1879- Dual Alliance =
between Germany and
Austria-Hungary
1882- Triple Alliance=
Italy joined the Dual
Alliance
1892- Franco-Russian
Alliance= against the
Triple Alliance
1904: Entente Cordiale=
between Britain and France
1907: Anglo-Russian Entente= completes
the Triple Entente between Russia, Britain
and France
Military and Arms Race
Between 1900 and 1914 Germany
attempted to double the size of its Navy
Two Power Standard policy
Nota:
Britain created the policy so that their navy would be as big as the next two strongest navies in Europe put together. This was so they were never out numbered.
Dreadnoughts
Nota:
Britain built the first Dreadnought which is a new and superior battleship. However, in 1907-8 Germany builts its own version but Britain had the new, bigger kind.
1914- Britain= 29 Dreadnoughts
1914- Germany= 17 Dreadnoughts
The two crises
Agadir 1911
French troops were sent to
Fez to fight off Moroccan
rebels.
Germany accused France
of trying to take control
over Morocco
Germany sent a warship
called the 'Panther' to Agadir
to force France into giving
them the French Congo
Britain sent warships over to
because they thought
Germany was building a Naval
base in Agadir
Germany backed down and
recognised French influence in
Morocco
Moroccan 1905-6
Morocco was an uncolonised
African country
France wanted the country to add
to their empire
Germany objected to the
idea and demanded an
international conference
In the Algeciras Conference in 1906, Germany
were forced to back down by British, Italian,
Russian and Spanish support for France
taking control of Morocco's police and banks
The Outbreak of War
The Black Hand
Started in Serbia
Aimed to unite all Serbian people
Austria-Hungary had many
Serbian citizens and feared
rebellion
Franz Ferdinand's Assassination
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
was the heir to the
Austro-Hungary throne
He travelled to Bosnia to
strengthen the loyalty of the
Bosina people to Austria-Hungary
June 1914- Franz Ferdinand
was assassinate by a Serb
student called Princip in
Sarajevo
Princip was a member of the Black Hand
Austria was furious
Events moved quickly towards war
23rd of July
Nota:
Austria-Hungary blames Serbian government for the assassination, demanding compensation and right to send troops into Serbia
28th july
Nota:
Serbia refuses to let troops in
29th July
Nota:
Russia begins mobilising troops ready to help Serbia
30th July
Nota:
Germany demands that Russia stop mobilising
1st August
Nota:
Russia refuses. Germany declares war on Russia
2nd August
Nota:
France begins mobilising to help Russia
3rd August
Nota:
Germany declares war on France
4th August
Nota:
Germany sends troops through Belgium to attack France, following the Schlieffen Plan.
Beligium is neutral, and Britain has agreed to protect Belgium.
Britain orders Germany to withdraw but Germany refuses. Britain declares war on Germany
6th August
Nota:
Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia
The Five main Rival Nations
Britain
ruled an empire of over
one quarter of the
worlds people and
owned rich industries
It had a strong navy to protect
itself from invasions
In the 19th century Britain followed a
policy of 'splendid isolation'- it didn't
get involved in European polotics
185 warships
700,000 men in the army
France
62 warships
1,000,000 men in the army
Had an overseas empire
Bitter about the loss of Alsace and
Lorraine to Germany in the
Franco-Prussian War in 1871
Russia
biggest but poorest
country in Europe
Ruled by Tsar Nicholas II
No land overseas but wanted
land in Europe and Asia, with
access to the sea
30 warships
1,200,000 men in the
army
Austria-Hungary
Central European empire made up of 10 different
nationalities - many of whom wanted independence
Ruled by Emperor Franz Joseph I
28 warships
800,000 men in the army
Germany
Had a small empire
Ruled by Kaiser Wilhelm II
jealous of Britain's superior sea power and rich colonies