During the years before the Balkan crisis, Germany knew what was to be gained in that part of Europe. Russia with her revived interests in Balkan affairs and her newly aroused alarm at the growth of Austro-German influence at Constantinople, put herself in the matter of the pig-war behind Serbia and encouraged her resistance to Austrian demands, while Russia’s associates France and Great Britain, stood by as silent aiders and abettors. Germanys support for Vienna was a crucial influence on the outcome of the Balkan crisis, for without the backing of Berlin, Vienna could never have acted as she did. This is just one example of where Germany exploited the Balkan crisis in its own favour.
The Young Turks policy of Ottomanization caused the Balkan states to come together and form what was known as the Balkan league. This league was formed in nineteen twelve and composed of Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Montenegro. The policy of Ottomanization meant the voluntary assumption by all the subjects of the empire, Moslems and Christians alike, of the full duties of citizenship coupled with a loyal support of the government. The Balkan war of nineteen twelve had the members of the Balkan league on one side and Turkey on another. It caused great and universal surprise because the world was not prepared for the quick and resounding victory won by the allies. Turkey fared badly at the Treaty of London because its size was reduced dramatically. All Ottoman territory was surrendered to the victorious allies.
Bulgaria however was unhappy with the outcome of the Treaty of London and so as a result on June twenty ninth nineteen thirteen war was declared among the allies. The war among the allies took the form of Serbia, Greece, Romania, Turkey and Montenegro versus Bulgaria. The war lasted one month and came to an end at the Treaty of Bucharest.
During the Balkan crisis of nineteen twelve and nineteen thirteen Germany was clever enough not to be seen to be getting too involved in it. In my opinion this was a tactical move on Germanys part. Basically they lived the Balkan crisis through Austria. When Japan defeated Russia in nineteen hundred and five, this momentarily strengthened Germanys position in the balance of power. The next increase in tension occurred in nineteen hundred and eight when Austria annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, thereby risking an Austro-Russain war by outraging Russian sensitivity on the subject of the Balkans. Germany however backed Austria and deterred any aggressive move by Russia. This shows how Germany exploited the Balkan crisis in order to change the international status quo in its favour.
In my opinion the Balkan crisis was used by Germany as a stepping stone to what we now know as world war one. Germany had always felt left out in colonial expansion. Germany felt that Britain and France were denying them their rightful share of colonial influence. They thought the Balkan crisis was their chance to increase their colonial influence without the help of Britain or France. Therefore Germany exploited the Balkan crisis in an effort to change the international status quo in its favour.
Germany totally exploited the Balkan crisis to their advantage. They were determined to change the international status quo in its favour. They knew that by backing Austria during the crisis, they in turn would support Germany should a war start. Germany knew that backing Austria during the crisis would eventually lead to a European conflict and when Austria handed its ultimatum to Serbia, this conflict started. In a way Germany got what it wanted even though they weren’t seen as being the ones who started the war. Germany knew that by backing Austria, it would mean that the already fragile lines of communication between Austria and Serbia would be irreconcilably damaged. This ensured that the international status quo was changed in Germanys favour.
Bibliography
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Schevill, Ferdinand, “A history of the Balkans: from the earliest times to the present day” (New York, 1991).
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Shermer, David, “World War One” (Great Britain, 1973).
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The Open University, “World War One” (Great Britain, 1973).