Essential Background - Fact 1 Alliances and the First World War: Essential Background - Fact 1 World War I was all about the place of Germany in Europe

Essential Background - Fact 2 Alliances and the First World War: Essential Background - Fact 2 France and Germany hated each other! When Germany became united country in 1870-1, France went to war to try to stop it … but got WHOPPED!

Essential Background Fact 2 (cont.) Alliances and the First World War: Essential Background Fact 2 (cont.) France also lost Alsace-Lorraine in 1870-1. The French never forgave the Germans. They wanted REVENGE.

Germany in the Middle Alliances and the First World War: Germany’s BIG problem was that it was IN THE MIDDLE. That made it VULNERABLE if it came to a war.

Three Emperors’ League, 1881 Alliances and the First World War: Three Emperors’ League, 1881 In the 19th century, Germany’s brilliant Chancellor, Bismarck, solved this problem by keeping friends with RUSSIA and AUSTRIA-HUNGARY (the Dreikaiserbund).

Triple Alliance, 1882 Alliances and the First World War: Then Bismarck allied with Italy and Austria-Hungary (the TRIPLE ALLIANCE, 1882). Together with his friendship with Russia, this kept Germany safe.

Germany encircled Alliances and the First World War: But when Kaiser Wilhelm became Emperor, he dumped the Russian alliance. He kept the Triple Alliance, but this did NOT solve the problem of Germany’s encirclement.

Franco-Russian Alliance, 1892 Alliances and the First World War: Franco-Russian Alliance, 1892 Instead, in 1892, Russia made an alliance with FRANCE. Although it was only a DEFENSIVE alliance, it was Germany’s worst nightmare!

Webs of Alliances Alliances and the First World War: There were many more alliances.

Anglo-Japanese Naval Agreement, 1902 Alliances and the First World War: Anglo-Japanese Naval Agreement, 1902 A very important one was the 1902 Anglo-Japanese naval alliance, which freed up Great Britain from protecting its Empire in the far east…

Entente Cordiale, 1904 Alliances and the First World War: … which allowed Britain to make the Entente Cordiale (‘friendly relationship’) with France in 1904.

Triple Entente, 1907 Alliances and the First World War: In 1907 Russia joined Britain and France to make the Triple Entente. So by 1914 Europe had divided into two massive superpower blocs. People thought this BALANCE OF POWER would keep the peace.

The Balkans Alliances and the First World War: But Russia was also allied to Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. When trouble erupted in the Balkans in 1914, the nations found their alliances dragged them into war…

How the Alliances caused war Alliances and the First World War: How the Alliances caused war … like mountain climbers tied to the same rope. (i.e. it is arguable that THE SYSTEM OF ALLIANCES CAUSED WORLD WAR ONE.)