The suitable alliances were obvious and now Bismarck had to do the impossible in order to build up a triple Alliance between Russia Germany and Austria-Hungary. A military alliance was impossible, because Russia and Austria-Hungary were both looking to take over the Balkans. Nevertheless in order to their geographical positions and their common Beliefs and policies, they joint together in the Dreikeiserbund in 1873.
This alliance wasn’t to last long time and in 1875 Russia went to war with Turkey due to the South Slav populations general revolt against Turkey in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The then signed treaty of San Stefano was so favourable to Russia, that Austria-Hungary was strongly opposed to it. Again a diplomatically masterpiece was needed, seeking to maintain peace Bismarck proposed a conference in Berlin. He was balancing on a thin rope, always fearing that by taking a wrong decision he would loose one of them as an ally and furthermore, that they would ally themselves with France creating the dreadful two-front war. He was in a position were he had to choose between them without opposing them towards him. The conference that then took place was a great success, a European war was avoided, even though the outcome of this conference was to Austria-Hungary’s good. Explaining his decisions to Keiser William 1 he said ”For Russia no-one knows what eruptions of revolutionary elements may suddenly happen in the interior of the great empire.” In fact looking at what happened further in Russia this statement is a prove of his diplomatically and politically skills.
However Russia who felled disadvantaged moved large numbers of troops to the German borders. As a result, instead of getting scared Bismarck reacted to this by putting Russia under pressure by making a dual alliance with Austria-Hungary containing, that in case of a Russian attack they would support one another. As consequence Russia now feared isolation in Europe and proposed to renew the Dreikeiserbund. Regarding to this Bismarck had again succeeded to maintain peace and above that had equally successful accomplished to turn his own disadvantage to his benefit, indicating again his talents as a diplomatic jangler. Although the renewed Alliance only stated that in case of a forth power attacking them they would remain neutral.
Moving further, Italy was upset of France’s taking over Tunis, not at last, but unknown to Italy forced on by Bismarck. The transformation of the dual into a triple alliance between Italy, Germany and Austria-Hungary would allow Italy to follow it’s colonial ambitions in safety. Despite Italy’s liberal constitution, it’s rather radical government and the differences in religious believes, Bismarck signed the treaty achieving a further isolation of France and looking for advantages due to its strategic importance. Looking at all these alliances Germanys position was stronger then ever.
Nevertheless, in France General Boulanger attempted to seize the government and set up a military dictatorship hostile to Germany. At the same time the Bulgarian crisis resulted in war between Bulgaria and Serbia, Bulgaria was supported by Russia while Serbia was supported by Austria-Hungary which leads to the final breaking up of the Dreikeiserbund. Also Russia begins to sympathise strongly with France and France becomes more and more conscious of the advantages of an alliance with Russia .
This particularly was a proof of Bismarck ability as a diplomat. In February 1887 he arranges the First Mediterranean Agreement. This was an agreement among Britain, Italy and Austria to maintain the status quo in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean, and Black Seas. It was clearly a barrier to France and Russian expansion without bringing strength into Russias hostility. Bismarck had preceded this agreement by having the German Reichstag pass a new army bill, which impressed France.
Bismarck was anxious to drive Russia into alliance with France and Russia was desperate to keep in good relations with Germany, in order to stop Austrias expansion in the Balkans. So it was the Russians which proposed the treaty to Bismarck, in 1887 the reinsurance treaty between Russia and Germany followed. It stated that they would remain neutral in case of a war, unless Germany attacked France or Russia attacked Austria-Hungary. Despite that, the switches were laid and the future alliances were easily to be foreseen.
In December 1887 there was a Second Mediterranean Agreement. This was brought about by renewed problems in Bulgaria. An officer in the Austro-Hungarian army, Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg, was elected prince of Bulgaria. Which of course strongly worried Russia which therefore asked for Bismarck’s help, but he refused. At this point the German General staff suggested a preventive war to get Russia out of the Balkans. But Bismarck only stopped the granting of loans to Russia, which put a brake on Russia and eventually forced her to go to Paris for loans.
Russian-French relation grow stronger and Bismarck is getting more and more aware of it, so he turns to England to seek an alliance. But British parliament refuses. He has no choice, but to try to renew the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia, but without success because, William II comes to the German throne who is opposed to it. This means trouble for Bismarck, he had nearly complete control over William I, but that was not going to work with William II. In June 1890 Bismarck gets dismissed.
With reference to all the different treaties and Alliances Bismarck had set up throughout 26 years we must come to the conclusion that he was a diplomatical genius. He managed the impossible and avoided that work broke out between the 2 great powers of Austria-Hungary and Russia, without having particular benefit from it. Not to forget he renounced to participate in colonial policy in order to avoid war caused by colonial rivalry. But on the other Hand I think that a foreign policy based strongly on the isolation of one single country was not a policy able to last. In order to achieve long lasting peace he should have tried to sign treaties with France concerning Alsace and Lorraine, and find a solution to calm the constant will of revenge of France. In addition in my opinion he should have treated Russia more carefully in order to prevent anykind of hostility. In conclusion for me you can’t have a successful foreign policy whilst your two main aims (maintaining peace and the isolation of France) contradict each other.
