Triple Alliance And Triple Entente World War I that broke out in 1914, triggered by the conflict .. It is a world war that lasted for four years over a wide area. Japan is also participating, but basically the European front is the main.
This time, I will summarize the background and background of the occurrence of World War I.
Let's take a look at the situation in Europe at that time
The Industrial Revolution began in many countries during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The global recession continued due to the "overproduction" in which a large number of products were produced.
From such interests, countries are beginning to form alliances and agreements. The result is the Triple Alliance And Triple Entente is.
The Triple Alliance Austria and Italy have a bad relationship, just because Italy chose an alliance with the Dual Alliance because it said, "I'm not good at both France and Austria, but it's not good to deal with both." Mama It has become.
Germany is the country that strengthened the industrial revolution in heavy industry around the time of the economic downturn in Europe in the 19th century. is.
France is a territorial dispute (resource-rich Alsace-Lorraine ) And so on, the gap with the hegemonic Britain is narrowing at a stretch and both countries are screaming.
Compared to Britain and France, which had been implementing a colonial expansion policy after the Industrial Revolution, they did not have a colony for their economic power. Germany, which is in a “not so much” situation, cannot see the continuation even if it tries to get out of the recession by industrialization.
Naturally, as in other countries, we headed in the direction of "getting a colony!" For Britain and France, which have already acquired colonies, the expansion of Germany could affect them. .. .. So I will be wary of Germany.
Britain, which was also wary of Russia at this point, did not deepen its relations with Russia, but the situation changed at once due to the deterioration of Russia's domestic situation.
The deterioration of the domestic situation in Russia is Russo-Japanese War Defeat and the rise of revolutionary forces is. Within Russia, the defeat had made the revolutionary forces more and more powerful.
European powder magazine
Russia's position at this time was "I want to go south and trade to manage the economy, but I want to avoid colliding with Britain in the midst of domestic turmoil." In the end, Russia abandoned its expansion into the Middle East, which is under the influence of Britain.
Since the southward movement in the Far East has already failed
The only target Balkan Peninsula Aiming for the ice-free port of
The situation is.
By the way, the Balkan Peninsula around this time Ottoman Empire has long dominated the peninsula (although some have become independent or have been cut off by others) It was a time when the influence of was still remaining.
Britain, which has resolved the concerns of Russia, was also worried about Germany's breakthrough, so finally the cooperation system between Britain, France and Anglo-Russian [ Triple Entente ] Is being built up. In this way, France was already consciously formed between Germany and Italy [ Triple Alliance ] And began to be hostile.
The problem here is the direction of Russia and the Dual Alliance. The Balkan Peninsula became a " European powder magazine " as the three countries tried to advance into the Balkan Peninsula. It came to be called.
In addition, regarding the loneliness, under the influence of nationalism that was strengthened in the 19th century, Pan-Germanism that "Let's integrate Germanic peoples" We are cooperating with each other because we shared our values.
However, Pan-Germanism Was the basis for the southward movement to the Balkan Peninsula in Russia Pan-Slavicism And a big conflict. This difference in thinking has greatly exacerbated the relationship between the two countries and Russia.
3B policy and 3C policy
Britain's decisive disagreement with Germany is 3B policy And 3C policy is. To be precise, the word "3B policy" was not used at that time, but ...
Both are named after the acronyms for important cities in implementing imperialist policies.
German Emperor Wilhelm II 3B policy led by Investing capital in the Near East through railroad construction, port development and shokusan kogyo that connect important cities, "let's incorporate it into our economic zone" It was that.
[3B policy]
- Berlin
- Byzantium (former name of Istanbul)
- Baghdad (Capital of Iraq)
One 3C policy Is a British colonial policy. Add India, which is of high importance, to the longitudinal policy that runs north-south across the African Continent, and connect the representative cities by rail. It is a grand plan.
[3C policy]
- Cairo (Egyptian capital)
- Cape Town (South African city)
- Calcutta (capital of West Bengal, India)
* The Fashoda Incident in 1898 with France, which promoted the cross-Africa policy because of this policy of the United Kingdom. (← I touched on the article about the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente), and the conflict between Russia and the Middle East going south → I was in the position of supporting Japan in the Russo-Japanese War.
Germany's 3B policy for Britain Was a policy that "when mass transportation by land becomes a reality, the management of the Suez Canal, which was acquired by hitting a large amount of money, may be delayed, and the profits from trade may be sneaky."
This confrontation with Germany connects Britain and France, and establishes Anglo-Russian Cooperative and Anglo-Russian Cooperative Triple Entente . It is an opportunity to build.
Arms race
The Franco-Prussian War ended in 1871 Since then, Germany has grown significantly in both political and economic terms.
What is the Franco-Prussian War?At that time, the German Confederation was dominated by Austria. Is Austro-Prussian War Dismantled in North German Confederation Was just born, but Emperor of the French Napoleon III Germany could not become a strong unified nation due to the interference and obstruction of Germany.
Holy Roman Empire From the times, Germany is a country made up of territorial states like a small country. For France, I was glad that there were multiple territorial states and they were disjointed without any conflict of interests, rather than the neighboring countries becoming a unified and strong nation.
There, Prussia provokes France in an attempt to take full control of the nations and solidify Germany's feet. Thus the war began in 1870.
Impact of the Franco-Prussian War on other countriesIn fact, Germany's military power was highly evaluated in this Franco-Prussian War. Even in Japan, it was Germany's Franco-Prussian War that changed the equipment and system of the Army from the French style to the German (Prussian) style. Victory has a big influence.
Balkan Peninsula , the key to World War I Was influential in the Ottoman Empire Similarly, the military relied heavily on Germany in the Army (the Navy was in the United Kingdom). The former great power Ottoman Empire Was keenly aware of the reversal of power relations with Europe and tried and errored to adopt the new system adopted in Europe.
When we depend on the military from another country, we cannot suddenly change the dependence, which is the same as it used to be.
Later, when the war begins, even if you try to maintain military neutrality, you will not be able to maintain the military unless you depend on somewhere in the great powers, but if the front expands, you will fall into the dilemma that you will not be able to protect your own country.
* The Ottoman Empire's government at that time was a new government that was taken away by the revolution, so it seems that it was necessary to suppress the inside as well.
After all, the Ottoman Empire entered the war as a ally after suffering from worries. It was decided to do it. It's a little surprising that the war nearly 50 years ago affected World War I participation.
Eventually, Germany began to focus not only on the superior army, but also on the navy, which is absolutely necessary for colonization and overseas expansion, and established the Imperial German Navy.
Speaking of naval nation, England. Competition begins over the superiority of Britain and the Navy.
As a result, not only Britain and Germany but all Europe will work for arms race. It is natural to be wary of being attacked if neighboring countries are provided with ridiculous military power that cannot catch up. All the great powers have decided to devote their own industrial base to the arms race.
Background of the Sarajevo incident (1914)
The Young Turks Revolution in the Ottoman Empire in 1908 as Germany and Austria set out to expand into the Balkan Peninsula. (Political change that abandoned tyranny) occurred and a military government was established. The Ottoman Empire also tried to promote Turkishization on the Balkan Peninsula by Pan-Turkism.
Naturally, the opposition from the peoples of the Balkan Peninsula is strong, and the Ottoman Empire becomes unstable. The countries that had previously achieved independence by taking advantage of this turmoil will aim to expand their influence on the Balkan Peninsula.
Austria is Bosnia and Herzegovina among the countries that have sought to expand their influence on the Balkans in the midst of this turmoil. Was completely merged.
However, it was Kingdom of Serbia that this annexation could not be ignored. is. Serbia was also thinking of annexing the two states.
Originally, Serbia had a strong economic relationship with Austria and took a position like a satellite state. However, when the royal family who ruled Serbia was overthrown and a new government emerged, they left Austria and approached France and Russia.
* Serbia is a Slavic ethnic group and an Orthodox believer. Pan-Slavicism during the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina I thought about asking Russia for help, but I gave up because of the circumstances in Russia. I had to accept the annexation.
As a countermeasure, Austria banned Serbia's major exports (mainly pigs) and developed into a trade friction (pig war). With the annexation on that basis, the relationship between the two countries deteriorated at once.
As the eve of World War I was completed, the Crown Prince of Austria was assassinated by a secret society Serbs in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. Sarajevo Will occur.
Austria declares war on Serbia, and Serbia asks Russia for help. Austria, where Russia came out, asked Germany for help. World War I that will eventually enter Britain and France It developed into.