Alliances Leading to World War I

In 1914, Europe was an armed camp, with two rival alliances dominating its politics. The formation of a unified Germany in 1871 thrown disturbed Europe's old "balance of power."

In 1894, fear of Germany encouraged France and Russia to form an alliance. As a result, Germany formed a closer alliance with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, its neighbour. Compulsory military service was used by members of these rival power blocs to maintain large armies. They were forced to spend vast sums on these armies due to rapid advances in military technology.

Let us study more details on alliances leading to World War 1 and the associated concepts with it from this article.

Alliances Leading to World War 1

By 1914, Europe's six great nations had split into two alliances, each of which would fight in World War I. The Triple Entente was founded by Britain, France, and Russia, while the Triple Alliance was formed by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Some historians have claimed that these alliances were not the only cause of World War I, but they did play a significant part in hastening Europe's rush to war.

The Central Powers

Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck built a German state out of many small principalities after a series of military victories between 1862 and 1871. Following Germany's unification, Bismarck was worried that surrounding countries, particularly France and Austria-Hungary, might attempt to destroy Germany. Bismarck desired a methodical set of alliances and foreign policy moves to maintain Europe's power balance. He believed that another continental war would be inevitable without them.

The Dual Alliance

Because of lingering French anger over Alsace-Lorraine, a province Germany had seized in 1871 after defeating France in the Franco-Prussian War, Bismarck felt an alliance with France was impossible. Meanwhile, Britain was following a strategy of disengagement and was reluctant to form any European alliances.

Bismarck turned his focus to Austria-Hungary and Russia. The Three Emperors League was formed in 1873, with Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia pledging mutual wartime support. In 1878, Russia withdrew, and in 1879, Germany and Austria-Hungary formed the Dual Alliance. The Dual Alliance promised that if Russia attacked them or if Russia assisted another force at war with either nation, the parties would help each other.

The Triple Alliance

In 1882, Germany and Austria-Hungary joined forces with Italy to form the Triple Alliance. In detail, Austria has chosen war with its joined forces. Should any of the three countries be attacked by France, all three have pledged their support. If any member was at war with two or more nations at the same time, the alliance would step in to help. The weakest of the three countries, Italy, insisted on a last condition that would invalidate the deal if the Triple Alliance members were the aggressors. Shortly after, Italy and France pledged to back each other if Germany attacked them.

Russian 'Reinsurance'

Bismarck did not want to fight two wars at the same time, so he reached an arrangement with either France or Russia. Given the sourness of relations with France, Bismarck signed a "reinsurance contract" with Russia, stating that if one of them was involved in a war with a third party, the other would remain neutral. Russia had no responsibility to aid Germany if the fight was with France. This treaty, however, only lasted until 1890, when the government that succeeded Bismarck allowed it to expire. It had been the Russians' intention to maintain it. Bismarck's successors usually regard this as a huge mistake.

After Bismarck

Bismarck's carefully crafted foreign policy began to crumble after he was pushed out of power. Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II pursued an aggressive militarization policy in order to expand his country's empire. Britain, Russia, and France developed their own links in response to Germany's naval buildup. Meanwhile, Germany's newly elected leaders failed to maintain Bismarck's alliances, and the country was soon surrounded by hostile powers.

In 1892, Russia and France signed a military agreement known as the Franco-Russian Military Convention. The rules were unclear, but they required both countries to help each other in the event of a war. It was created in response to the Triple Alliance. Much of Bismarck's diplomacy, which he saw as essential to Germany's survival, had been undone in a span of a few years, and the country was once again attacked on two fronts.

The Triple Entente

Concerned about other powers posing a risk to the colonies, Great Britain began looking for alliances of its own. Despite the fact that Britain did not support France during the Franco-Prussian War, the two countries vowed military cooperation in the Entente Cordiale of 1904. Three years later, the United Kingdom and Russia inked a similar deal. The Anglo-French Naval Convention of 1912 strengthened the military presence between Britain and France.

When Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, including his wife were assassinated in 1914, Europe's great powers reacted in a fashion that resulted in full-scale war within weeks. The Triple Entente was fought against the Triple Alliance, but Italy quickly switched sides. The war, which everyone expected to be over by Christmas 1914, dragged on for four years, finally bringing the United States into the conflict. More than 8.5 million soldiers and 7 million civilians had died by the time the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, officially ending the Great War.

Start of World War 1

The Serbian government convinced that Austria-Hungary or Austria had chosen war and was preparing for war, ordered the Serbian army to mobilise and appealed to Russia for help. The tenuous truce between Europe's leading powers quickly collapsed when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28.

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Within a week, Russia, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, and Serbia had made an alliance against Austria-Hungary and Germany, and World War I had formally begun.

Cause of the First World War

Imperialism

Every nation on the European continent that advanced to the point of industrialization required colonies. Building a big empire was a prestigious undertaking. They recognised the need for external markets for the industrial products they were creating. They travelled to Asia first, then to Africa. There was a race among European countries to seize areas since they regulated markets and produced raw materials.

As European powers realised the financial importance of these regions, the imperial mentality grew increasingly strong. There was a fierce rivalry among these nations for imperial expansion, which resulted in numerous engagements that eventually led to World War I.

Did You Know?

After the failed Gallipoli war in 1916, Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the British Admiralty, resigned his command and took a commission with an infantry battalion in France.