The League actively opposed the expansion of its influence. Despite German victory in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, violence remained fresh in the new state's memory and made Germany reluctant to antagonize France but keen as ever to limit its power.Īccording to the coalition, radical socialist bodies like the First International represented one of the other key threats to regional stability and dominance. The cornerstone of his political philosophy included preserving the status quo and avoiding war. It was preceded by the Schönbrunn Convention, signed by Russia and Austria–Hungary on 6 June 1873.īismarck often led the League as it assessed challenges, centred on maintaining the balance of power among the states involved and Europe at large. The alliance sought to resurrect the Holy Alliance of 1815 and act as a bulwark against radical sentiments that the rulers found unsettling. On 22 October 1873, Bismarck negotiated an agreement between the monarchs of Austria-Hungary, Russia and Germany. The second treaty provided that no territorial changes should take place in the Balkans without prior agreement and that Austria could annex Bosnia and Herzegovina when it wished in the event of war between one party and a great power not party to the treaty, the other two parties were to maintain friendly neutrality.īismarck was able temporarily to preserve the tie with Russia in the Reinsurance Treaty of 1887 but, after his dismissal, this treaty was not renewed, and a Franco-Russian alliance developed. Both alliances ended because of continued strong conflicts of interest between Austria-Hungary and Russia in the Balkans. It was renewed in 1884 but lapsed in 1887. A second one was established June 18, 1881, and lasted for three years. The first League of the Three Emperors was in effect from 1873 to 1878. The Balkans posed a more serious issue, and Bismarck's solution was to give Austria predominance in the western areas, and Russia in the eastern areas. It aimed at neutralizing the rivalry between Germany’s two neighbors by an agreement over their respective spheres of influence in the Balkans and at isolating Germany’s enemy, France. Together they would control Eastern Europe, making sure that restive ethnic groups such as the Poles were kept in control. In 1873 he formed the League of the Three Emperors, an alliance of the Kaisers of Germany and Austria-Hungary and the Tsar of Russia. The solution was to ally with two of the three. If two of them were allied, then the third would ally with Germany only if Germany conceded excessive demands. Bismarck feared that a hostile combination of Austria, France, and Russia would crush Germany. His goal was a peaceful Europe, based on the balance of power. Chancellor Otto von Bismarck took full charge of German foreign policy from 1870 to his dismissal in 1890. The League of the Three Emperors or Union of the Three Emperors ( German: Dreikaiserbund) was an alliance between the German, Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires, from 1873 to 1887. Treaty between German, Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires from 1873 to 1880
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