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Triple Entente
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Triple Entente
The Triple Entente (from French entente
[ɑ̃tɑ̃t] "good will") was the name given to the
alliance between France, Britain, and Russia
after the signing of the Anglo-Russian Entente
on August 31, 1907. The alliance of the three
powers, supplemented by agreements with
Portugal and Japan, constituted a powerful
counterweight to the Triple Alliance of
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. (Italy
had concluded an additional secret agreement
with France, effectively nullifying their alliance
with Germany.)
European military alliances prior to World War I.
Historians continue to debate the importance of the alliance system in igniting the Great War. At the start of World
War I in 1914, all three members of the Triple Entente entered it as Allies against Germany and Austria-Hungary.
Origins
French isolation
Russia had previously been a member of the League of the Three Emperors with Austria-Hungary and Germany, an
alliance established in 1873 between Tsar Alexander II, Emperor Franz Joseph I and Kaiser Wilhelm I. The alliance
was part of the German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck′s plan to isolate France diplomatically; he feared France had
revanchist aspirations and might try to regain her 1871 losses,[1] and to fight against radical sentiments the
conservative rulers found unsettling, such as the First International.[2]
However, the League faced great difficulty with the growing tensions between the Russian Empire and
Austria-Hungary. These tensions revolved mainly over the Balkans where, with the rise of nationalism and the
continued decline of the Ottoman Empire, many former Ottoman provinces struggled for independence.[3]
The situation in the Balkans (especially in the wake of the Serbo-Bulgarian War) and the 1878 Treaty of Berlin,
which left Russia feeling cheated of her gains made in the Russo-Turkish War led to the League not being renewed
in 1887.[4]
In an attempt to stop Russia from allying with France, Bismarck signed the secret Reinsurance Treaty with Russia in
1887, assuring both parties would remain neutral toward each other should war break out.[5]
Due to the alliance between Russia and France, and Bismarck′s exclusion of Russia from the German financial
market in 1887, the treaty was not renewed, ending the alliance between Germany and Russia.[6]
Triple Entente
Franco-Russian Alliance
Despite the Reinsurance Treaty, the Russian leadership was alarmed at the country′s diplomatic isolation and entered
the Franco-Russian Alliance in 1892.[6]
Entente cordiale
In 1904 the United Kingdom and France signed a series of agreements called the Entente cordiale. They directly
concerned colonies.
The Entente heralded the end of British neutrality in Europe. It was partly a response to growing German
antagonism, as expressed in the expansion of the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy) into a battle fleet that could
threaten British naval supremacy.
Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907
In 1907 the United Kingdom and Russia signed an agreement called the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907. It
stopped their rivalry in Central Asia (The Great Game).
Participating nations
Britain
In the last decade of the 19th century, Britain seemed to have adopted a foreign policy of "splendid isolation", with
its primary focus on its massive overseas empire. However, by the early 1900s the European theatre began to change
dramatically. Some in Britain thought it was in need of allies. For most of the 19th century, the United Kingdom had
regarded France and Russia as its two most dangerous rivals, but with the apparent threat of German imperialism,
British sentiments began to change.
The three main reasons were:
1. France and Britain had signed five separate agreements regarding spheres of influence in North Africa in 1904.
This came to be known as the Entente Cordiale. The Tangier Crisis which followed encouraged co-operation
between the two countries, given their mutual fear of apparent German expansionism.
2. Russia was defeated in the Russo-Japanese War. This display of weakness resulted in less concern over Russian
imperialism and encouraged Russia to secure its position elsewhere. France was already allied to Russia in the
Dual Alliance.
3. Britain was extremely concerned about the rising threat of German imperialism. Kaiser Wilhelm II had
announced to the world his intentions to create a global German empire and to develop a strong navy.
Britain—traditionally having control of the seas—saw this as a serious threat to its own empire and navy.
In 1907, the Anglo-Russian Entente was agreed, which attempted to resolve a series of long-running disputes over
Persia, Afghanistan and Tibet, as well as helping to address British fears about German expansion in the Near East.
French Third Republic
During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, Prussia defeated the Second French Empire, resulting in the
establishment of the Third Republic. In the Treaty of Frankfurt, Prussia forced France to cede Alsace-Lorraine to the
new German Empire. Ever since, relations had been at an all time low. France—worried about the escalating military
development of Germany—began building up its own war industries and army as a deterrent to German aggression.
As another measure, France developed a strong bond with Russia by joining the Franco-Russian Alliance, which was
designed to create a strong counter to the Triple Alliance. France′s main concerns were to protect against an attack
from Germany, and to regain Alsace-Lorraine.
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Triple Entente
Russian Empire
Russia possessed by far the largest manpower reserves of all the
six European powers, but was also the most backward
economically. Russia shared France′s worries about Germany.
After the Germans started to reorganize the Turkish army, Russia
feared that they would come to control the Dardanelles, a vital
trade artery which accounted for two fifths of Russia's exports.[7]
This was also coupled with Russia's long history of rivalry with
Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary had recently annexed Bosnia
and Herzegovina, angering Russia immensely. Russia had
considered itself the leader of the Slavic world (Pan-Slavism) and
viewed the invasion as another step towards annexing Serbia and
Montenegro. To counteract Austria-Hungary′s aggression into the
Balkans, Russia pledged to aid Serbia militarily if invaded.
Russia had also recently lost the humiliating Russo-Japanese War
in 1905, resulting in a revolutionary uprising and apparent
1914 Russian poster. The upper inscription reads
transformation into a constitutional monarchy. To counter its
"agreement". The uncertain Britannia (right) and
enemies militarily and politically, Russia sought to revive the
Marianne (left) look to the determined Mother Russia
(centre) to lead them in the coming war.
Franco-Russian Alliance. Although it was perceived as useless
during the war with Japan, in the European theatre it was
invaluable. Russia signed the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907 with Britain to counteract the threat of the Triple
Alliance.
Notes
[1] Feuchtwanger 2002, p. 216.
[2] Gildea 2003, p. 237.
[3] Henig 2002, p.3.
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
Holborn 1982, p. 247.
Holborn 1982, p. 249.
Holborn 1982, pp. 304-305.
Fiona K. Tomaszewski, A Great Russia: Russia and the Triple Entente, 1905 to 1914 (2002)
References
• Feuchtwanger, E. J. (2002). Bismarck. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-21614-1.
• Gildea, Robert (2003). Barricades and Borders: Europe 1800-1914. Oxford University Press.
ISBN 0-19-925300-5.
• Henig, Ruth Beatrice (2002). The origins of the First World War. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-26185-6.
• Holborn, Hajo (1982). A History of Modern Germany: 1840-1945. Princeton University Press.
ISBN 0-691-00797-7.
• Schmitt, Bernadotte. Triple Alliance and Triple Entente (1971)
• Tomaszewski, Fiona K. A Great Russia: Russia and the Triple Entente, 1905 to 1914 (2002) excerpt and text
search (http://www.amazon.com/Great-Russia-Triple-Entente-1905/dp/0275973662/)
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Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
File:Map Europe alliances 1914-en.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Map_Europe_alliances_1914-en.svg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.5
Contributors: historicair (French original) Fluteflute & User:Bibi Saint-Pol (English translation)
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The Deceiver, TudorTulok, Vaya, Wheeke, 1 anonymous edits
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