Alliances in WWI
 | Alliance was one of the important reasons why WWI exploded. All alliances were based on mutual benefits. Countries allied with other counties who can stand on their side. They fought for common benefit. Once they couldn’t benefit each other, the alliances broke up. WWI was started, developed, and ended with those alliances. |
The League of the Three Emperors Bismarck was worried about revenge of France and decided to ally and was called the League of the Three Emperors which was an unstable alliance between Tsar Alexander II of Russia, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary and Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany. German got Alsace-Lorraine from France after won Prussia and France War. Frenchmen always wanted it back. German made an alliance for protecting its own profit in. |  |
 | Dual Alliance In 1879, after Russia conflicted with Austria-Hungary about Balkan Peninsula, Russia quitted the League of the Three Emperors. Then German and Austria-Hungary allied and was called Dual Alliance. Russia broke up with German and Austria-Hungary, just because it could not keep getting profit in Balkan Peninsula. Austria-Hungary didn’t want Russia to control Balkan Peninsula. These three countries could not benefit each other any more and ruptured in the end. |
Triple Alliance In 1881, Italy was beaten by France in Tunisia, North Africa. Italy wanted protection and allied with German and Austria-Hungary and was called Triple Alliance. There is a saying “enemy’s enemy is my friend”. Italy chose to ally German, France’s enemy, against France. Franco-Russian Alliance In 1887, Russia was dissatisfied to see Dual Alliance. But Bismarck signed Reinsurance Treaty with Russia in order to show friendship. But Wilhelm II stopped the Reinsurance Treaty. At the same time, France helped Russia to industrialize. Then Russia and France allied and was called Franco-Russian Alliance from 1892. |  |
Even though Russia was politically different from France and used to be the ally of German, Russia stood on France’s side when German and Italy left Russia alone and isolated France. This was because both Russia and France needed a friend to work together and to fight for mutual benefit.
 | The First Balkan War In 1912, several Balkan states – Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro and Serbia – allied and directed against the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman Empire lost and gave Macedonia to Bulgaria. Serbia should get the coastline of Adriatic Sea, but Austria-Hungary didn’t want Serbia to be stronger, and prevented Serbia by building a new country, Albania. Serbia was angry with that which made Balkan League unstable. The Second Balkan War In 1913, Bulgaria felt dissatisfied about the result of the first Balkan War and attacked Greece and Serbia. Romanians intervened for territory dispute with Bulgaria. Ottoman Empire also intervened for taking lost lands back. Bulgaria lost and broke up with Russia. Therefore Serbia got the fully support from Russia and got part of Macedonia. Balkan Peninsula is called “European Power Magazine”. There are many races and countries which are vigilant and ready for fighting. They allied and broke, even dragged other great powers from Europe in to the wars. |
When there is something beneficial, two completely different countries can cooperate, such as Franco-Russian Alliance. When there is something more attractive, countries will be happy to betray their friends. For example, Italy changed side after British promised to give Italy Dalmatia. Countries always try to seek more land, money, and more power. Then wars are in the wake of it.
Great countries still ally and sign treaties nowadays. They try to gain more profit from globalization. They seek allies and isolate enemies. They use trade and diplomacy force small countries cooperate, which can add power to great countries and worry their enemies. But the thing what all every country wants, is more profits. The world war is becoming invisible – currency war.
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I have seen three emperors in their nakedness, and the sight was not inspiring.
—— Otto von Bismarck
