The triple alliance and triple Entente saw Europe, effectively, being split into two sides. On one was Germany, Austria and Italy, and on the other; Britain, France and Russia. This huge divide between the greatest powers of Europe undoubtedly caused tensions, and would lead many to believe that the foundation for the beginning of the first word war was the establishment and practice of these two main alliances. I, personally, would disagree with this to a certain extent. I believe that the alliances were formed through defensive strategies, for example the Franco-Russian alliance could be seen to have been formed through the mutual threat that they received from Germany. Therefore I believe that there was no singular cause for WW1, but it was actually a combination of events and factors that gradually built over a period of time eventually leading to war. However I think that the reason for these causes leading to a full scale world war was because of these defensive alliances. Had these agreements not existed, crises such as those in the Balkans may not have been leading factors for the break out of a world war as they would have remained small scales as no alliances would require the involvement of other great powers.
One example of a hugely influential factor would be Germany’s foreign policy before the war. When Kaiser Wilhelm II came to power and failed to renew the reinsurance treaties with Russia tensions began to grow. The Kaiser intended to build up the German navy, meaning that his rejection of the treaty would lead Russia to join forces with France in the dual Entente. This was the beginning of the creation of these hostile alliances. The Kaiser then went on to introduce new naval bills in 1898 and 1900, alienating another possible ally, Britain, as they felt that it was a threat towards their naval supremacy. The Moroccan crisis again proved the Kaiser’s pro-war stance as he could be perceived to have been making attempts to frustrate France by claiming that Morocco should be a free nation. At the Algeciras conference, much to Germany’s distaste, Britain made it clear that it was completely in the defence of France. Germany had gained another enemy and had firmly created tensions between itself and France – one of the great powers. Germany had become aware of these tensions and had decided that a war was inevitable and the sooner it happened the more advantage they would have. In December 1912 the Kaiser, Moltke and Tirpitz agreed to a war with France and Russia and the Schlieffen plan was put into place. And on the 31st July the formal decision for European war was made. Germany had decided on a full scale European war on its own; its ally Austria would have been content with a localised Balkan war, but Germany firmly believed in the inevitably of a European war and believed the sooner it happened the better.
Germany’s choices clearly had a huge impact on the tensions that led to the war. The uneasy hostility between itself, Russia and France, starting in the early 1900s, could be seen as the starting point for the huge tensions that eventually led to a world war, and much of the blame for the beginning of these hostilities can be placed onto Germany’s shoulders. For example Germany’s interference in Morocco at the Algeciras conference not only added fuel to the enmity between itself and France, but also managed to put itself in an uncomfortable position with Britain as they had taken the side of the French. It could also be argued that they were the leading cause for Britain’s involvement in the war as they had threatened their naval supremacy through the naval bills of 1898 and 1900. However had Germany made these defensive moves towards an un-allied France or Russia it could be argued that, although there may well have been an outbreak of war, it would not have been a world war because other great powers would not have been obliged to react or become involved.
The Agadir crisis was another very influential factor. The sultan of morocco asked the French to restore the order after riots had broken out; angering Germany as they saw this to be a growth of French influence and power – something that they certainly did not want. Germany acted upon the invasion of French troops in Fez quickly by sending in a gunboat and a cruiser to Agadir. They eventually agreed to back down when they were given French territory in Africa. This had been a very significant event in the build up to the first world war as Britain had very clearly taken the side of the French – ruling them out for good as a possible ally to the Germans. It also showed the undoubtedly strong will of Germany as they had made it clear that they definitely did not want increased influence of the French in Europe. This again showed that Germany was willing to take drastic measures against one of its main enemies. However Germany’s stance towards the French had been made clear in previous events. This event hold its significance as it was during this crisis that Britain had made it extremely clear that it wanted to prevent German diplomatic success and sided completely with the French as it was now officially a member of the triple entente. This again shows that the alliances were a strong factor leading to the outbreak of war as Britain would now be involved in a conflict that could have been contained between the French and the Germans, due to its involvement in the triple entente.
Another significant event that helped to cause the war was Austrian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This began the vast tensions between Serbia and Austria. Austria’s stubborn mindedness towards its goal of taking over Serbia created a deep-seated hatred within the Serbs. The Serbian population strived for a ‘greater Serbia’ and those who lived under Austrian rule in Herzegovina and Bosnia wanted to once again be part of independent Serbia. Russia backed them in these aims. However the Russian involvement in the conflict only made tensions grow worse as their rival, Germany, took the side of Austria. However Austria had come out of the conflict victorious, with full possession of the two countries and this did little in the favour of the entente alliance. Austria’s victory had only furthered its power and strength, meaning that Germany now had a much stronger ally. Russia was unwilling to see any growth of German or Austrian power and this event highlights the lengths that it would go to in order to stop this happening. Therefore it could be argued that Russia’s involvement in this conflict only heightened the already existing tensions between the two alliances, causing the conflict to be more significant in starting a world war then it originally had been. It also meant that, because of Russia’s involvement, tensions grew and a war became more inevitable as Russia’s influence meant that all of the triple entente would become involved leading t a full scale European war at the least.
Finally, the Balkan wars were undoubtedly a significant cause. After the collapse of Turkish influence a power vacuum was left along with a great deal of unrest in the Balkans. Serbia had emerged as the most powerful new state and hoped to form a ‘greater Serbia’. However through the Austrian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina many Serbs were left under Austrian influence thus causing a great deal of tension between the Serbia and Austria. Austria saw this unification of the Serbian people as a threat to its power and looked for an excuse to attack them as soon as it could. After the assignation of Franz Ferdinand it saw its opportunity.
Many would argue that this Ferdinand’s death at the hands of the Black Hand group was the one event that triggered the whole of world war one. Once Austria mobilised, Russia became involved as Serbia’s ally then triggering Germany to become involved and France and Britain followed; commencing World War One. However, without the alliances this there is a possibility that this event would have only led to a small scale war between Austria and Serbia.
Overall I believe that the alliance systems were the largest contributing factors towards starting the First World War. Without these defensive alliances, there are strong possibilities that the most significant events that I have mentioned before, would not have led to world war because the alliances would not have required all of the greatest powers of Europe to become involved. For example the Austrian and Serbian conflicts would not have ventured any further across Europe had Germany not offered Austria a ‘blank cheque’, and had Russia not supported Serbia. Also, although there were many tensions that built up for a long time before the war in Europe, many of the greater hostilities were contained between Germany, France and Russia; meaning that had the alliances not formed there would have been little reason for Britain and Austria to become involved for example. However due to these protective agreements each country took on a defensive stance and Europe was effectively split into two halves; thus beginning greater and greater hostilities and beginning a world war.
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