A4: Th e Road to War in Europe, 1870 to 1914
The Alliance System
Why did Prussia win the Franc-Prussian War?
Bismarck changed the wording of the Ems telegram sent by King Wilhelm I to the
French ambassador to make it appear as if the ambassador had been insulted. The
French government was forced to declare war. However, the Prussian railway
network enabled troops to reach the border as quickly as possible and the French
army was no match for the Prussians. The Prussian army had fought two wars in the
previous six years. The Prussian Dreyse rifle was far more efficient than the French
rifle.
Why did France lose the Franco-Prussian War?
Explain how each of the following was important.
Railways
Numbers
of men
The
Prussian
Army
Rifles
What were the terms of the Treaty of Frankfurt?
France had to agree to hand over the provinces of Alsace-Lorraine. These included
the cities of Strasbourg and Metz and contained valuable agricultural land and iron
ore fields.
France had to pay an indemnity of 5,000,000,000 francs to Germany and some areas
of northern France were to be occupied by the German army until the sum was
handed over.
A triumphal parade of the German troops was held in Paris on 1 March 1871.
Fill in the details of the Treaty.
AlsaceLorraine
Indemnity
Occupation
Parade
Now what could you add in the final box. What can you work out about the aims
of the Prussians?
1. They intended the Treaty to be harsh.
2. They wanted to weaken France so that it could not cause trouble in the
future.
This is what should go in the final box.
What were the effects of the Franco-Prussian War?
The German Empire was created. Bismarck emerged as a hero and chancellor of the
Empire was secure. The south German states all agreed to join the German Empire.
Germany was now the most powerful country in Europe. The German army had
proved itself invincible. But Bismarck feared the French desire for revenge. His aim
was to ensure that Germany always had plenty of allies, while France remained
isolated. So Bismarck set himself the task of trying to ensure that France could never
be a threat to Germany. He did this by creating the Alliance System.
What effects did the Franco-Prussian War have on France and Germany? Fill in
the names of the countries in the right hand column.
1
A republic was set up.
2
People began to refuse to visit Germany.
3
4
It began to set up the ‘Alliance System’
It became the most powerful country in Europe in
military terms.
5
People began to talk of ‘revanche’.
6
The remaining independent states joined the empire
7
There were demonstrations against the Treaty.
8
Its industry soon began to dominate Europe.
9
The Treaty was regarded as a national disgrace.
10
It began to take steps to protect itself from revenge.
How did Bismarck try to keep on good terms with Russia?
Bismarck wanted avoid at all the costs the possibility of a war on two fronts. For the
next twenty years, Bismarck tried to ensure that France and Russia would never form
an alliance and that Russia would always be linked to Germany in one way or
another. In 1873 the DreiKaiserBund (League of Three Emperors) was signed by the
Emperors of Germany and Austria-Hungary and the Tsar of Russia. The three great
powers of central and eastern Europe were now linked in a loose agreement, which
was intended to maintain the status quo.
Why did the DreiKaiserBund not work?
It was only a vague agreement rather than a formal alliance, but it also involved two
countries that were rivals for influence in the Balkans. Russia wanted to extend its
empire south towards the Mediterranean, and, when that proved impossible, to protect
the Slav peoples in the Balkans. The Austrians wanted to extend their empire into the
Balkans, and that meant occupying Bosnia-Herzegovina, where the majority of the
population was Serb.
The alliance was put to the test in 1877 when Russia declared war on Turkey in 1877
and then tried to create a ‘Big Bulgaria’ at the Treaty of San Stefano in 1878. What
could Bismarck do to keep the peace between the two Great Powers?
Why were the Congress and Treaty of Berlin important?
After the Treaty of San Stefano with Turkey, Bismarck stepped in as an ‘honest
broker’.
Bismarck wanted to try to make sure that both Austria and Russia remained allies of
Germany. He invited the Great Powers to Berlin to try to sort out the problem. Russia
agreed to Bulgaria being split up into three parts. The southern part remained under
Turkish rule. Roumelia became independent and the remainder became the new state
of Bulgaria. Russia retained southern Bessarabia and Austria retained control of
Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Why was the Treaty of Berlin unpopular in Russia?
Bulgaria had been split up and Bismarck had appeared to support Austria against
Russia.
To keep the situation under control Bismarck signed the Dual Alliance (with Austria)
in 1879.
List the differences between the Treaties of San Stefano and Berlin.
San Stefano
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Southern
Bessarabia
Berlin
The Treaty of Berlin and the Dual Alliance isolated Russia. The Second
DreiKaiserBund in 1879 was signed to keep the Russians on Bismarck’s side. It
contained a series of clauses which attempted to bind the three empires together. In
the case of one of the three empires being attacked by a fourth power, the other two
powers would remain neutral.
Russia agreed to respect the interests of Austria-Hungary arising from her new
position in the Balkans as set out in the Treaty of Berlin. Austria also reserved the
right to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina in the future. The Second DreiKaiserBund
was renewed in 1884, but in 1887 Russia refused to sign because of events in
Bulgaria.
Why did Bismarck sign the Mediterranean Agreements and the Reinsurance
Treaty?
He wanted to prevent Russia and France drawing closer together. In March 1887
Bismarck formed the First Mediterranean Agreement with Britain, Italy and Austria.
The Royal Navy would protect Italy if France attacked, and Italy would support
Britain if France interfered in Egypt.
The Second Mediterranean Agreement was signed in December 1887, Germany,
Italy, Austria and Britain agreed to support Turkey if it was attacked by Russia. The
two Mediterranean Agreements were desperate attempts by Bismarck to protect
Germany if France and Russia formed an alliance. The Reinsurance Treaty was
designed to prevent Russia forming an alliance with France.
The creation of the Triple Alliance
In 1879 Bismarck signed the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary.
The Dual Alliance became the most important part of Bismarck’s attempts to give
Germany security. It was clearly aimed at Russia. In 1882 the Dual Alliance was
extended to become the Triple Alliance with the inclusion of Italy. Austria and
Germany promised to support Italy if it was attacked by France. If any one of Austria,
Germany and Italy was attacked by two or more countries, the others would support
it. The first clause was obviously a threat to France and the second was a warning
against a possible alliance between France and Russia. The Triple Alliance was
renewed in 1887, 1891, 1902 and 1912 and it became one of the alliances by which
the great powers of Europe were divided into two armed camps by 1914.
Fill in the details of the Alliances
In the first column write the date of the Alliance. In the third column write the
reason for the Alliance. In the fourth column write the names of the countries
that were involved in the Alliance.
DreiKaiserBund
Dual Alliance
DreiKaiserBund
Triple Alliance
First
Mediterranean
Agreement
Reinsurance
Treaty
Second
Mediterranean
Agreement
Why was the resignation of Bismarck important?
The Reinsurance Treaty was not renewed. This meant that the alliances that Bismarck
had created, now had the effect of dividing Europe into two armed camps. The
Alliance System, which Bismarck had so carefully created and maintained, fell apart.
The creation of the Triple Entente
In the 1890s relations between Russia and France grew much closer. In 1892 there
was a military agreement between the two countries. The Dual Entente was signed in
1894. The Entente was a defensive agreement like the Triple Alliance. Russia agreed
to support France if it was attacked by Germany, or by Italy supported by Germany.
France agreed to support Russia if it was attacked by Germany or Austria supported
by Germany. The Dual Entente created possibility of a war on two fronts, with
Germany caught between the armies of France and Russia.
In 1904 Britain and France signed The Entente Cordiale, the ‘friendly agreement’.
The Entente led subsequently to discussions on naval issues. The two navies agreed to
divide responsibility for European waters. In 1912 the British navy withdrew its
forces from the Mediterranean and the French navy withdrew its forces from the
Channel. In 1907 Britain signed an Entente with Russia. This helped to create the
Triple Entente. The Triple Entente did not commit Britain to defend or support the
other two powers, but it did make British support for them much more likely in the
event of war.
Europe was now divided into two armed camps, each made up of three powers and
each with a series of built in clauses, which involved automatic and immediate
military action. The stage was now set for a showdown, should the situation arise.
Now fill in the details of what happened after Bismarck resigned.
Date
1892
1894
1904
1907
Treaty
Countries
Effects
Revision
What have you learnt so far about Europe from the 1860s to 1914?
Fill the events that took place in the following years. Use the pages so far to help
you complete the timeline.
1864
1866
1870
1871
1873
1876
1877
1878
1878
1879
1881
1882
1885
1885
1886
1887
1887
1887
1890
1892
1894
1903
1904
1907
1908
1912
1913
International Rivalry
What was Weltpolitik?
Kaiser Wilhelm II wanted to increase Germany's prestige both in Europe and abroad
and this ran the risk of making enemies. He wanted to expand the German Empire in
Africa and the German navy. Wilhelm wanted to challenge France and Britain.
In 1890 Wilhelm refused to renew the Reinsurance Treaty and this decision helped to
bring about the Dual Entente which was signed in 1894. In 1896 Wilhelm began to
use the term ‘Weltpolitik’, meaning world policy. Germany would be taking part a
full part in international affairs. The ‘Drang nach Osten’ suggested that Germany was
going to expand in an easterly direction. A scheme for a Berlin to Baghdad railway
appeared to threaten Britain’s influence in the Middle East and Asia. Wilhelm also
demanded a ‘Place in the Sun’ for Germany, which suggested that he wanted to
expand the German Empire in Africa and other parts of the world.
The significance of these changes in policy was more to do with what might happen
than what actually did happen. The British suspected that the Kaiser and Germany
were up to something and did not know what. When in December 1895 Cecil Rhodes
sent a raiding party into the Transvaal in the belief that an uprising was about to take
place, the Kaiser sent a telegram to President Kruger congratulating him on defeating
the Jameson Raid. This did not go down well in Britain.
How did the policies of Bismarck and Kaiser Wilhelem II differ?
Policy
Bismarck
Kaiser Wilhelm II
The
German
Empire
The
German
Navy
Alliances
Germany
in Europe
Why were the German Navy Laws important?
These laid out plans to build a navy to challenge the Royal Navy over a period of
twenty years. In 1898, the First Navy Law announced that Germany would build a
fleet strong enough to combat the strongest navy in the world. In 1900 the Second
Navy Law provided for a fleet of thirty-eight battleships to be built in the next twenty
years.
The British government believed that the Germans were planning to challenge
Britain’s command of the seas. If the Germans began to build a larger navy, Britain
would have to respond and build more ships. The Germans also announced the
building of the Kiel Canal. This would link the Baltic with the North Sea and would
allow German warships to sail from the Baltic to the North Sea. From 1902 Britain
began to build battleships to stop the Germans getting a lead.
In 1906 the British launched HMS Dreadnought, a battleship which made all existing
battleships obsolete. It carried ten twelve-inch guns and had a top speed of twenty-one
knots. The German navy replied by building ‘Dreadnoughts’ of its own and a Naval
Arms Race began.
Drang nach Osten
Weltpolitik
A Place in the Sun
This suggested that Germany was going to try
to create an empire in Africa. Most of Africa
was already controlled by European nations so
this would lead to friction.
The push to the East, which suggested that
Germany was going to interfere in the Middle
East, which had traditionally been under
British influence
This suggested that the Kaiser wanted
Germany to play a greater role on the world
stage, whereas Bismarck had limited Germany
to European actions.
What was the Naval Arms Race?
From 1906 to 1914 the British built twenty-nine Dreadnoughts and the Germans built
seventeen. By 1914 the ships carried fifteen-inch guns and their oil-fired turbine
engines could reach a top speed of twenty-five knots. In Britain a Navy League was
formed to campaign for more and more ships. In fact the German government failed
to build the ships that had been planned in 1900 because the cost was simply too
great. By 1909 it had dropped out of the Naval Arms Race.
What effects did the Naval Arms Race have?
It helped to create the impression that the two countries were bitter enemies, when in
fact relations were getting better. In Britain there were newspaper campaigns that
described the Germans as barbarians. Books were published giving accounts of
German invasions of Britain.
What effects did the Moroccan Crises have?
In March 1905 Kaiser Wilhelm visited Morocco, which had been under French
influence.
At Tangier the Kaiser made a speech in which he spoke in favour of an ‘open door’
policy in Africa. The visit was an attempt by the German government to see how
strong the Entente Cordiale between Britain and France really was. The German
government then accepted an invitation from the Sultan of Morocco to an
international conference. This seemed to make the crisis even worse. In January 1906,
the great powers of Europe met at the Algeciras Conference and decided that France
would have control of Morocco. Germany opposed the decision, but had to accept it.
On 1 July 1911 a German gunboat, the ‘Panther’, arrived at Agadir. The German
government claimed that it had been sent to protect Germans and their property.
David Lloyd George accused the Germans of stirring up trouble and threatened
retaliation. In the next few months Britain began to prepare for war with Germany.
After several months of negotiation, the French and German governments reached
agreement in November 1911. Germany agreed to allow France a free hand in
Morocco and the French handed over some land in Central Africa. Relations between
Germany and Britain and France began to improve and the threat of war died down.
But as far as most British people were concerned, Britain and Germany were natural
enemies. But that was soon to change.
The Two Morocco Crises
Which events took place in which crisis? Write down First or Second in the right
hand column.
It was an attempt to test the strength of the Entente Cordiale.
The Kaiser spoke of an ‘open door’ in Africa.
The Germans agreed to allow France a free hand in Morocco.
The Sultan organised an international conference at Algeciras.
The Kaiser visited Tangier
It led to the Mansion House Speech.
The Panther arrived in Agadir.
It was decided that France would control Morocco
Which countries had these aims or fears at the end of the nineteenth century?
It wanted to retain control of the seas.
It wanted to create an empire in Africa.
It was looking for ways to increase its influence.
It wanted to protect the Serbs in the Balkans.
It wanted to expand into the Middle East.
It wanted to counteract nationalism in its empire.
It began to build up a large navy.
It wanted to recover Alsace-Lorraine
It was looking for ways to increase its territory.
It wanted to defeat Serbia.
It wanted to maintain the Two-Power Standard.
Complete the timeline of relations between Britain and Germany from 1895 to
1911. Where there are no dates you must decide what is to be included.
1895
1896
1898
1900
1905
1906
1906
1906-14
1909
1 Jul 1911
21 July 1911
Nov 1911
Why did war break out in July-August 1914?
The assassination of the Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June 1914 suddenly
brought all of the existing rivalries to a head. The Austrian ultimatum to Serbia was
not sent until 23 July, by which time many people had assumed that the assassination
had been forgotten. The Austrians tried to stop Russian involvement by promising not
to take any Serb territory. Britain called for an international conference to settle the
matter. Wilhelm II tried to stop the Austrians from attacking Serbia. But Russia
mobilised its army on 29 July and Germany followed suit on 1 August, declaring war
on Russia on the same day. On 2 August the German army invaded Luxembourg and
then demanded the right to pass through Belgium. The Belgian government refused
permission. On 3 August Germany declared war on France and invaded Belgium.
What was the Schlieffen Plan?
The Schlieffen Plan was designed to cope with a war on two fronts, that is an attack
on Germany by both France and Russia. The plan was intended to knock out France
before the Russian army had had a chance to mobilise. It was assumed that the
Russian army would prove much more difficult nut to crack. The Schlieffen Plan
involved an attack through Belgium. The German armies would surround Paris and
then attack the French from the rear. Schlieffen assumed that when war broke out the
French would immediately attack across the border into Alsace and Lorraine. The
main plan of the French army, Plan 17, was based on an attack into Alsace-Lorraine.
So by the beginning of 1914 the armies of France and Germany were both prepared
for the conflict that was about to take place.
What were the differences between the Schlieffen Plan and Plan 17?
The Schlieffen Plan
Plan 17
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
5.
5.
What effects did the Schlieffen Plan have?
Belgium was a neutral country and its neutrality had been guaranteed by two powers,
Britain and Prussia. The Belgian government immediately appealed to Britain for
help.
On 4 August Britain declared war on Germany.
Why was it impossible to prevent the outbreak of war in 1914?
There were a number of attempts to stop the war. The Kaiser, Tsar Nicholas II, the
British and French governments all tried to halt the process of mobilisations and
declarations. But they all failed. The assassination of Franz Ferdinand released all the
suspicions and fears that had been bottled up for the previous forty years. The speed
at which events took place took people by surprise. The Austrians resisted attempts to
settle the dispute at a conference because they felt that having presented the
ultimatum to Serbia, they simply had to see the matter through. There was also a
general belief that the war would be short and glorious. In all European capitals news
of the outbreak of war was greeted with great enthusiasm.
Complete the timeline of events after the murder of Arch Duke Franz
Ferdinand.
Where there are no dates you must decide what is to be included.
5 Jul
23 Jul
25 Jul
29 Jul
1 Aug
1 Aug
2 Aug
3 Aug
4 Aug
6 Aug
12 Aug
Who to blame for the war? Fill in some reasons why each of the following was
responsible.
The Kaiser
AustriaHungary
Russia
Why did the murder of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand lead to the outbreak of a
European war in 1914? Match up the beginnings and endings of the paragraphs.
The assassination of Franz Ferdinand released
all the suspicions and fears that had been
bottled up for the previous forty years. The
French desired revenge for the loss of AlsaceLorraine.
The Kaiser, Tsar Nicholas II, the British and
French governments all tried to halt the process
of mobilisations and declarations. One reason
for the failure to call a halt was the speed at
which events took place.
The Austrians resisted attempts to settle the
dispute at a conference because they felt that
they could not accept an international solution
to what they believed was a matter between
them and Serbia.
In all European capitals news of the outbreak
of war was greeted with great enthusiasm In
Britain it was seen as a relief from internal
arguments. Most politicians believed that the
war would be over by Christmas.
In the end the war was a triumph for Bismarck.
The Alliance System that he had worked so
hard to create did its job.
Having presented the ultimatum to Serbia, the
Austrians simply had to see the matter through.
At stake was Austria’s reputation and standing
as a great power.
But instead of creating a balance of power and
ensuring that there would be peace, it had the
exactly opposite effect. The alliances simply
ensured that one country after another would
be inexorably drawn into the war.
The Russian government started a general
mobilisation on 29 July and then changed that
to mobilisation against Austria alone, but by
then Germany had already begun to mobilise
its forces.
The British were suspicious of Germany’s
motives for the Navy Laws and the Naval
Arms Race; Austrian and Russia were rivals
for domination of the Balkans.
They thought in terms of the short and decisive
wars of the second half of the nineteenth
century.
Revision
Fill in the gaps about the key events in Europe from 1870 to 1914.
1870
1873
DreiKaiserBund
Created a Big Bulgaria, which worried Britain and
Austria
1878
1879
This became a cornerstone of Bismarck’s policy and
was an important factor in the outbreak of war in 1914
The Triple Alliance
The Reinsurance Treaty
This brought France and Russia together for the first
time and created the prospect of a war on two fronts
The Kruger Telegram
This created the possibility of the Royal Navy being
challenged by Germany
1900
1904
The First Moroccan Crisis
This began the Naval Arms Race which lasted until
1914
The annexation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina
1911
This resulted in Serbia gaining territory, but also in the
creation of Albania
The Second Balkan War
June
1914