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Born in 1815 into a wealthy land-owning
family.
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1862: Chief Minister of Prussia.
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Secured the UNIFICATION OF GERMANY
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1871: Imperial Chancellor of the German
Empire.
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The greatest military power.
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Major industrial power.
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Other nations expected Germany to follow
an aggressive foreign policy.
Bismarck aimed to reassure leaders of
Europe that he was a man of peace.
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Rule: authoritarian, militaristic.
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Kaiser: chose the Chancellor.
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The unification had led to rapid industrial
expansion.
There was a growing pressure for overseas
colonies.
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France was a key enemy ever since the 1871
Franco-Prussian War.
Bismarck did not fear France alone, but feared an
alliance of another major power with France would
leave Germany vulnerable to attack.
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Fear of a war on two fronts.
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AIM: To deprive France of allies.
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Austria-Hungary and Russia would be logical allies,
but they opposed one another and this made the
situation complex for Bismarck.
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Russia: wanted influence in the Balkans to have
access to the Meditteranean. They wanted the
Turkish Empire to break up.
Austria-Hungary: wanted the Turkish Empire to
remain strong. They feared NATIONALISM
would spread into Austria-Hungary and cause the
break up of Austria-Hungary.
BISMARCK: WISHED TO MAINTAIN
RELATIONS WITH BOTH EMPIRES. WHAT DID
HE DO?
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Three emperors. Franz Joseph (AustriaHungary, Tsar Alex II of Russia and William
I of Germany.
General agreement of solidarity against
social revolution.
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Agreement of
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conservative powers.
What is the
meaning of this
cartoon?
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Serbians revolted against Turkish rule.
Russia moved to help Serbia and this led to war
between Russia and Turkey in 1877.
Austria-Hungary and Britain demanded a Congress
of Powers and this led to the CONGRESS OF
BERLIN in 1878.
The fate of Turkey was a matter of concern to all
powers.
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Russian domination was checked without war.
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Some states gained independence from Turkey.
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Bismarck backed up Austria-Hungary over Russia
(why?) and this ended the Dreikaiserbund.
In 1879 the Dual Alliance with Austria-Hungary
was formed. (support one another in the event of
an attack from Russia).
Why? Bismarck wanted to avoid Austria-Hungary
forming an alliance with Britain and France.
“I wanted to dig a ditch between her and the
Western Powers”.
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Bismarck hoped to rebuild relations with Russia.
June 1881 the League of the Three Emperors was
renewed.
If one of the three powers was at war with a
fourth power then the other two would stay
neutral.
Enabled Austria-Hungary to expand into Bosnia
and Herzegovina and Russia to infleunce Bulgaria
and Eastern Rumelia.
The treaty meant Russia would not join France
against Germany.
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It bound Austria-Hungary and Russia in an
agreement.
Bismarck would now not have to choose which of
the two nations to support.
Try to be one of three, so long as the world is
governed by an unstable equilibrium of five great
powers
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Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy.
Negotiations began in 1881 and the agreement
finalised in 1882.
Italy were a mutual enemy of
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France, although not
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a “great” power.
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Bismarck's alliances began to contradict one
another.
1883 Austria-Hungary and Germany promise to
efend Rumania and Rumania. BUT this clashes with
agreement with Russia.
The Triple Alliance assumes a war with Russia, yet
the League of Three Emperors is based on
Austria-Hungary and Russia co-operation!
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Bulgaria did not want to be under Russian
influence.
They wanted to form an alliance with Eastern
Rumelia.
Britain and Austria-Hungary support Bulgaria.
Russia kidnap the Bulgarian prince! He is forced to
abdicate.
Bismarck is now forced to choose sides.
He backs up Austria-Hungary and the League of
Three Emperors ends (again!).
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Italy, Britain and Austria-Hungary.
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Mutual support against a fourth power.
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The agreement was altered and the focus was
against Russia.
Bismarck: relief that the burden of opposing
Russia was now a shared concern.
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Bismarck still wished to win back Russian support
(why?)
This Treaty had to be worded to fit around all of his
other agreements.
Neutrality if either country was attacked by a third
power.
BUT.....this agreement did not hold if Germany
attacked France or Russia attacked Austria-Hungary.
(How does this cause problems with the Dual
Alliance?).
In 1888 published the terms of the Dual Alliance
(why?)
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Russia had not formed an agreement with France.
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Period of peace.
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In 1888 Kaiser William II became ruler of
Germany.
Bismarck resigned in 1890 due to clashes with the
new Kaiser.
Bismarck was credited with keeping peace in
Europe for two decades.