What crisis and developments caused tension to rise from 1905 to 1913? How were these crisis's settled?

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HISTORY ESSAY

Origins Of World War I

What crisis and developments caused tension to rise from 1905 to 1913?

How were these crisis’s settled?

The crisis’s and developments that caused tension to rise from 1905 to 1913 were all involved with the greater European powers that were formed together in alliances, agreements and in war. The main causes of tension to rise between these European powers were of the crises in Morocco, the Bosnian crisis and the Balkan wars. The main European powers within these crises were Germany, Britain, France and Russia, as they were connected in alliances.

First Moroccan Crisis

Before year 1905, Europe was divided into two armed camps. The Triple Alliance, which included Austria-Hungary, Germany and Italy. Also before hand, The Entente Cordiale consisted of Britain and France, which turned into The Triple Entente that included Britain, France and Russia. Germany believed to be encircled by a ring of hostile nations, whose aim was to deny it a share of world power.

In 1905 the German Kaiser (Wilhelm I) visited the Moroccan port of Tangier. There in a speech he announced that Morocco should be independent of France. With that action taken, the Kaiser hoped that Britain would not back France and the Entente Cordiale would collapse.

To resolve the crisis the ‘Algeria's Conference’ was set up in 1906. Germany’s plan had backfired. They threatened war, which drew France and Britain closer together. The Entente Cordiale had hardened and Germany then had a big set back as both diplomatic and public opinion turned against them. Not only that but the Entente Cordiale had gotten stronger. For example, there were military talks between the British and French armed forces that were initiated as a precautionary measure.

Germany also suffered a weakness in the Triple Alliance. Italy deserted Germany and backed France. Germany grumbled, knowing that Austria-Hungary was her only true friend in Europe. Germany’s actions had pushed Italy and France to settle their colonial differences and sign the ‘Anglo-Russian Entente’.

Bosnian Crisis

Bosnia and Herzegovina was provinces of the Turkish Empire, but had been occupied and administrated by Austria-Hungary since 1878.

In 1908, changes were made in Turkey. A group of radical young officers known as the ‘Young Turks’ seized power in Turkey, as they wanted to rebuild ...

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Bosnian Crisis

Bosnia and Herzegovina was provinces of the Turkish Empire, but had been occupied and administrated by Austria-Hungary since 1878.

In 1908, changes were made in Turkey. A group of radical young officers known as the ‘Young Turks’ seized power in Turkey, as they wanted to rebuild its Empire. Austria-Hungary feared that Turkey would try to reclaim Bosnia and Herzegovina, so they decided to annex the two provinces.

Austria-Hungary needed support from Russia to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina, so they decided to form a secret deal between them. The deal consisted of Russia to agree with the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Austria-Hungary would support Russian moves to gain free access of its warships from The Black Sea to the Mediterranean through the Straits of Constantinople.

On October 6th 1908, Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, but Austria-Hungary broke the secret deal. They did not give compensation to Russia. Russia felt tricked and disowned by the deal and protested. Serbia reacted to the annexation, they felt very angry at Austria-Hungary’s actions. Serbia from the very start had wanted Bosnia and Herzegovina for them to form a greater Serbia.

Serbia’s Government then decided to mobilise, as well as appeal to Russia for help to fight Austria-Hungary. Serbia’s cry then made Russia call for a conference – But Austria-Hungary refused. Russia then backed down as Germany was brought into the situation. Germany made it clear that if Russia mobilised with Serbia, they would mobilise also. Russia knew they were of no match for Germany, so they were forced to back down and agreed to the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The settlement of the Bosnia and Herzegovina crisis left Russia feeling humiliated. She was determined not to back down again and began to rearm in earnest. In the future, Russian relations with Germany and Austria-Hungary were permanently soured. For Serbia the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina made her the irreconcilable enemy of Austria-Hungary. In result, war between Serbia and Austria-Hungary seemed only a matter of time.

The Second Moroccan Crisis

In the First Moroccan Crisis in 1905 and 1906, the Algeciras Conference was held to resolve the crisis. In this conference the French had been granted some special rights in Morocco, to reorganize Morocco’s finances and to control the Moroccan police. With this control France had in Morocco, they were in rivalry with Germany in business there.

The Second Moroccan Crisis began to emerge in 1911 when the Sultan of Morocco called on France to help crush a revolt by rebel tribesmen. With this calling, the French occupied Morocco’s Capital, Fez.

Germanys reaction to this invasion made her feel as if there would be a ‘French take-over’. With these feelings Germany took action by sending in gunboat diplomacy to Morocco. She sent her gunboat ‘Panther’ to the Moroccan port of Agadir. Not only did gunboat diplomacy take place, Germany also demanded for compensation. In exchange for the whole of the French Congo in central Africa, Germany would let France have Morocco.

Britain was greatly alarmed by Germany as they thought she was going to turn Agadir into a German Naval Base and also take over Britain’s vital trade routes. Britain looked deeper into the situation, seeing that it was another German attempt to destroy the Anglo-French Entente. The British Chancellor, Llyod George, of the Exchequer declared in a speech towards Germany that Britain would fight rather then see herself and her allies pushed around. With this action by Britain, Britain’s fleet prepared for war.

Britain was convinced that Germany wanted to dominate all the European powers; Germany was more convinced that a ring of vicious enemies was encircling them. With Britain’s preparation for a possible war, Britain and France drew closer together. For example, The Anglo-French Naval Convention held in 1912. In this convention Britain agreed to police the North Sea; France looked after the Mediterranean.

The Anglo-French Entente was now virtually turned into a military alliance.

The Balkan Wars

The First Balkan War

Russia encouraged the formation of the Balkan League. The league consisted of four States within Turkey, Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria and Montenegro.

In 1912 the First Balkan War emerged. Turkey was very vulnerable because of already being weakened by war with Italy over Tripoli Ana in Africa, the year before. With Turkey’s weakness, the armies of the league had advance of more combined strength to attack Turkey. With this advantage, the Turks were driven out of Europe in seven weeks. Austria-Hungary, watching on, was stunned.

The Austrians were very concerned at the developments in the Balkans because the Turkish role in Europe had ended, this left Serbia as the strongest Balkan state. General officers of Austria-Hungary wanted to crush Serbia, but the Austrian Government was against it.

The Government was against the idea of starting a war between themselves and Serbia. They thought that if they attacked Serbia, Russia would back Serbia. If Russia attacked Austria-Hungary, Germany would back Austria-Hungary. If Germany attacked Russia, France would be drawn in and if France was attacked, Britain might be drawn in also. The system of alliances meant an attack on Serbia could trigger off a European war.

Austria-Hungary decided to have a peace settlement. At this settlement Austria-Hungary angered Serbia by crushing their idea of having a coastline to make a new country – Albania. Which would be placed between Serbia and the Adriatic Sea. In addition, the Turkish land being conquered in the war was shared out among the Balkan League.

The Second Balkan War

In June 1913, Bulgaria attacked its former allies because Bulgaria seemed very unhappy, as there was too many Bulgarian’s living in central Macedonia and Salonika.

Turkey decided to join in on the side of the Balkan League, hoping to win back their lost territory. With this action by Turkey and with the States of Turkey involved in the league, Bulgaria was quickly defeated. In result, a peace treaty of Bucharest was made; making Bulgaria surrender nearly all the lands she won in the first Balkan war to Greece and Serbia.

Throughout the crises from 1905 to 1913 the two alliances differed, leaving Britain, France, Italy and Russia closer. Germany knew that Austria-Hungary was her only true friend left in Europe. Germany felt that she had been left with the weakest link, the non-major power in Europe. As well as Germany was left to believe that a ring of hostile nations, whose aim was to deny it a share of world power, was encircling her. The settlement of all the crises left Germany feeling insecure and abandoned. Germany had come in with the long end of the stick, and had come out with the short end.