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1870- 1914 Understanding the balance of power in Europe from 1870- 1914 Aims, methods, continuity and change in German foreign policy to 1914; global colonial rivalry Emergence of Germany as a single state substantially altered the balance of power in Europe A series of wars of unification were fought in the 1860s by Prussia which excluded Austria from the new German state 1870 Franco Prussian War- loss of Alsace Lorraine to Germany Bismarck as Chancellor / Kaiser Wilhelm I realpolitik Military superiority + Industrial revolution+ population increase= Germany to dominate in Europe Not an aggressive foreign policy- After 1871 Bismarck saw Germany as a ‘sated power’ Consolidate Germany’s position in Europe Protect Germany from future attack- concern was the French desire for revenge Keep France isolated and Russia onside This was done through the creation of a complex web of alliances- essentially a policy of restraint in diplomacy 1873 The Dreikaiserbund (Three emperors league)- Germany, Austria, Russia 1879 The Dual Alliance- Austria and Germanysupport each other if attacked by each other 1881 Three Emperors Alliance- revision of Dreikaiserbund- remain neutral if other was at war with another power 1882 Triple Alliance Germany, Austria, Italysupport if attacked by two other powers 1887 Reinsurance Treaty- after the collapse of Three Emperors- separate deal with Russia to avoid a war on two fronts 1888 Kaiser Wilhelm II came to the throne Bismarck replaced by Chancellor Leo Von Caprivi NEW COURSE – or Weltpolitik Policy looked beyond Europe- EMPIRE and NAVY Also diverted attention away from social and political problems at home Much more aggressive foreign policyinvolvement of the Kaiser Capitalize on Germany’s position in Europe and beyond Fear of encirclement Development of relationship with AustriaHungary Aim for Germany- Naval power to rival Britain 1897 Admiral Tirpitz pushed for the development of the Navy – building of 17 new ships. Second Naval law also passed in 1900 Pushes Britain to seek security through alliances- development of Triple Entente Germany now felt that it was becoming ‘encircled’ Britain develops new class of battleship- Dreadnought Germany tried to expose the weakness of BritishFrench alliance over French interest in Morocco Britain had given France a ‘free hand’ in Morocco for their support over Egypt Germany announced that they would assist the Sultan of Morocco to maintain his independence from France Algerciras Conference- 1906- Britain backed French interest in Morocco Morocco a faliure for Weltpolitik and a blow for German pride French sent troops to Morocco on the request of the Sultan to suppress a revolt that had broken out Germany saw this as the beginning of full French takeover of Morocco Germany sent a gunboat (the Panther) to Agadiras a way of extracting concessions from the French ‘gunboat diplomacy’ Germany given parts of the French Congo Again Germany miscalculated- Britain supported France- strengthened ties of the Entente 1912 First Balkan War- Greece, Serbia and Montenegro formed an alliance- as a way of pushing Turkey out of the Balkans (Macedonia)- this took just seven weeks Austria threatened by a strengthened Serbia and a clear threat of war in the region British call a conference in London and Turkey’s lands divided up and the creation of Albania which limits Serbia’s access to the sea. Second Balkan War 1913- Bulgaria goes to war over Bulgarians living in Serbia / Greece Bulgaria defeated Austria keen to be involved but Germany urges restraint Serbia had succeeded on two occasions- proved its strength diplomatically / militarily. Increased in size