The Balkan crisis turned out to be a complex predicament. It was initiated with the Bulgarian Independence and the rights to Austria-Hungary and Russia to supervise the reforms in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The British and Austria-Hungarians believed that Russia has been provided with too much power and flexibility. Germany attempted to solve the dispute by arranging an international congress in Berlin and signing a treaty which balanced territorial gains. Conversely, this settlement fomented more unrest and exacerbated an already sensitive situation.
The calamity of the Balkan problem revealed the delicate nature of the international situation. Germany’s botched attempt to restore some amity between the Hapsburg Monarchy and the Russians illustrated the persistent stubborn attitude of both the powers. However, it was revealed that Germany wasn’t willing to side with Russia even though it had, formerly, played the role of a secret ally.
There were other significant factors which played an important part in creating tension. The major European powers all had huge Empires and were the epitome of imperialism. Britain dominated the colonial sphere with its vast empire ranging from India to Africa. The battle for Imperialism was seen as a struggle for power, wealth and overall superiority. One of the primary requirements for a dominant power was to have an empire. Lord Salisbury, the British Prime Minister was known to have said that ‘the world was being divided into living and dying powers’. Imperialism was one of the long-term causes of the Great War.
Therefore when Germany had become a recognizable power, it was looking to carve out its own niche. This policy was called the Weltpolitik and was embedded by Kaiser Wilhelm II. He claimed that in order to become a major imperial power, Germany had to make a monolithic naval force which would rival any other in the world. A large navy would be essential for territorial expansion overseas and its maintenance. The Kaiser and his leading lieutenants were determined to indoctrinate the German public in supporting this policy. There was heavy usage of press and propaganda and nationalistic pressure groups were used to influence the people. The policy alerted the other major powers in not letting Germany become an overseas power. All of them worked collectively to deny German imperial ambitions. This was evident when the British and the French stopped German objectives in Africa and the Middle East. However, the policy, didn’t accomplish a lot apart from creating more tension in international relations and prodding the major European powers to start make alliances.
Germany’s perceptible support for Austria-Hungary during the Balkan Crisis led to amiability between France and Russia and concluded in a military alliance. The sole power without any participation in treaties was Britain. After observing the international situation, Britain was, actually, first inclined to sign a treaty with Germany. There were negotiations initiated in 1898 to develop some sort of understanding between the British and the Germans. However, the naval race ended any sign of friendship between the two. Eventually Britain formed an alliance with the French and Russians called the Triple Entente or the coming together of three great powers.
Due to the alliances being formed, military schemes were being made all over Europe. Each country had a precise idea of what to do. The Germans had been building on military plans since the reign of Bismarck and had a lucid plan ready. It was the ‘Schlieffen Plan’ and entailed Germany using a concise attack to incise France and then launching an all-out assault against Russia on the western border. There were many flaws with this plan but the German leaders believed that if executed correctly, it would be successful. The plan relied heavily on time and a number of factors which were out of the hands of the Germans, such as the speed of the Russian mobilization and the reliance of Austria-Hungary. This, again, proves the readiness and determination of the Germans to go to war.
The Balkans seized the spotlight in 1912 again. It was still a very sensitive area with multi-ethnic clashing and power struggles taking place. The nationalists groups were fighting to overthrow the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Serbia was another antagonistic country in the Balkans which was going through a tumultuous period. After their patriarch was assassinated in 1903, the new King was determined to lead the Slavs out of alien rule and he was quick to act, signing a Russo-Serb military alliance which entrenched a firm understanding between the two countries.
In 1914, the heir to the Hapsburg Monarchy, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, went on a tour of Sarajevo, Bosnia. Ferdinand, having ignored multiple warnings by Austrian officials about the perilous visit, was shot by a nationalist Serb called Gavrilo Princip. This assassination hit the Austrians hard who allegedly blamed the Serbian Government without evidence. Given that the Austro-Hungarians were already pursuing a cause to ‘eliminate Serbia as a power factor in the Balkans’, they enquired the German position on this matter. The Kaiser knew that if he gave the Hapsburg Monarchy a ‘Blank Cheque’, he would be risking war with Russia and possibly a full-scale European War. He was, nonetheless, willing to undergo that risk in order to solve the Balkan problem. It can be said that the Germans were also entertained by far-fetched ideas of victory and an overseas expansion for an empire due to their persistent support of Austria-Hungary. Germany encouraged the Hapsburg Monarchy to start a war by giving them a ‘free hand’, even when it was clear that a war with Serbia would be certain to bring Russia into it and possibly Britain/France. Hence, Austria-Hungary allotted an unfeasible ultimatum to the Serbs.
There were an abundant amount of pleas made to the Kaiser by the Tsar of Russia to restrain his ally and start peaceful negotiations.
“In this serious moment, I appeal to you to help me. To try and avoid such a calamity as a European War, I beg you in the name of our old friendship to do what you can to stop your allies going too far” (Nicholas II to Wilhelm II, 29 July 19144, telegram)
This was a futile attempt as the Kaiser had already started mobilising his forces and designing his strategies.
As tensions heightened, the Germans grew anxious about the British position. They solicited the British to pledge neutrality in the event of a war with Russia and France and asked them not to intervene. The British rejected this proposal.
“You must inform the German chancellor that his proposal that we should bind ourselves to neutrality on such terms cannot be for a moment entertained…From the material point of view such a proposal is unacceptable, for France could be so crushed as to lose her position as a great power and become subordinate to German policy without further territory in Europe being taken from her” (Sir Edward Gray to Sir Edward Goschen, British Ambassador in Berlin, 30 July, 1914)
The Kaiser realized now that he was playing a risky game which could end up in the destruction of his country, if the British, French and Russians decided to neutralize their differences and come together against Germany, there wouldn’t be a certain victory for Germany. However, he refuted any second-thoughts and told the Austro-Hungarians to declare war on Serbia. On 29 July, 1914, the Russians engaged in their mobilisation and declared their espousal for the Serbs.
To conclude I would like to restate my thesis: ‘The Germans must bear the major responsibility for the outbreak of World War 1’. As I have stated in my essay, the rise of Germany was the foundation for tension and hostility in Europe. The Germans were able to maintain a valuable foothold in international relations due to crafty diplomacy and due to that they sustained a ‘satisfied’ appearance. While doing so, the Germans were able to build a powerful military on the basis of conscription. After that, they engaged in a naval race with Britain which highlighted their overseas expansion ambitions and provided the incentive to the British to keep their naval superiority. The Germans cold-blooded desire to seek territorial gains was one that they were fully determined to achieve. Moreover, the situation was exacerbated by the ‘blank cheque’ offered to Austria which confirmed the German position and eliminated any doubt that they were willing to settle for peaceful negotiations and lessening the anxiety.
After presenting all this information, I believe that it is plausible to reason that the Germans were the main power to blame due to their desire to seek an overseas empire and establish themselves as a major world power.
Anas Rafi
Grade 11
