The Formation of the Alliance System from 1873 - 1907

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Recommended: Critically analyse the foreign policy of bismarck after 1871

The Formation of the Alliance System from 1873 - 1907

After the Franco-Prussian War, which Bismarck, the German Chancellor

started against France as a way for unification of Germany, France

lost in an insulting humiliation, that she was forced to cede Alsace

and Lorraine to Germany in 1871. As a result, Bismarck succeeded in

uniting his country, yet, the French’s strong desire for revenge had

been Bismarck’s nightmare. Knowing that Germany might probably face a

two-front war (fight against France and Russia), Bismarck started a

series of alliances with European powers from 1873 to 1907, in order

to isolate his country’s powerful enemy, France. By the end of 1907,

the Alliance System had divided the European powers into two military

camps, the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente.

The very first alliance was formed in 1873, when Kaiser William I of

Germany approached Czar Alexander II of Russia and Emperor Francis

Joseph of Austria. These three emperors signed the alliance namely

Dreikaiserbund (Three Emperors’ League). However, due to the rivalry

between Austria and Russia over the Balkan Peninsula, when both sought

to dominate the Balkans, Germany was unable to maintain friendly

relations with both Austria and Russia. Bismarck chose Austria to be

his ally because Germany preferred a weaker partner which could be

more easily controlled. The Dual Alliance was formed in 1879 between

Germany and Austria. This alliance was kept secret, as Germany was not

willing to antagonize Russia. In 1882, French annexation of Tunisia in

the previous year had driven Italy into Bismarck’s camp in anger. By

1882, the Triple Alliance was formed, with Germany, Austria and Italy

as members.

In 1887, Bismarck secretly made a treaty called Reinsurance Treaty

with Russia without informing Austria. By making this treaty, Bismarck

could prevent his nightmare – a two-front war – from being realized.

In 1890, when the aggressive William II came to hold absolute power in

Germany, he dismissed Bismarck. He also allowed the Reinsurance Treaty

to collapse, ending the friendship with Russia, making Russia turned

to France.

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