Was the pattern of Alliances in Europe from 1879-1907 shaped primarily around Germany’s concerns for it’s security

Germany became a formidable power in Europe after its unification in 1871.

This power shift meant that Germany was a key player in the international politics of the time. With multiple crises occurring in the region, and tensions between countries growing, needs for alliances and agreements grew. The Dual Alliance, Three Emperors Alliance, Triple Alliance, Mediterranean Agreement, Reinsurance Treaty, Franco-Russian Alliance, Entente Cordiale and Anglo-Russian Entente were the major diplomatic policies formed during 1879-1900.By focusing on the threats Germany faced and how the alliances related to them it is obvious that the pattern of alliances in Europe were primarily shaped around Germany’s concerns for its security. Germany was a new country, having being unified under the guidance of Otto von Bismarck in 1871, after the defeat of Austria in 1866, and France in 1871.

The years following the confederation of the previous 39 Germanic states were times of change. Not only had a new, stronger country been created, threatening other empires, but the balance of power also shifted.Germany’s army of conscripted soldiers, its strong economy and large, nationalistic population, meant the country was, overall, very powerful. However, it was faced with threats, including its geographic position in central Europe, which needed new tactics to forestall. Prior to his dismissal in 1890, The German Chancellor, Bismarck, was responsible for the formation of the majority of alliances. Bismarck was intent on keeping Germany as a unified country, which could only be achieved by assuring its safety from military defeat.

The Iron Chancellor feared internal conflict due to multiple nationalities, and the Catholic Church due to its devotion to the Pope rather than the state. But what Bismarck feared most was the possibility of coalitions of countries forming against Germany. Particularly menacing was France’s expected retaliation for its humiliating losses from 1871 through the Treaty of Frankfurt, especially Alsace Lorraine. From the beginning of Germany’s confederation, French bitterness was present. Therefore, Bismarck needed to cement Germany’s security in the face of this.If a policy of aggression was undertaken to do so, it would have enabled France to assemble an alliance of hostile powers, making German defeat probable.

However, France, not capable of revenge unaided, needed other powers such as Austria, Russia and Britain, to support them; countries who were either suspicious of their republic or having hostile relations with it. When the Eastern Crisis of 1875-8 developed from the decline of and revolt against Turkish rule, a pro-Russian Bulgaria was established. This brought Russia and Austria into elevated tensions, as Austria was assured the opposite would occur.France then had an opportunity to offer support so that the Treaty of Frankfurt could be changed.

Germany was then faced with both a threat from France, and a larger threat from Russia, who was bitter after its losses of the Berlin Congress in 1878. Thus, the Dual Alliance was signed in 1879, as Germany turned to Austria in a defensive alliance against Russia. The terms included bringing their empire to war if Russia attacked either signatory. If any other power attacked either Austria or Germany, they would remain neutral.The whole point of the alliance was to protect Germany from Russian hostilities while further isolating France. As well as that, it gave Germany influence over Austrian foreign policy, which could be used to reduce tensions.

The pattern of alliances in Europe prior to World War One was initiated by Germany in the interest of its security in the face of threats from Russia and to a lesser extent, France. The Alliance of the Three Emperors and the Triple Alliance both involved Germany and Austria Hungary, and were created due to threats against Germany.Established in successive years, 1881 and 1882, these alliances were based on terms that clearly diminished Germany’s threats. The Three Emperors Alliance was an extension of the League of the same name, established in 1873. The Dual Alliance signed in 1879 had encouraged what Bismarck had hoped: Russia was practically given a warning, and returned to negotiations in 1880, signing an alliance with Austria Hungary and Germany in 1881. Through this alliance, Russia was assured that the Straits would be closed to all warships, and would be supported in a war against Turkey.

Austria was able to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina, with no further changes to be made to the Ottoman Empire without all three powers permission. All countries gained from the treaty, but because it did not provide a lasting solution to any problems, its main function was to diffuse tensions between Russia and Austria. The reason that such an alliance was created, while not in the face of an immediate threat, was because Bismarck had realised that Russian defeat of Austria would have severe consequences for Germany.It would result in Russia expanding, increasing the possible sandwiching of Germany by France and Russia, by spreading further along Germany’s borders.

Again, Bismarck had ensured German security by reducing tensions in Europe that could have damaged the nation, through an alliance, which would be renewed in 1884. However, Germany was still concerned about Russian desires for the Straits, and Bismarck began to focus on strengthening his previous Dual Alliance. Italy, who was worried about French occupation of Tunis, joined the previous alliance of Austria-Hungary and Germany to create the Triple Alliance, in 1882.The Triple Alliance ensured Italy would be supported if it was attacked by France, and the other signatories would be supported in confrontation with two other belligerents. This meant Austria would not have to protect her Italian frontier if war broke out with Russia, a huge gain for Germany.

Germany had made steps to create defensive alliances against Russia, as seen in the Triple Alliance, and again the Austro-Romanian-German Alliance a year later. The alliances helped to lower the danger of war, which would impact both Germany and Europe heavily.Thus, a pattern had formed where alliances were created for the reason of defence, because of Germany’s concerns for its security. When conflict between Britain and France arose due to tensions over control of the Suez Canal and Egypt in 1882, Germany reacted with its security in mind. In this instance, Germany was not faced with a specific threat, but knew it could influence France.

However when the Ferry government fell, all hopes at Franco-German cooperation were shattered, as France adopted an anti-German attitude.After the Bulgarian Crisis of 1885-7, when Russia kidnapped the Bulgarian Prince (a German) and forced him to abdicate, tension between Austria and Russia grew over the Balkans. Consequently, Bismarck was challenged by renewed French hostility, as well as conflict between his allies. With the League of the Three Emperors in tatters, Bismarck established two new agreements. The Mediterranean Agreement of 1887 was encouraged by Germany, and guaranteed status quo in the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Aegean Seas between Britain, Italy and Austria-Hungary.

The Reinsurance Treaty, also of 1887, between Germany and Russia, was then made. It assured Russia of their rights to the Balkans, and that the Straits would not be opened to hostile powers to Russia. Where the Mediterranean Agreement supported Austria, the Reinsurance Treaty supported Russia. Germany had manufactured two new agreements that strengthened Austria, and calmed Russia. The threats to Germany during this time were caused by Austrian and Russian tension, and the creation of these treaties meant those threats were lessened.Hence, the pattern of alliances in Europe, which began in 1879, was influenced by Germany’s worries about its security, as two more agreements were made with the intention of minimising threats.

Following Bismarck’s dismissal by Wilhelm II in 1890, Germany did not involve itself in additional treaties or alliances. But this did not mean alliances weren’t created with Germany in mind. The Franco-Russian Alliance, Entente Cordiale and Anglo-Russian Agreement were all made partly in reaction to Germany’s alliances.The Franco Russian Alliance of 1892 counteracted the Triple Alliance. Russia would support France if she was attacked by Germany or Italy backed by Germany.

France would then support Russia if attacked by Germany or Austria supported by Germany. The alliance had the same duration as the Triple Alliance, and implied that Europe was now split into two different sides. Because Russia had been politically detached since the lapse of Bismarck’s Reinsurance Treaty, this led her to create an alliance against Germany, encouraged by France’s military aid and loans.The Entente Cordiale was then formed to solve colonial differences between France and Britain, where France was given rights to control Morocco. Because Germany was so against the agreement, it was practically an alliance against Germany, further creating the division in Europe which had begun with the Dual Alliance.

Again, the Anglo-Russian Agreement in 1907 was made for a number of reasons. Russian foreign policy changed, with the idea of creating a Triple Entente of Russia, Britain and France, to contest the Triple Alliance.Both Britain and Russia desired to settle colonial disputes as well, and so the agreement was signed, completing the encirclement of Germany. The three major alliances involving Russia, Britain and France were evidently influenced by Germany’s concerns for its security. Because Germany had consolidated its unification by preventing conflict through alliances with Austria-Hungary and Italy (the Russian alliances had lapsed), other agreements were made to counteract these. The two sides that were produced from the forming of alliances during 1879-1907 cannot be solely Germany’s responsibility.

In Bismarck’s time, Germany sought alliances to balance tensions that threatened both Germany and Europe. Accordingly, this meant its alliances were shaped primarily by Germany’s concern for security. Unfortunately, because Germany had secured its unification through multiple agreements, other countries felt the need to balance them. The Triple Entente was created, ultimately, on this basis.

In the Great War, the alliances that were created for defence by Germany were turned onto the offensive, and the Entente was then invoked to fight them.