First Moroccan Crisis (Tangier Crisis) 1905-1906
Reasons:
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Kaiser Wilhelm wanted “a place in the sun”
o Worried about activities of European neighbours
 Entente Cordiale (1904)
 Agreement between France and Spain
Morocco weak <- France wanted to establish a protectorate
France demands control over Moroccan army and police -> sultan refuses
Course:
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Kaiser Wilhelm II visits Tangiers in Morocco (31st March 1905)
 wants free trade for Germany in Morocco
 Delivers a speech promising to defend Morocco’s independence and keep the
country from being colonised
 France to take part in multilateral conference -> France declines
Von Bülow threatens war over issue and defensive alliance with sultan ( - January 1906)
o Mobilisation of French and German troops
o French foreign minister resigns
o France agrees to attend conference
Britain encouraged France to take firm line on Germany
Britain, France, Italy, Russia, the US, and Germany attend Algeciras Conference (1906)
Britain stationed navy patrol outside Algeciras
Outcome:
- Britain, France, USA and Russia worried about German military power -> strengthened
bonds
- According to the Algeciras Conference (January - April1906)
 Germany forced to stay out of Morocco -> humiliation
- Isolation of Germany apparent
 Only Austria-Hungary and Morocco support Germany
 Diplomatic defeat for Germany
- France retains political and financial control over Morocco
What were the results of the two incidents?
Aimed at intimidating Britain and France and breaking their relationship, Germany instead
provoked the strengthening of ties between France and Britain as well as other European
nations. It also increased Europe’s fear of German military power and so the two fronts
became fully apparent (Dreibund – Entente Cordiale). Germany convicted deepening
division within Europe, which culminated in WWI.
Second Moroccan Crisis (Agadir Crisis/”Panthersprung”)1911- 12
Reasons:
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Anglo-Russian Entente (1907) => Triple Entente (F, GB, R)
Tensions between European powers after first crisis and Algeciras Conference
Naval arms race
Frances Foreign Legions in Morocco (1906)
France gives loan to Morocco -> takes control of customs and taxes (1910)
Course:
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Rebellion against Sultan in Morocco-> France and Spain send troops (March 1911)
Germans announce they need to protect German citizens in southern Morocco (June 1911)
Kaiser Wilhelm sends Gunship Panther to Agadir (July1st)
o German rescued
o Germany threatens France
Lloyd George delivers “Mansion House” speech (July 1911)
o Promises support for France
German financial crisis
Treaty of Fez (November 1911)
o Germany forced to remove gunship and accepts small piece of land in
Congo
o Morocco becomes French protectorate
Outcome:
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German wish for French Morocco partly fulfilled
Diplomatic defeat for Germany
Threatening intensified/strengthened Triple Entente