1879-1914: The Deadly Alliances

"Entente Cordiale" (postcard)

In order to understand exactly what went wrong back in the summer of 1914 we will examine the key alliances that occurred between 1879 and 1914. These interlocking "defense" treaties, once tripped, wouldbring the mighty armies together on a collision course that no one could stop.

Please note that not all alliances are listed here. There's too many and this is a history of the First World War, not 19th century Europe.


The Dual Alliance1879
Three Emperor's League1881
Austro-Serbian Alliance1881
The Triple Alliance1882
The Austro-German-Romanian Alliance1883
The Franco-Russian Alliance1894
The Russo-Bulgarian Military Convention1902
The Entente Cordiale1904
The Anglo-Russian Entente1907
The Triple Entente1907


1879 to 1918The Dual Alliance
(ø Document Text)
 Austria-Hungary
 Germany
Bismarck wanted to protect Austria-Hungary from possible Russian aggression. Relations betweenRussia and Austria-Hungary had soured as a result of Russia attacking Turkey and imposing the Treaty of San Stefano. The Austro-Russian understanding of 1873 had fallen victim to upheaval in the Balkans.

In protecting Austria-Hungary from Russia, Germany was looking out for her own interests. If Austria-Hungary were ever to fall then the Russians would be at the German door. This was an actual defensive alliance on the part of Germany.

1881 to 1887Three Emperor's League
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 Austria-Hungary
 Germany
 Russia
This was an attempt to restore stability to eastern Europe by bringing Russia into the fold of the Dual Alliance. It was not to be successful as Austro-Russian problems flared again with the Bulgarian Crisis of 1886-7.


1881 to 1895Austro-Serbian Alliance
 Austria-Hungary
 Serbia
Once again Russia is the motivation for an alliance. This time it is to try to limit possible Russian influence in the Balkans.

1882 to 1915The Triple Alliance
(ø Document Text)
 Austria-Hungary
 Germany
 Italy
This strategic alliance was formed for the express purpose of stopping Italy from attacking Austria-Hungary in the event of war with Russia. Bismarck's ø Reinsurance Treaty with Russia was an attempt to avoid this seemingly inevitable war.


1883 to 1916The Austro-German-Romanian Alliance
 Austria-Hungary
 Germany
 Romania
Similar in concept to the Serbian Alliance, this again was motivated by perceived Russian intentions in the Balkans. Those Russians!

1894 to 1917Franco-Russian Alliance
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 France
 Russia
This major lasting alliance was the Russian reaction to several events of the day:However by 1895 Germany had realized that it could profit from it's relations with Russia and France, and things settled down among the powers.

1902 to 1913Russo-Bulgarian Military Convention
 Bulgaria
 Russia
Bulgaria, newly independent from the Ottoman Empire, allies itself with Russia in an attempt to ward off the possibility of Austro-Hungarian aggression.

1904 to 1918The Entente Cordiale
(ø Document Text)
 France
 Great Britain
This agreement between Great Britain and France was more a sign of healing relations than an actual alliance. The Triple Alliance powers took note.

1907 to 1917The Anglo-Russian Entente
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 Great Britain
 Russia
Great Britain and Russia, having settled their differences, take this final step toward the Triple Entente.

1907 to 1917The Triple Entente
 Great Britain
 France
 Russia
This alliance arose from the prior ententes between these three powers and as a reaction to:
  • Worsening relations between Germany and Great Britain due to the Naval arms race (see Tirpitz Plan)
  • Germany's attempt to exploit the Russian loss of the Russo-Japanese War of 1905
This final alliance drew the lines for the war that would follow. Germany's worst fears of encirclement were realized and a two front war had been made a certainty.