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The Triple Alliance
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Italy -
The Six In The Mix
Germany
Austria
Russia
France
Britain
Italy -
The Dreikaiserbund
France hated Germany because in 1871 Germany seized Alsace-Lorraine from France after winning the Franco-Prussian War. To protect herself, Germany formed an alliance with Austria and Russia. Britain was neutral at this point. -
Germany sides with Austria
When Wilhelm II became Kaiser of Germany, Austria and Russia were arguing over who should control the Balkans which is the area of Europe bordering Turkey. The argument between Austria and Russia meant that the Dreikaiserbund was falling apart. Germany rejected the Russians and sided instead with Austria and Italy. -
Russia and France Siding Against Germany
After Germany sided with Austria, Russia formed an alliance with France in 1894. This meant Germany had enemies both in the West (France) and in the East (Russia). The prospect of a "war on two fronts" was very scary. -
Britain Sides With France But Against Germany
Germany tried to form an alliance with Britain so that France and Russia were more likely to leave Germany alone. Britain saw Germany expanding her Navy which meant a direct threat to Britain's sea-based Empire. He said that Britain should sign an alliance not only with Germany, but also with Italy and Austria. Britain refused and instead reached the "Entente Cordiale" (friendly understanding) with France in 1904. This alarmed Germany. France was now an ally with Britain and with Russia. -
The Danger of Striking the First Blow
So, if Germany found herself at war with either one, she should move like lightening: first, defeat the French by sending the army through Belgium, then unleash the whole German army on Russia. In this way, Germany can avoid a "war on two fronts". The danger of this plan was that it relied on "strking the first blow"-- Germany would have to declare war as soon as possible when a crisis rather than try to find a peaceful solution. -
Germany tries splitting up France and Britain -- Morocco
The "Entente Cordiale" between France and Britain said that Britain could control Egypt, whilst France could control Morocco. So in 1905 France told the Sultan of Morocco to give control of his army to the French. The Kaiser went to Tangiers in Morocco and promised German support for the Sultan if the French incaded. He felt that Russia, France's ally, had just lost a war against Japan and was too weak to get involved. -
Germany's attempts BACKFIRED!
Britain organised the Algeciras Conference to dicuss the issue. At this conference, Germany was humiliated. Britain and France voted to ignore Germany's concerns. Far from destroying the Entente Cordiale, Germany's actions had the reverse effect of bringing France and Britian closer than ever before. -
The Dreadnought
Britain launched a brand new style of battleship -- the Dreadnought -- and spent millions of pounds staying ahead in the "Naval Race" with Germany. British people hated paying taxes to pay for these ships, so they hated the Germans, too. -
Triple Entente and Triple Alliance
Britain signed an alliance with Russia, creating a "Triple Entente" of Russia, France and Britain. This matched the "Triple Allliance" of Germany, Austria and Italy. -
The Daily Telegraph
A British newspaper calle dthe Daily Telegraph interviewed the Kaiser. He was keen to present himself as a "friend of England" but lost his temper when he remembered the times that Britain had refused his offer of an alliance. Describing the British as "Mad as March Hares" did not go down well in Britain -- German shops had their windows broken. -
Who should control the Balkans?
The Daily Telegraph interview of 1908 destroyed any chance of an alliance between Germany and Britain. So Germany relied more and more upon Austria. The problem with this was that Austria was arguing with mighty Russia about who should control the Balkans. -
Growing Tension between Germany and Britain
Austria seized control of Bosnia, a country in the Balkans. Russia was outraged and there was a danger that the Triple Entente could soon find herself at war with the Triple Alliance. The Kaiser gave a "blank cheque" to Austria (promising them his full support whatever happend). So, the French and the British refused to get involved. Russia, still weak from her defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, backed down. This was a victory for Germany and Austria, but Russia wanted revenge. -
The Panther
In 1911, Germany and France clashed again over Morocco. France started extending her control in the region; Germany sent a gunboat -- the "Panther" over there; Britain again sided with France, and Germany was forced to back down. -
Let's crush Serbia!
Russia and Austria again clashed over the Balkans. The Balkan Wars saw Serbia -- a close friend of Russia -- emerge as the most powerful country in the Balkans. Austria was determined to crush Serbia. -
The Tsar made a decision
Russia was equally determined that Serbia should be defended against such an attack. The Tsar declared in February 1914, "For Sebia, we shall do everything." -
Blank Cheque
The Kaiser gave Austria a "Blank Cheque"; Germany promised to support Austria whatever happened. -
The Ultimatum
Austria gave Serbia an Ultimatum -- a list of demands. Serbia accepted almost all of these, but Austria declared war anyway. -
Assassination at Sarajevo
A Serbian terrorist group called the "Black Hand" assassinated the Austrian Archduke, Franz Ferdinand, in Bosnia. Austria snatched control of Bosnia from under the nose of Serbia in 1908. Since then, relations between Austria and Serbia have been particularly bad. -
Serbia was BOMBED
Austria started bombing Serbia. Germany was an ally of Austria, and Russia was an ally of Serbia, so there was a real danger of the war spreading across Europe. -
The Willy-Nichy Telegrams
Russia started to mobilise her army. Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany and Tsar Nicholas of Russia exchanged messages (the "Willy-Nichy Telegrams") trying to sort things out. -
Everyone hates Germany
Germany asked Russia to demobilise. Russia replied that only Austria was being threatened, not Germany. Germany wanted France to promise not to get involved, but Fracne did not reply. Germany and France then both asked Britain whose side she is on, but she refused to get involved. -
So Germany Declares War on Russia
Germany declared war on Russia. The Kaiser did not want to declare war on France as well, but felt had no choice; France was an ally of Russia and would attack Germany from the West, creating a "War on Two Fronts". -
The Schlieffen Plan
Germany had alliances wwith Austria and Italy, but was startnig to feel "encircled". So, Germany drew up the "Schlieffen Plan". This reasoned that because Russia and France were allies, war with either one would mean war with both. -
Kaiser Declares War on France
Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany declared war on France. Britain then promised to defend Belgian neutrailty. Despite this, Germany marched into Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan. -
Britain Declared War on Germany
Britain declared war on Germany. World War One had begun.
