Germany during Bismarck

1. Bismarck’s Alliance System
What Bismarck has joined, let
no country put asunder (with
apologies to marriage vows)

2. Treaty of Frankfurt 1871
 France had to pay 5 billion francs in 5 years
 Germany took Alsace & half of Lorraine
 Residents had until Oct. 1872 to decide
whether to move to stay in France or
become German citizens
 German troops occupied northern France
until the indemnity was paid; France had to
pay the costs of the occupation
 Est. Third Republic in France

3. Britain
 Suspicious of any country that could threaten
lines of communication in their empire
 Saw Russia as a threat
 Splendid isolation—concentrating on domestic
issues, empire, Ireland
 Conflict with France in Africa & Asia
 Won’t sign treaties to commit to future action

4. Russia
 Alexander II tsar until 1881, then Alexander
III until 1894
 Instituting reforms; industrialization
 Pan-slavism—expansion into Balkans
 Wanted a useful warm water port, such as
Port Arthur or port in Persia or from the
Black Sea through the Bosporus into the
Mediterranean

5. Austria-Hungary
 Opposed Russian expansion into the
Balkans
 Multi-ethnic; opposed nationalistic
movements within Austria and in the
Balkans
 Later Germany became dependant on
Austrian friendship

6. Germany
 Wanted to avoid an anti-German coalition
 Wanted security from potential foreign threat
 Avoid a two-front war
 William I’s son married Queen Victoria’s oldest
daughter
 Bismarck wanted very little British influence in
German government; disliked Britain’s more
democratic two party system
 Encouraged French colonial expansion as a way
to distract France from European conditions

7. France
 Concentrated on “revanche”—revenge
 Goal to get Alsace-Lorraine back
 Paid off indemnity sooner than Germany
thought could occur
 Paid off in 1873; German soldiers left
France
 Showed strength of French economy
 Germany believed France’s strong economy
would allow France to reorganize & rebuild
its army

8. League of the Three Emperors
1873
 Austria, Russia, Germany
 Mutual consultation and support in matters
of international importance
 Maintain existing territorial arrangements in
Europe
 Resist spread of revolutionary movements
 Goal to isolate France diplomatically

9. Is War in Sight?
Article in Berliner Post 1875
 Bismarck worried about France’s ability to rearm
 France wanted to purchase 10,000 saddle horses
 This type of purchase usually a sign of
preparation for war
 Bismarck banned export of horses to France
 Article then appeared in the Berliner Post
 Germany viewed as aggressor against France
 Russia backed British protest to Germany
 Incident showed that France was not totally
isolated

10. Secret Austro-German Alliance
or Dual Alliance 1879
 Because of results of the Congress of Berlin 1878,
Russia refused to renew Three Emperor’s League
 Bismarck wanted a general treaty of mutual
assistance if attacked by a third power
 Austria was getting along with France so wanted
to mention Russia in the treaty
 Terms—would support the other if attacked by
Russia or Russia & a third power
 Would be neutral if attacked by any other power
 Renewed every five years until 1918

11. Alliance of the Three Emperors or
2nd League of the Three Emperors
 Negotiated 1881; Alexander II had died &
Alexander III was in favor of an alliance to help
suppress revolutionary movements
 Pledged the three members to neutrality if one
was attacked by a 4th country
 Divided the Balkans into spheres of influence…
Austria in the west, Russia in the east
 Agreed to consult one another if there were
another Balkan crisis
 For three years; renewed once in 1884

12. Triple Alliance
1882
 Italy, Germany, Austria
 Italy was mad at France when France annexed
Tunis; Italy wanted to build its own empire in
Africa
 If Italy or Germany were attacked by France, the
other would come to their aid
 If Austria were attacked by Russia, Italy would
be neutral; but Austria would aid Italy if Italy
attacked by France
 If any country attacked by two or more
countries, the others would come to its aid

13. Problems of Italian alliance
 Italy wanted land Austria controlled… Italian
Irredenta
 Italy eventually got over their anger at France
taking Tunis
 Establishment of a republican government in
France that would not help the Pope retake Rome
& Papal states from Italy by 1900
 Italy established several secret treaties with
France in 1900 & 1902… each promised
neutrality if provoked into war with a third party

14. Mediterranean Agreement
1887
 Italy, Austria, Great Britain
 All agree to maintain the status quo in the
Mediterranean
 All agree to prevent foreign domination of
the Ottoman Empire
 Designed to be a barrier to French &
Russian expansion

15. Reinsurance Treaty
1887
 The Alliance of the Three Emperors fell apart due
to problems in the Balkans
 Secret treaty; Austria not told
 Germany & Russia agreed to be neutral if the
other became involved in a war
 Exception… if Germany attacked France or
Russia attacked Austria
 Treaty not renewed in 1890

16. Willhelm II of Germany
1859-1941
 Willhelm I’s grandson & Queen Victoria’s grandson
 Kaiser of Germany 1888-1918; controlled supreme
military & executive power
 Believed that Germany needed its “place in the sun”
 He loved the military and was restless; tried to
upstage the British
 Wanted a navy as large as his grandmother’s navy
 Believed in “Weltpolitik”—world politics—no real
goals other than “glory”

17. Quotes…
 Willhelm II… “As for having to sink my ideas and
feelings at the bidding of the people that is a thing
unheard of in Prussian history or the traditions of
my House. What the German Emperor, King of
Prussia thinks right and best for his people he
does.”
 British politician Earl Grey… “The German
Emperor is like a battleship with steam up and
screws going, but with no rudder, and he will run
into something someday and cause a
catastrophe.”

18. End of Reinsurance Treaty
1890
 William II became Kaiser in 1888; believed
Germany’s alliance with Austria was more
important than its alliance with Russia
 While Bismarck had not pursued colonial
expansion, William II wanted colonies and navy
 Bismarck had promoted peaceful relations with
Britain, but William II antagonized Britain
 William II fired Bismarck in 1890 and the alliance
system unraveled

19. Russo-French Rapprochement
1894
 Traditionally, it was believed an alliance
between France & Russia was impossible
 Russia was autocratic; France was republican
 However… France had given several large
loans to Russia
 Both wanted to offset Germany’s military threat
 Each would support the other if attacked by
Germany or another member of the Triple
Alliance aided by Germany

20. Anglo-Japanese Alliance
1902
 After 1895 victory over China, Japan had been
forced to give back territorial gains; they are
looking for a powerful alliance
 It is an anti-French & anti-Russian alliance
 Britain wanted to end their isolation
 Both countries would be neutral if the other
involved in a war with only one country
 They would come to each other’s aid if attacked
by more than one country

21. Entente Cordiale
1904
 France & Britain; Edward VII favored an alliance
with France, rather than with Germany
 Settled colonial disputes between the two
countries, especially in Africa
 France recognized Egypt & Sudan as British
 Britain recognized Morocco as French
 Both would support the other if a third country
challenged their spheres

22. Anglo-Russian Entente
1907
 Britain lost its fear of Russia after Russia was
defeated in the Russo-Japanese War
 Both countries felt threatened by Germany
 The entente resolved colonial competition
between the two countries in Persia &
Afghanistan
 Russo-French Rapprochement + Entente
Cordiale + Anglo-Russian Entente = Triple
Entente

23. Related Events…
Congress of Berlin 1878
 Met to rewrite Treaty of San Stefano between
Russia & Ottoman Empire
 San Stefano had given territory to Russia, land
to Serbia & Montenegro
 Bulgaria would increase greatly in size and
become independent
 Opposed by Britain & Austria
 At Congress, Bulgaria greatly decreased in size
 Russia unhappy with lack of German support;
also unhappy with German trade protectionism

24. Related Events…
Boer War 1899-1902
 Germany antagonized Britain with the
“Kruger Telegram”
 Britain won the war, but because of
criticisms of other countries realized how
isolated they were
 Motivated Britain to look for alliances

25. Related Events…
Russo-Japanese War 1904-05
 Russia wanted Port Arthur as a warm water port
 Germany supported Russia by providing coal for
Russian fleet; used German navy to help protect
Russian fleet in Baltic/North Sea
 Germany wanted alliance with Russia who said
needed to consult French ally first
 By Nov. 1904,according to German Ambassador
in London, the British view was “Germany is
presented as the true enemy” and that Germany
was trying to start an Anglo-Russian conflict

26. Related Events…
Russo-Japanese War 1904-05
 Russia’s defeat showed Britain they did not
need to fear Russia; less concerned about
competition with Russia
 Motivated Britain to settle issues with Russia…
led to Anglo-Russian Entente & Triple Entente
 Relations between Germany & Britain greatly
deteriorated
 Germany became diplomatically isolated,
especially after the Moroccan Crises which
followed

27. “Dropping the Pilot”
 http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/
topic-art/66989/14746/Dropping-the-Pilot-
cartoon-by-Sir-John-Tenniel-commenting-on

28. Questions
 What were Bismarck’s goals?
 What were the major goals of Willhelm II in
leading the German nation?
 How did the dismissal of Bismarck change the
fortunes of Europe?
 What became the new line-up of European
nations after the dismissal of Bismarck?
 What were obvious strengths and weaknesses of
each grouping of nations?
 Why did the new balance bring together such
incompatible partners?