Kaiser’s Foreign Policy
Triple Alliance
Entente Cordiale
‘Triple Entente’
Triple Alliance 1882
In 1882 Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy signed an alliance. They
agreed to defend each other if attacked. The Treaty was secret. [D]
Because the Alliance was secret France thought Germany was ganging
up on it. [E]
France felt threatened by Germany’s new alliance and formed its own
Alliance with Russia. [A]
‘Triple Entente’
This was not one treaty but three. In 1882 France and Russia signed an
agreement to defend each other. In 1904 GB and France signed the
Entente Cordiale. In 1907 GB and Russia signed an agreement. Russia
and GB agreed to talk over colonies and not compete. [D]
Because the Alliance was secret Germany thought France
and Russia was ganging up on it and had surrounded it
leading to a war on two fronts. [E]
This lead the Kaiser to continue to build up his army to
counter the perceived threat. [A]
Kaiser’s Foreign Policy
The Kaiser wanted to make Germany a world power.– Weltpolitik He
wanted a big navy and ‘a place in the sun’ - colonies. [D]
Britain and France were suspicious—who were Germany
going to get colonies from—them! [E]
The Kaiser built up his navy to support his world ambitions
and was prepared to interfere in French affairs in Morocco.
[A]
Entente Cordiale 1904
GB and France agreed improve relationships. They agreed to talk
about colonies. GB would get a free hand in Egypt and France would
get a free hand in Morocco [D]
Britain moved away from Splendid Isolation and would now
start to get involved in European events. [E]
This lead GB to support France when the Kaiser interfered in
Morocco in 1905 despite the fact they were not happy with
French actions [A]
Splendid Isolation
Naval Race
Arms Race
Moroccan Crisis 1905/6
Naval Race
Splendid Isolation
In 1905 GB built HMS Dreadnaught. It had few but bigger guns and
made all old ships useless. The Germans called the old ships ’Five
Minute Boats.’ In 1909 the GB had 8 and Germany 7! By 1911 the GB
had more and in 1914 the GB had 27 compared to Germany’s 14. [D]
From 1815 GB had turned away from Europe and tried to keep out of
European affairs. GB concentrated on her colonies. [D]
GB wondered why Germany needed a navy it had so few colonies—
clearly Germany was aiming at GB the British thought. [E]
This made the British very sensitive to any German naval activity.
When a gunboat turned up in Agadir the British supported the French
fully in Morocco, which they might not have done otherwise. [A]
The rise of Germany as an Industrial power looking for Colonies and a
poor performance against the Boers in South Africa persuaded GB
they needed allies. [E]
The GB government moved closure to the French—by signing the
Entente Cordial. [A]
Moroccan Crisis 1905/6
Arms Race
In 1905 the French were trying to set up a Protectorate in Morocco. The
Kaiser visited Tangier on a white horse and said he supported Moroccan
Independence. A conference was held at Algeciras in Spain. Everyone but
Austria supported France. France made Morocco a Protectorate. [D]
After 1900 all countries, except UK] expanded their army. The Russians
had the largest army, the German’s second. Counties made conscripts
serve longer. [D]
France was upset that Germany was interfering where France felt was her
area. [E]
All countries felt that others were preparing for war so built
up their own forces. [E]
GB were so suspicious of the Germans that when the Panther appeared off
Agadir [near the naval base at Gibraltar] they supported the French
Morocco. [A]
in
This pushed countries into supporting its allies—e.g.
Germany supported Austria in Bosnia, even though they
were not happy with what Austria was doing. [A]
Moroccan Crisis 1911
Bosnian Crisis 1908/9
Bosnian Crisis 1908/9
Moroccan Crisis 1911
Austria held Bosnia as a Protectorate. In 1908 it annexed it. Serbia had
wanted Bosnia. Bosnia turned to Russian for help [both Slavic peoples]. AH
turned to Germany. Russia was too weak just lost a war with Japan] so Russia
backed down and Austria got to keep Bosnia. [D]
Moroccans rebelled and took control of Fez. The French sent an army to
crush the rebellion. The Germans sent a gunboat ‘Panther’ to Agadir. GB
backed up France. Germany backed down. France kept Morocco and
Germany got 100,000km2 of swampland in the Congo. [D]
Serbia was angry, it felt Bosnia should be Serb [Serbs lived in Bosnia]; Russia
felt angry because it had to back down; Austria felt confident, Germany had
backed them up. [E]
France was angry that Germany was interfering in somewhere it controlled
and GB felt threatened by a German warship near its naval base at Gibraltar.
[E]
Austria felt confident with Germany’s back to put pressure on Serbia in 1914.
Russia felt humiliated. It backed down but in 1914 it felt it couldn’t do so
again and supported the Serbs. [A]
The Kaiser felt humiliated. He felt he could not back down again so in 1914
he had to back up Austria– even though he did not agree with them. [A]
Moroccan Crisis 1905/6
Bosnian Crisis 1908/9
Moroccan Crisis 1911
Naval Race
Triple Alliance
Alliances involving Britain
Splendid Isolation
Arms Race