It can be said that Otto Von Bismarck’s Alliance System had its own impact on International relations. The leader of Germany at the time was interested in rebuilding his country but saw France as a threat. To bide time and prevent war , in 1879 Bismarck signed an alliance with Austria Hungary.
This alliance meant that the two countries would help each other financially and militarily when needed. This alliance is used in the crisis between Serbia and Austria- Hungary which eventually leads to the First world war. has allocated blame for the outbreak of war entirely to Germany and Austria-Hungary This secret alliance created tension in Europe, the contents of the alliance was not revealed, this would of posed as a threat to the rest of the countries in Europe. It did not have a good impact on International relations, although it benefited Bismarck and fulfilled his aims of preventing war and isolating France, little did Bismarck know his idea would eventually lead to the First world war. Bismarck’s alliance system left other countries in Europe feeling threatened which led to other alliances being made. The tangle of alliances fell apart when Bismarck retired , it divided Europe between two rival military alliances. This eventually led to the First world war. The Defeat of Germany later in 1945 was a result of the alliance system, the alliance system had an impact on International relations as it was one of the causes of the First world war. Herman and Stevenson blamed the outbreak of war in 1914 entirely on the creation of Bismarck’s Alliance system. It cannot be regarded as the turning point, It did however divide Europe by Alliances, but The Defeat of Germany clearly divided Europe politically, militarily and economically.
The aftermath of the First World War had its own turn for international relations. The Treaty of Versailles was a punishment for Germany after the first world war. The Treaty of Versailles was the peace settlement signed after had ended in 1918 and in the shadow of the and other events in . The treaty required Germany to pay reparations to the allies, however it was difficult for Germany to do so, as most of their areas which produced precious raw materials were divided by Europe. Also with the need to recover their own economy it was difficult for the Germans to actually pay these reparations. The financial struggle led to the Germans seeing the allies as the enemy. Instead of helping them to recover, Europe were watching them struggle. This eventually led to the up rise of Hitler as the Germans no longer wanted to be overpowered. This had a big impact on International relations, as Germany felt isolated and weak when it came to power. Several historians such as ‘ …….’ have questioned whether the Treaty of Versailles was one of the main reasons which led to the Second world war. However it can not be classed as the most turning points as the defeat of Germany took a turn for International relations, as it created actual tension in the world instead of only having one concern, Germany.
The Berlin Blockade was a result of the Defeat of Germany. It took place in 1948 up until 1949 where the Soviet Union blocked the western powers from entering Berlin to give the soviets entire control over Berlin. However the western powers retaliated and organised a Berlin aircraft to supply west Berlin with supplies. They flew 200,000 flights in one year, providing up to 4700 tons of daily necessities such as fuel and food. The Blockade let to Nato being formed by the western powers in 1949 which posed as a threat to the Soviets. Article 5 which states that "an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all." Also the blockade led to the Berlin wall being built in 1955 which was created by the Soviets with the intention to isolate western Berlin. It was however a turning point for the Cold war as it was the basis of the war. However it was not the most crucial turning point for International relations. As the Defeat of Germany led to the Berlin Blockade, and the Defeat was what led to the ‘crack’ in International relations.
The Cold War
The Defeat of Germany brought about the different ideologies and was the turning point in International relations which led to the Berlin Blockade. The Defeat of Germany and how the superpowers dealt with the country not isolated and resented Germany but caused controversy within the ‘allies’. Their common aim to control Germany led to the Superpowers turning against one another. Ideologies were formed and this eventually led to the Cold War. The defeat of Germany was the most crucial turning point for International relations as it was such a major event in history which started off the cracks within International relations.
American historian has allocated blame for the outbreak of war entirely to Germany and Austria-Hungary in his 2004 book Europe's Last Summer.
NATO 1949
Herman and Stevenson argued that blame for the outbreak of war in 1914 lay on the existence of an ever powerful and rigid alliance system
's “Railroad Thesis”. In Taylor’s opinion, none of the great powers wanted a war, but all of the great powers wished to increase their power relative to the others.
wrote the enormously influential in which he blamed Germany for the war. Fischer believed that many members of the German government had overtly expansionist plans, formulated in the aftermath of social democratic gains in the election of 1912. He alleged that they hoped to use external expansion and aggression to check internal dissent and democratization
American historian has allocated blame for the outbreak of war entirely to Germany and Austria-Hungary in his 2004 book Europe's Last Summer.
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