Short Essays

The Russo Japanese War (1905)

• 1904-1905

• Manchuria & Korean Peninsula

• Tsar Nicholas II: public opinion

• Minister of Interior: Vyacheslav von Plehve

• Port Arthur: February 1904

• Efficiency, Trans-Siberian incomplete, leadership,

• Battle of Tsushima 1905

• 1905 Revolution + Asian power

• Shift of ambition to Balkans

The Moroccan Crises

• First Moroccan Crisis (1905-1905)

• France sought control; no opposition

• Kaiser Wilhelm; Tangier support (sovereignty)

• Challenged Théophile Delcasse

• Algeciras Conference

• Second Moroccan Crisis (1991)

• Internal Revolt: Fes; crushed by French

• Gunboat “Panther” at Agadir

• France: protectorship, Germany: 2 strips of French Congo

The Balkan Wars

• First Balkan War (1912-1913)

• Ottomans vs. Balkan League (Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro)

• Treaty of London (1912-13); loss Macedonia, Albania

• Serbia DOUBLES —> Albania created + Bulgaria enraged

• Second Balkan War (1913); Ferdinand I wanted more for Bulgaria

The Birth of Albania

• First Balkan War (1912-1913)

• Serbia DOUBLES —> alarms AH)Albania) + B(B2)

• Increasing Russian influence = Negative

• Geopolitical tool: Serbia: Adriatic, Russia: Mediterranean

• London Conference (1912-1913); strategic geopolitical buffer

The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand & the Role of Serbia

• June 28th, 1914; Franz Ferdinand + Sophie Chotek = Gavrilo Princip

• Sarajevo, Bosnia visit; inspect AH army

• Earlier attempt; but finishing the trip == Crna Ruka, Narodna Odbrana

• Serbia/Russia: financial support but no direct involvement = INDIRECT

• Foreign Minister Berchtold & Emperor Franz Josef (July 23rd 1914) = DIRECT

• Threaten sovereignty = REJECTED

The French Campaign in Egypt & Italy

1. Napoleon: formidable general, key campaigns (leading to ascent)

2. Italian Campaigns (1769 - 1797)

   • Irrelevant scene to the world

   • Victories: Lodi, Arcole, Rivoli = brilliance

   • Austria = peace negotiations

3. Egyptian Campaigns (1798 - 1801)

   • threaten British access to India + expand influence (East)

   • Battle of Pyramids = land success

   • Battle of the Nile; Admiral Nelson = naval loss

   • Napoleon returned, saved face and maintained heroic image

The Battle of Austerlitz

1. Napoleon

   • aggressive foreign policy

   • territorial ambitions

2. Third Coalition (1805)

   • Britain, Russia, Austria

   • launched attack = mobilization of Grand Army

3. Battle

   • Battle of Three Emperors

   • Austria-Russian: Russia’s Alexander I + Mikhail Kutuzov

   • “Center-peel” = weak center, strong flanks

4. Outcome

   • Francis II = Treaty of Pressburg

   • HRE GONE

   • Confederation of the Rhine