WW1 Long-Term Causes (1870-1905)

Franco-Prussian War

Bismarck leaked a telegram to make France declare war on Prussia, convincing the south German states to ally with Prussia against the French. The Prussian military was better organized, inflicted a devastating defeat at Sedan, and won the war.

Why was Austria-Hungary unstable?

Many national minorities including Serbs, Croats, Italians, Poles, Ukrainians, Czechs, Slovaks, Hungarians, Romanians, all demanding independence and with growing nationalist movements + a struggling economy

Treaty of Frankfurt

1871 treaty ending the Franco-Prussian war. Terms:

• Germany unified, Wilhelm I crowned German Emperor in the hall of mirrors in Versailles

• France ordered to pay huge reparations

• Alsace-Lorraine annexed to Germany

• Occupation of Paris and Northern France until payments completed

• Humiliation of France

The position of the new German Empire

• strongest military in Europe along with Russia; well-trained professionals, conscription, quick mobilization and utilisation of railways

• Very strong industry, most powerful European economy

• Isolated initially, search for alliances

Social Darwinism

Social theory that proposed that only the strongest societies/races would survive, and the others would be eliminated through war, as in nature.

The myth of the glorious war

The wars in most recent memory had been short and decisive, and there had in some ways been glory to be won in them. Along with social Darwinism, the idea that war brought glory and also made men stronger and better ran rampant in European society.

The sick man of Europe

A term used to describe the Ottoman Empire in the late 18th century and onwards, when the empire lost several wars against Russia and several independence movements rose up and had success within the empire.

The Eastern Question

The most important issue in European politics at the turn of the century was the Ottoman Empire. It was in decline, the nationalist movements were growing in power and conflicting with each other, and the European powers were unsure how to deal with it.

Why was the Ottoman Empire in decline?

• The sultans had little power and were ineffective

• Nationalist movements grew quickly and couldn’t be suppressed

• Russia was constantly attempting to expand into the territory due to their interests in the Balkans and the Black Sea

• The economy was incredibly weak, so the government had to sell assets to the European powers, weakening the government further

• The other European powers also held interest in Ottoman territory

Pan-Slavism/Slavic nationalism

The belief that the Slavic peoples should be united/share a common destiny, propagated by Russia to advance interests in the Balkans, opposed by Austria-Hungary which had large Slavic populations. Resulted in San Stefano Bulgaria in 1878, when Russia tried to create a greater Bulgaria (but was stopped by the UK), and ultimately in the creation of Yugoslavia

The Congress of Berlin

1878 congress in Berlin organized by Bismarck to resolve the issues of the treaty of San Stefano. It gave Bulgaria self-governance under de jure Ottoman control, but in a much smaller area than Russia had aimed for. Austria-Hungary was also allowed to occupy Bosnia and Herzegovina (but not annex it)

Young Turks

Turkish nationalists in the Ottoman Empire: resented foreign influence and the national minorities in the Ottoman Empire, wanted to modernize the state. performed a coup against the sultan in 1909.

Realpolitik

Pragmatic and realistic policy which was characteristic of Bismarck, Prussian/German chancellor (1862-1890).

Bismarckian Foreign Policy Objectives

• isolate France

• Create a web of alliances to protect Germany

• Reconcile Austria-Hungary and Russia

• Moderate European politics, maintain peace and control

Bismarck’s alliances

• Dreikaiserbund (1873-1878 and 1881-1887), Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary, league of conservative emperors to counter radical influences

• Dual Alliance (1879) Germany and Austria-Hungary, safety against Russia

• Triple Alliance (1882) Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, mutual aid against Russia and France

• Reinsurance Treaty (1887) Germany and Russia, secure safety from Russia despite collapse of the Dreikaiserbund

• Mediterranean Agreements (1887) UK, Spain, Italy, and Austria-Hungary. Germany was not party, but mediated the agreements, and these agreements served to protect the Ottomans from Russia, and keep the French in check in Africa

Dreikaiserjahr

1888, year of the three emperors. Wilhelm I died, was succeeded by the liberal Frederick III, who reigned only for 90 days before dying to cancer and being succeeded by Wilhelm II.

Wilhelm I

Conservative but rather lazy emperor, willing to let Bismarck run the affairs of Prussia and then the Empire.

Friedrich III

Liberal German Emperor, reigned for 90 days before dying. Was in opposition to Bismarck

Wilhelm II

Conservative and militaristic German Emperor. Initially aligned with Bismarck but his impatient and erratic nature ruined their relationship, and led Wilhelm to pursue a very aggressive foreign policy, and to fire Bismarck in 1890.

German colonies

• Togoland

• German southwest Africa (Namibia)

• German east Africa (Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi)

• Kiatschou Leased Territory

• Kamerun (Modern cameroon and more)

• German New Guinea

• German Samoa

Bismarckian colonial policy

• initially against colonialism, believed it to be too expensive

• Changed, protect trade and please the people who demanded colonies

• Came into conflict with Britain, claiming territories important to Britain

• Cooperation with France in Africa against the UK

• 1890 traded Zanzibar for Heligoland, re-establish good relations and cooperation with the UK

Scramble for Africa

roughly 1880-1914, European countries competed over controlling territory in Africa, establishing colonies and trying to control as much territory as possible.

Berlin conference

Conference held in Berlin during the winter 1884-85, led by Bismarck with the aim of resolving conflicts in Africa, such as over the Congo, and carving up the continent between the different European powers.

Weltpolitik

Wilhelm II’s foreign policy: projecting German power on the world stage, taking more colonies and aiming to guarantee Germany’s “place in the sun”, a stark contrast to the careful Bismarckian realpolitik

Franco-Russian Alliance 1892

An agreement between Russia and France, whereby they would protect each other in the case of a German attack. Happened in part due to Wilhelm II allowing the reinsurance treaty to lapse

Wilhelm II’s dreams

• a great central African German colonial empire

• (contested) a german dominated “Mitteleuropa)

• A powerful navy

The Prospective Anglo-German Alliance

Wilhelm had spent a lot of time in England growing up, and was fond of both the country and their navy, which he worshipped. The British had issues with both France and Russia, so this was a possible alliance, but it was never secured.

The Naval Arms Race

Wilhelm wanted his navy, and appointed Admiral von Tirpitz as head of the navy. Two navy laws (1898 and 1900) increased the size of the German fleet drastically, but as the British created the dreadnought in 1906, the disparity grew larger. Still, the Germans had a formidable fleet.

Schlieffen Plan

As Germany was now faced with a two-front war against France and Russia, a plan was needed. This plan involved going through Belgium and defeating France quickly as in 1870 while the Russians were still mobilising (as the Russian logistics were outdated and the country massive) and then swing the entire army east to defeat Russia.

Kruger Telegram

1896 Telegram from Wilhelm II to Paul Kruger, president of the Transvaal Republic in support of the Boer cause against the UK, further deteriorating relations with the UK

German Social situation

• growing working and middle class

• Growing socialist movement

• Colonisation to distract the people from social issues

Why did Germany avoid the alliance with Britain?

The German chancellor (von Bulow) believed that Britain would eventually go to war with France or Russia over colonies, and so instead hoped to wait and help them negotiate a peace, rather than be forced into the war and annoy Russia by making an alliance.

British alliances

• time to end isolation

• Germany unwilling, looked for alternative partners

• Anglo-Japanese alliance 1902, defend interests in Asia

• Anglo-French Entente 1904, resolve colonial disputes and stay out of Russo-Japanese war

Results of the Weltpolitik

• Germany had only weak allies

• Encircled by France, Britain, and Russia, wanted to break the alliance

• Only a few colonies had been gained

• Luckily Russia lost against Japan, giving Germany some hope for the future