1. The Dual Alliance:
The first major alliance was formed in 1879 between Germany and Austria-Hungary. This alliance was defensive in nature, meaning that each country agreed to come to the aid of the other if it was attacked.
2. The Triple Alliance:
In 1882, Italy joined the Dual Alliance, forming the Triple Alliance. This alliance further strengthened the ties between Germany and Austria-Hungary and created a formidable block of power in Europe.
3. The Triple Entente:
In response to the Triple Alliance, Russia, France, and Britain formed the Triple Entente in 1907. This alliance was not as formal as the Triple Alliance, but it still created a sense of solidarity among the three countries and made it more likely that they would support each other in the event of war.
- The complex web of alliances created a situation in which any conflict between two countries could quickly escalate into a wider war. This is exactly what happened in 1914 when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Because Serbia was allied with Russia, Russia began to mobilize its army in support of Serbia. This led Germany, which was allied with Austria-Hungary, to declare war on Russia. France, which was allied with Russia, then declared war on Germany. As a result, the world was plunged into a global conflict that lasted for four years and resulted in the deaths of millions of people.
Overall, the system of alliances that existed in Europe at the start of the 20th century created a situation in which it was very difficult for any country to remain neutral in a conflict. This system of alliances was a major factor in the outbreak of World War 1.