Question

What was the logic supporting the formation of the Triple Alliance? The Triple Entente?

Answer 1

Triple Alliance and Triple Entente

Triple Alliance and Triple Entente (

Answer 2

The alliances provoked crises before World War I. The formation of the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente divided Europe into two opposing armed camps. Some persons felt that the very existence of these alliances would lead to peace. They pointed out that the two alliances were nearly equal in strength, a situation described by the historical term "balance of power" . Since neither alliance could be sure of victory, would not the individual members proceed cautiously in foreign affairs and avoid the risk of war?

Other persons felt that the existence of these alliances would lead to war. Since each alliance represented tremendous mlitary power, would not the individual members abandon caution and adopt an aggressive attitude in international affairs? Unfortunately for world peace, this latter analysis proved correct.

In the years between 1905 and 1913, the nations of rival alliances provoked each other into a series of international crises as follows :

1. Morocco crisis of 1905. Germany challenged France over the French sphere of influence in Morocco. The German Kaiser visited the country and pledged his support for Moroccan independence. Unwilling to risk war at that time, France agreed to submit the question of Morocco's status to an international conference. The Algesiras Conference, held in 1906, reaffirmed the independence of Morocco, but recognized France's special interests in the country.

2. Moroccan crisis of 1911. In 1911, Germany challenged France over French plans to convert Morocco into a protectorate. For a time, war seemed probable, but both nations eventually agreed to a compromise. . Germany withdrew her objections to a French protectorate over Morocco, and, in exchange, France ceded a small area of her French Equatorial Africa colony to Germany.

The Moroccan crisis of 1905 and 1911 resulted in drawing France and England closer together in the face of German challenges, and intensifying the hostility between the Entente and the Central Powers.

3. Balkan Crisis of 1912-13. Russia planned to extend her influence in the Balkans, especially by strengthening her ally and kindred Slavic state, Serbia. With Russian approval, four Balkan nations, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Greece waged war against Turkey in 1912 and defeated her. In dividing the territory taken from Turkey, Austria intervened to check Serbia's expansion. Austria forced creation of the new Balkan state of Albania out of former Turkish territory, thereby denying Serbia an outlet to the Atlantic Sea. Austria's attitude resulted from her opposition to Russia's influence in the Balkans, and her fear that the emergence of a powerful Serbia would cause unrest among the Slavic peoples in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1913, as a result of the Second Balkan war, Serbia gained some territory from defeated Bulgaria, but not an outlet to the sea.

The Balkan crisis of 1912-13 resulted in drawing Russia and Serbia closer together, and intensifying the hostility between Austria-Hungary and the Slavic states of Russia and Serbia.