The origins of WW1

The Balkans

Why was the Balkans the powder keg of pre war tensions?
This region was geographically at the crossroads of all the significant powers it
was an area of entanglement for all their issues and tensions.
The tension was agitated by Germanys shift in attitude following Bismarcks
retirement in 1890 (he died in 1898) that led to Germanys increasing influence in
the Balkans under expansionist Wilhelmine policies.
The shift in Germanys foreign policy from 1897 onwards
Kaiser Wilhelm II started the policy of Weltpolitik in 1897

Appointed von Tirpitz as the general in charge of naval expansion

in the same year.
i. Von Tirpitz had the risk theory, which suggested that Germany
didn't need to have the biggest navy in Europe, but she only
needed to rearm far enough to intimidate Britain so she would
not want to risk war with the Germans.
Appointed Von Blow as foreign minister he was much more
aggressive in his stance and wanted Germany to have their place
in the sun.
Reasons for this were:

For a genuine fear of

encirclement
To gain prestige
To rally support for the
Imperial government
To weaken the socialists
within Germany who were
critical of imperialism

1908 Annexation of Bosnia

Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary
fully backed by Germany this was
met by protests from Serbia and
Russia

Note that previously, Bismarck

considered Germany a satiated
power. He knew that other
countries would be intimidated by a
Germany that flaunted their full
potential and kept a careful web of
defensive alliances to keep France
isolated because he knew about
the potential revanch movement.
Bismarck also avoided choosing
sides between Austria-Hungary and
Russia to avoid the polarising of
sides in Europe.

Germany also started building the Berlin-Baghdad Railroad (which was

never completed but nonetheless showed Germany drawing closer to
Turkey and pushing themselves into the Balkan region).
1913 Germany also tried drawing themselves into more military ties.
They sent Liman Von Sanders to Constantinople to train Turkish troops.
This drew too much friction with the other powers and he was withdrawn.
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The origins of WW1

The Balkans

Why was it such a key area to control?

There was a competitive spirit that emerged as Russia wanted to spread PanSlavism to this region because many Slavs lived in this region, Austria-Hungary
wanted to assert dominance to prevent Serbia from getting too strong, Britain and
France especially did not like Germanys involvement in the region as she was
seen to be a threat as the new growing power.
The self-determination of Balkan states worried the Austro-Hungarian
Empire tremendously because they were worried that their movement
would incur similar aspirations within people under the Austro-Hungarian
hand, hence threatening their power.

The geographical location as the crossroads between Europe, Africa and Asia
made control over the area vital in the eyes of leaders at the time.
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The origins of WW1

The Balkans

For example, Britain didnt want this area to slip under German or Russian control
as they would become unstoppably powerful and would threaten Britains empire
she was most concerned over her crown jewel India.
There was a genuine fear of Pan-Slavism (All Slavs)
Pan-Slavism was the Slav nationalist movement Russia had a
mission to liberate all Slavs living under Turkish and Austrian
rule.
To achieve this, they wanted to expand the Russian empire
creating a Slav empire.

Why did it become unstable at the end of the 19th century?

The demise of the Ottoman Empire catalysed the growing tensions between the
different ethnic groups in the region. It created a power vacuum that rattled the
balance of power in Europe as the powers competed against each other for
hegemonic influence, making the eastern question a re-occurring theme in the
19th century.
The different ethnicities also had different ideas; many wanted self-determination
and as the nationalist movement grew (Pan-Slavism) many Slavic people wanted
to be adopted into the USSR under the father of all Slavs, the tsar.
These changes, combines with aggressive shifts in the conflicting German and
Serbian foreign policies (discussed above and below) resulted in the
destabilisation of the balance of power.
What was the role of Serbia in the tensions?
After the second Balkan war, Serbia emerges as the winner doubling her territory.
This causes an uncomfortable shift in the balance of power for Austria-Hungary
and Germany.
Serbias alliance with Russia also pressured Russia to act in the July crisis to
maintain her reputation as a leading diplomatic power because she couldn't
afford to show weakness again like when Serbia was ejected from Albania (under
pressure from Austria-Hungary backed by Germany).
More importantly, Serbia worried empires like Austria-Hungary, Germany
and the already declining Ottoman Empire because she showed a growing
nationalist and self determinist movement that could lead to the unravelling
of these empires if national groups within them also begin to demand selfautonomy.
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The origins of WW1

The Balkans

Germany was concerned about Austro-Hungarian implosion, as that would

leave her without an ally, weakening the position of her empire.
Serbias position as a threat in this respect stems from her shift in foreign
policy after the assassination of her monarch in 1903; this resulted in a new
dynastical age in Serbia under the Pro-Russian Karageorgevics. This was the
start of the nationalist movement within Serbia that looked towards more
expansionist policies under the protection of Pan-Slavism.
How far was self-determination a factor?
Racial element involved pan-Slavism from Russia, as the Kaiser believed it was
the divine right of his to rule over all the Slavic people under the Orthodox Church
Caused instability in the region bringing the Balkans into attention, the power
vacuum was the source of much tension between the powers as they disputed
over hegemonic influence
Self-determination of many nation states tip the balance of power as it threatens
the overruling hand of the empire, hence concerning all the powers. (Initially A-H
backed by Germany and Russia) France was worried about German interests.
Nonetheless, France and Britain remained on the fringe of events.
How close did the great powers come to war pre-1914?
Cause
1898 The
Fashoda
Incident

Imperialism caused growing tensions between Britain

and France. British and French troops confronted each
other in Sudan.

1904 The
RussoJapanese War

France was an ally of Russia (1894)

1908 The First

Balkan Crisis

The annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina

1912-13 The
Second Balkan
Crisis

The First Balkan Wars

Britain was an ally of Japan (1902)

1914 The Third THE JULY CRISIS: ASSASINATION OF FRANZ

Balkan Crisis
FERDINAND
The first and second Balkan wars were significant in the build-up to the July crisis
as it consolidated the position of allies and contributed to the polarising of clear
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The origins of WW1

The Balkans

sides in Europe. It also heightened tensions in Europe further as these crises

tipped the balance of power further.