Motives of the allies
“The last thing germany needed was a problem with GB and the greatest mistake of the 20th century was made when Germany built a navy designed to attack her” -Norman Stone
- Triple alliance: Prussia, Austria-Hungary, Italy
- Prussia had tension with france before the first world War (Franco-Prussian War)
- Italy was not considered a reliable force in case of War
- Prussia had tension with france before the first world War (Franco-Prussian War)
- Triple entente: France Russia Great Britain
- Became official in 1907
- Became official in 1907
- Germany - Great Britain
- Germany admired British navy (greatest the world has ever seen)
- Germany admired British navy (greatest the world has ever seen)
“The last thing germany needed was a problem with GB and the greatest mistake of the 20th century was made when Germany built a navy designed to attack her” -Norman Stone
- Germany’s navy took a third of German defence budget
- → could not afford a two front war against france and Russia
- Nationalistic mindset all over europe creating tension between Austria-Hungary and Serbia
- Balkan league: Serbia Montenegro Greece Bulgaria (Russian Influence) → took over Ottoman Empire
- One month after balkan War: Bulgaria attacks Serbia and Greece
- After 2nd Balkan War:
- Balkan League collapses
- Russia is forced to support Serbia unconditionally
- Austria - Hungary and Germany concerned about Serbia's growth
- Russia had Just lost a war to Japan (motivated to not have any further war losses and willing to fight Austria - Hungary)
- Balkan League collapses
- Franz Ferdinand:
- 1914: next in line to rule the empire of Austria - Hungary after his father
- very conservative, strongly catholic ( --> Anti-jewish)
- hatress for hungarians, Referred to Serbs as “Pigs”
- visits Serbia with his wife
- 1914: next in line to rule the empire of Austria - Hungary after his father