After 1870 – Kaiser Wilhelm and chancellor Bismarck didn’t pursue aggressive foreign policy

After 1870 – Kaiser Wilhelm and chancellor Bismarck didn’t pursue aggressive foreign policy.

• After 1870 – Kaiser Wilhelm and chancellor Bismarck didn’t pursue aggressive foreign policy.

• Bismarck created a web of alliances to:

• Protect Germany from attack and
• Consolidate its position in Europe.

The Dreikaiserbund – 3 Emperors’ Leage (1873)

• The Dreikaiserbund – 3 Emperors’ Leage (1873)

• Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary.
• Vague terms but kept France isolated.

• The Dual Alliance (1879)

• Austria-Hungary and Russia were in conflict due to events in the Balkans.
• The Dreikaiserbund collapsed.
• Bismarck made treaty with the Austrians.
• Treaty was primarily defensive to avoid clash between powers.
• Germany and Austria-Hungary agreed to help each other if attacked by Russia or neutral if other European countries attacked either of them.

The Triple Alliance (1882)

• The Triple Alliance (1882)

• Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy.
• If any of them were attacked, the others would assist them.

• The Reinsurance Treaty (1887)

• The Emperors’ Alliance failed due to problems in the Balkans in 1885.
• Germany and Russia allied to avoid any risk of war on two fronts.
• Germany had to stay friendly with Russia.

1888 – Wilhelm II came to throne in Germany.

• 1888 – Wilhelm II came to throne in Germany.

• 1889 - Bismarck replaced by Leo von Caprivi as Chancellor.

• The Reinsurance treaty was over and led to Franco-Russian Alliance in 1894.

• France and Russia agreed on helping each other if attacked by Germany.

• Also agreed on immediate mobilization if members of the Triple Alliance mobilized.

• Mutual support in imperial disputes - Anti-British political clause.

• France free of isolation and Germany could face war in two fronts.

• Weltpolitik – world policy which aimed to build an overseas empire and a strong German navy.

1880 – 1905 – colonial rivalries among European countries created tension.

• 1880 – 1905 – colonial rivalries among European countries created tension.

• At first the motives were economical – cheap raw materials, new markets and low-cost labor forces.

• Later due to Darwinian belief and nationalistic competition.

• Germany desired their influence to be felt outside of Europe.

1897 – Secretary of State of the Navy, Admiral von Tirpitz.

• 1897 – Secretary of State of the Navy, Admiral von Tirpitz.

• Germany should mount a naval challenge to Britain.

• Naval Law (1898) – provided the building of 17 ships over the next seven years.

• Britain responded looking for alliances to avoid conflicts in the Far East.

• Britain made alliance with Japan (1902) and came to an entente with France (1904).

• 1907 - Britain and Russia reached agreement over their relationship with Persia, Tibet and Afghanistan.

• Triple Entente - Russia, France and Britain.

• Europe divided in to alliance systems.

Germany’s maritime challenge to Britain started a naval arms race.

• Germany’s maritime challenge to Britain started a naval arms race.

• 1906 – Britain launched the HMS Dreadnought.

• Its speed, range and firepower were far superior.

• The Dreadnought made the rest of battleships obsolete.

• Germany continued expanding its fleet.

• Newspapers and poplar fiction portrayed Germany as new enemy against Britain.

Turkey

• Turkey

• Didn’t rule over the Balkans any more.
• Serbs, Greeks and Bulgars had revolted and set up their own nation.
• Turkey struggled to hold on to its remaining Balkan territories.

• Austria-Hungary

• By 1900 they were losing their grip on their multi-ethnic empire.
• The most forceful were the Slavs – Serbs, Croats and Slovenes who looked to Serbia for support.
• Serbia was seen as a threat by Austria-Hungary.

Russia

• Russia

• Russia was seen as the champion of the Slav people.
• Keeping the strait of Constantinople open to Russian ships was strategically important.
• Continued access to warm-water ports was vital for Russia.

• Growing tension in the Balkans after 1900

• June 1903 – pro-Austrian King Alexander of Serbia was murdered
• Replaced by Russophile King Peter – determined to reduce Austro-Hungarian influence.
• 1905 – 1906 – Tariff war began and the Serbs turned to France for arms and finance.