted to challenge British commercial and imperial interests, but by the late 1880´s B. made concessions to Britain and was satisfied with a bit smaller area from East Africa ( ” My map of Africa lies in Europe. Here is Russia and here is France and we are in the middle”)

  16. The Bismarckian system under Pressure, 1885-90 • The Question on Bulgaria - Revolts - an enlarged independent Bulgaria was established ( British proposal, France and Italy backed)→ Russia forced the Prince of Bulgaria to abdicate → Austrians warned Russia for further interference - Bismarck took no sides, Russians refused ot renew the DREIKAISERBUND * secret Russian-German alliance in 1887

  17. The Reinsurance Treaty of 1887 • G. regognised Russian´s right to influence in Bulgaria, R´s control of the Dardanelles Straits ( when needed!) • If either power was at war, the one should stay neutral- unless France or either Austria-Hungary were the object of attack. • Bismarck was playing with two cards • International tension was increasing: Mediterranean agreements, French revenge, Russia/Austria-Hungary and the Balkans..

  18. The Mediterranean Agreementss, 1887 • Bismarck encouraged Britain to make an agreement with Italy and Austria-Hungary to defend the status quo in both the Mediterranean and the Far East • Britain to check Russia in Bulgaria and at the Straits, if necessary, Austrian troops and British warships with Italian backing would come to help.. • Again Bismarck was playing with two cards..

  19. Bismarck´s foreign policy 1871-90: Success or Failure? • ” His concern was the security of the German Empire; his achievement was the domination of Europe” Discuss this view of B. foreign policy. • To what extent is it fair to say that B. foreign policy, 1871-90 was a success?

  20. The Road to the First World War • CAUSES • Long-term causes - Alliance system - Economic and Imperial rivalry - the Arms race - Battle plans - public opinion - Balkan nationalism and short-term causes

  21. Short-term causes - crises between 1905-13 ( Balkan nationalism, colonial rivalry in Africa) - battle plans - public opinion - the Assassination of Franz Ferdinand ( paving the way for the Blank Cheque)

  22. The Alliance system and German foreign policy after Bismarck • B. was replaced by Caprivi in 1890; the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia was not renewed • ” a New Course” - Rejecting the Bismarckian system • G.´s international position was weakened, lacked a clear sense of direction • The Schlieffen Plan was worked out in the 1890´s: a military strategy to combat the Franco-Russian combination: to avoid a two-front war simultaneously - first to take over France and then German forces would move to the eastern front to fight against the Russians

  23. Hopes for an alliance with Britain: Germany failed to secure it - G. made concessions to Britain in Africa - Britain´s rivalry with France and Russia -- a huge disappointment! • Germany, the troublemaker! - an agreement with Russia? -” The Kruger Telegram”, supported the independence of Transvaal ( against Britain)

  24. The Introduction of Welt Politik, 1890´s • ”World Policy” - emphasis on expansion, overseas expansion and the creation of a big navy - Bulow / Foreign ministry - Admiral von Tirpiz/ the head of the navy office * to become a World Power!

  25. World policy / Welt Politik • German´s unstable and old-fashioned political system dominated by Kaiser • Response to socialism and democracy • Imperialism was to substitute for unwanted social change ( industrialisation; the growth of middle class and the industrial classes) • Results; Kiaochow, Shantung from China, some islands in the Pacific • Entente Cordiale / France+ Britain was a setback

  26. Long-term/ short- term causes for WWI • Explain the causes with your pair • Interpretations * F. Fisher ( Blank-Cheque by Germany) * G. Lowes Dickinson ( alliances) * Marxist historians; Lenin ( imperialism, economic rivalry) * F. Fellner ( Imperial frictions increased tension, Austria-Slavs, Britain-colonies) * A.J.P. Taylor ( Germany-Russia)

  27. N. Ferguson ( The Arms Race, in 1914 Britain still in the lead– 29 Dreadnoughts ( BR) 17 ( Ger.)Britain was to be blamed !, G. was not strong enough, wanted a war to be a world power!) • Churchill ( Battle Plans; British navy had plans for a swift intervention in the German attack on Belgium and France) • R. Brooke ( public opinion; a view of war as a liberating experience) • James Joll ( alliances, Balkan question, the crises of 1905-13) • Kennan ( Franco-Russian alliance, mobilisation of Russia

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