Formation of the Triple Alliance :: History

Formation of the Triple AllianceIn 1871 two new major states of Europe had been organizethe German Empire and the kingdom of Italy. The new German Empire, under the tump over of Otto von Bismarck, was steered carefully, always with an eye upon France, for the Franco-Prussian War (187071) had left France thirsting for revenge and for reco really of the lost provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. 2Germany had allied itself with Russia and Austria-Hungary in the Three Emperors League, but Austria-Hungary and Russia were not the best of friends, partly because they were at odds over the Balkans and partly because Russia represented the Pan-Slavic movement, whose program threatened the very existence of Austria-Hungary. The Treaty of San Stefano (1878), following the Russo-Turkish War, furthered the cause of Pan-Slavism through the creation of a large Bulgarian state and offended Austria-Hungary as well as corking Britain. A European conference (1878 see Berlin, Congress of), called to revi se the treaty, caused a sharp decline in the friendship between Russia on the one hand and Austria-Hungary and Germany on the other Bismarck formed (1879) a secret defensive alliancethe Dual Alliancewith Austria-Hungary. 3In 1882 Italy, angry at France in the first place because France had forestalled an Italian advance by occupying Tunis, signed another secret treaty, which bound it with Germany and Austria-Hungary. Thus was the Triple Alliance formed. It was periodically renewed until 1913. In 1882 Serbia joined the alliance, in effect, through a treaty with Austria-Hungary. Romania joined the group in 1883, and a powerful Central European bloc was created. Italy was from the first not so solidly bound to either of its allies as Germany and Austria-Hungary were to each other. Italy was in fact a rival of Austria-Hungary in the Balkans and particularly for control of the Adriatic moreover, there remained unsettled territorial problems (see irredentism). The Triple Alliance, howev er, turned diplomatic history into new channels. 4Formation of the Triple Entente The Three Emperors League died a slow death, but in 1890 its day was over Germany refused to renew its reinsurance treaty with Russia, and Russia in consequence sought a rapprochement with France. At the same time France, face to face with an increasingly powerful Germany and a hostile Central European combination, felt great need of an ally, and French diplomats began to make overtures to Russia for an agreement to counterbalance the Triple Alliance. French chief city aided Russian projects, especially the Trans-Siberian Railroad, and friendly diplomatic visits were exchanged.