Download BISMARCK`S EUROPE 18711890 After the FrancoPrussian war

BISMARCK'S EUROPE 1871­1890
After the Franco­Prussian war Europe entered a 44 years long period. A period not of war but of ARMED PEACE, as each great power sought to improve and expand its own military forces.
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To Bismarck the creation of the German empire (which most of the european countries armed themselves in defence for) marked the limit of his ambitions in Europe, and after 1871 his diplomacy was aimed almost entirely at preventing the outbreak of further wars from which Germany could have nothing to gain.
'The nightmare of Bismarck'
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The new POLICY OF DEFENSIVENESS presented him two fundamental problems:
1) ENSURE THAT FRANCE SHOULD REMAIN WITHOUT AN ALLY so that she might be discouraged from attempting a war of revenge (ALSAC­LORRAINE).
Possible threat of an Anglo­French alliance, but Britain’s traditional suspicion of France.
­Colonial rivalry
­Britain’s policy of SPLENDID ISOLATION
MADE AN ANGLO­FRENCH ALLIANCE HIGHLY UNLIKELY.
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2) PRESERVE GOOD RELATIONS BETWEEN AUSTRIA­HUNGARY AND RUSSIA. If a war would break out between them Germany would probably get dragged in it. This would have a direct bearing on the French question ­ France would be able to escape her isolation.
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THE DANGER: ­Rivalry between Russia­Austria in the Balkan­area.
The emergence of a strong independent Slav state (which interested Russia to increase their influence, part of Russian nationalism) would represent a considerable domestic danger, since it would act as a focal point of resistance for all the subjected Slav peoples of the Habsburg Empire.
BISMARCK attempted to create a league of friendship between GERMANY­AUSTRIA­RUSSIA = THE DREIKAISERBUND.
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'The mutual antagonism of others enabled him to develop his own system.' Discuss this verdict on Bismarck's conduct of foreign policy after 1871.
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For the next 11 years Bismarck strove to strengthen Germany's position in Europe through a web of written treaties of which Berlin was the central point, while at the same time doing his best to frustrate the creation of any counter system of alliances. In this last he was assisted greatly by the anti­Austrian attitude in Britain after 1880 (The Gladstone government) and by British anxiety over Russian expansion southward in Central Asia.
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1. In 1875 a war of nerves between France­Germany. Bismarck accused France of preparing for war and France responded by accusing Germany of preparing for a preventive war against France.
It resulted in a visit by Czar Alexander II in Berlin and a russian warning to Germany to go no further.
The excitement died down but it had made it clear that both Britain and Russia objected strongly to any suggestion of the waging of war by Germany against France (balance of power­idea). Only Austria had stayed loyal to Germany. It demonstrated how easily Bismarck's hopes for the Dreikaiserbund and the isolation of France could be shattered. THE PATTERN OF EVENTS WHEREBY THE GERMAN EMPIRE HAD BEEN CREATED HAD AWOKEN A DEEP MISTRUST AMONG THE GOVERNMENTS OF EUROPE.
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2) The second crises also started in 1875 when the Christian Slavs of Bosnia and Herzegovina rose in revolt against Turkey. The question was if Russia would try to advantage from the situation.
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In the beginning the Dreikaiserbund acted in some degree of unison but the revolt spread (Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro).
By the autumn of 1876 Turkey had recovered and started crushing the revolts very brutally. The threat of Turkish dominance on the Balkan resulted in a more pan­slavic Russian policy; Alexander II declared that Russia had to take military action to defend their brother peoples in the area.
To avoid a conflict between Russia­Austria a secret treaty was signed (1877, THE BUDAPEST CONVENTIONS):
In return of observing neutrality Austria was to receive Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The continued existence of Serbia and Montenegro was guaranteed.
No large Slav state was to be set up in the Balkans.
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After this Russia declared war on Turkey (1877) but the war wasn't the swift victory the politicians had thought. It dragged on and anti­Russian feelings rose in Europe (A British fleet sailed through the Dardanelles into the sea of Marmora).
The crises came to a head at the beginning of March 1878 with the signing of THE TREATY OF SAN STEFANO between Russia­Turkey:
­The independence of Serbia, Montenegro and Rumania was recognized (all 3 were allowed to extend their frontiers).
­There was no mention of Austria's right to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina.
­Bulgaria was to become a large autonomous principality under a Christian governor, while paying tribute to Turkey, and her frontiers were to run west into the Balkan mountains and as far south as the coast of the Aegean.
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The treaty of San Stefano awoke all the worst fears of Britain and Austria:
It completely ignored the Budapest conventions and appeared to be the fulfilment of Russia's hopes of gaining substantial control over the Balkans.
This was a threat to both Britain and Austria.
During the next 3 months anxious negotiations, culminating in the CONGRESS OF BERLIN 1878 led to a complete revision of the treaty of San Stefano. Russia was not prepared to go to war for the maintenance of the treaty (there was no hope of military support from Germany.
The details were eventually settled after considerable negotiation. Bulgaria was to become much smaller (Bismarck:" The diplomats were not there to consider the happiness of the Bulgarians, but to secure the peace of Europe").
Austria was to be allowed to occupy Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Britain guaranteed Turkeys frontiers against Russia.
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The TREATY OF BERLIN was a defeat for Russia. Austria­Britain gained in strengthening their own positions in the Balkan area.
BISMARCK himself was content that a highly explosive situation had not led to an Austro­Russian war.
This crisis was however a turning point in Bismarck's policy. Although Germany had remained neutral Bismarck had, by his very refusal to uphold the Russian claim to a large Bulgaria revealed that IF FORCED TO DECIDE, GERMANY WOULD FAVOUR AUSTRIA.
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This attitude was finally confirmed in October 1879 by the DUAL ALLIANCE, a treaty signed between Germany­Austria promising mutual aid if either of them were attacked by Russia and neutrality in the case of an attack by any other power!!!!!!
By the Dual Alliance Austria escaped the isolation which had been so disastrous since the Crimean war.
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Bismarck had now openly committed Germany to the defence of Austria ­ WHY?
­The Balkan crisis had frightened Bismarck that an anxious Austria would turn to France and with the Dual alliance he wanted to prevent this.
But this was something of a gamble for Bismarck;
1) It could wreck his policy by driving Russia into alliance with France.
2) It could also encourage Austria to embark on a much venturesome course in the Balkans (happened after 1890).
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Bismarck was also in a strong position to exploit the colonial rivalries of the other powers, since he hadn't any intention of involving Germany in the scramble for colonies (into this he was only forced due to the domestic pressure).
He was delighted over looking on the other European Powers fighting each other in the competition for colonies (encouraged Britain to take Egypt in 1882, chilled her relations with Russia and France).
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Bismarck also enabled to renew the Dreikaiserbund in 1881 ­ neutrality if any of the three would be in war with a fourth power. Including a vague understanding of Austrian annexation of Bosnia and Russian influence over Bulgaria.
By this he undid some of the harm that Russo­German relations had suffered ­ could rely on Russian neutrality in a Franco­German war in return for German neutrality in an Anglo­Russian war.
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TRIPLE ALLIANCE (signed 5 years ­ defensive)
In may 1882 a Triple Alliance was formed between Germany, Austria and Italy.
WHY?
1) Italy wanted to break out of isolation and strengthen itself against French hostility (colonial competition). An alliance with Austria could assist them in their domestic difficulties with the pope.
2) Austria wanted to silence Italian propaganda attacking her rule over the italianspeaking minority. Gained promise of italian neutrality if a Russo­Austrian war.
3) Germany enlisted a possible ally against France.
Italy and Germany were each to help the other in the event of one of them being attacked by France.
Austria was also to help Italy and Italy Austria if A. was attacked by both France and Russia.
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Bismarck's most delicate problems still remained in solving the dispute between Austria and Russia and the obligations included in the Dualalliance.
In 1887 the terms of The Reinsurance Treaty had to be woven carefully around all other existing German obligations. It stated that each would remain neutral if the other went in to war with a third power, but the agreement would not become operative if Germany attacked France or if Russia attacked Austria. Bismarck had no plans attacking France and hoped that this would discourage Russia from taking aggressive actions.
A new crisis had arisen in Balkan from 1885 and this came to a head in july 1887. A war between Austria­Russia seemed to be very close.
When Austria requested the assistance of Germany, Bismarck warned them that he could not agree to an attack unless Austria was absolutely certain Britain would assist them as well. A little later B. published the Dual alliance thus hoping that this action would serve as a warning to Russia buit also Austria since it revealed to the world that the Dualalliance was purely defensive and that Austria would fight alone if she took the initiative in attacking Russia herself.
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1890­A TURNING POINT
In 1890 Bismarck faced a newly­elected Reichstag, more hostile to him than any previous one. He considered reverting to the tactics of 1862, and ruling by the Kaiser's decree. But Wilhelm II was the German Kaiser now (1888). He was ambitious and had no wish to be overshadowed by his veteran Chancellor who, he believed, had mishandled the problem of socialism and had put too much effort into pleasing Russia and Britain. This left Bismarck isolated and in march 1890 in to the resignation, after a violent fight with Wilhelm II.
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The new ruler, Wilhelm II adopted a completely new forign policy. Wilhelm thought Germany didn't need the Russian friendship. His ambitions was to strengthen the friendship with Britain and abandon the Three Emperors League.
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