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At the end of the 19th. century the relationship between the great states was very tensed. Most tensed was it between Germany and Great Britain, that feared for its supremacy on the sea.

Bismarck´s politics of alliances

After the German victory in the German- French War (1870/ 71) Reichskanzler (Reichs Chancellor) Bismarck feared a French retaliation war. So he tried to isolate France in Europe by signing contracts with different other European countries.

Finally riots broke out. This incident provided Czar Nicholas II with a cause to attack the Turkish realm. The Russians reached Konstantinople. They wanted to expel all Turkish people out of Europe. Yet Great Britain and Austria objected. Bismarck intervened to prevent war. He suggested a conference: the "Berlin Congress" (1878). This conference changed the look of the maps: Armenia was now part of Russia (a minor LANDGEWINN), whereas Serbia and Romania became independent states, Bulgaria was created and Austria- Hungary was scheduled with the occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Car Nicholas II blamed Bismarck for the unsatisfactory outcome of the conference. So the Chancellor formed a defensive alliance with Austria- Hungary in 1879. It was called Zweibund (double alliance).

In the same year Italy joins this alliance. It demands however never to be forced to attack Great Britain.

In spite of all that Bismarck did not want to lose touch with Russia. In 1887 he concluded the "Reinsurance contract" with the Czar. These were the most important points of the contract:

• Should there be war between Germany and France, Russia would not interfere.
• Russia is allowed to handle the situation at the Balkans at their free will, as long as Austria- Hungary is not threatened.
• Russia is not allowed to attack the Habsburg monarchy.

Moreover Bismarck established the "Mediterranean Entente". Its members were Italy, Great Britain and Austria- Hungary.

The German emperor WILHELM II (1888- 1918) objected Bismarck’s "Russia- friendly" politics. He dismissed the chancellor. So Russia was forced to find another alliance partner: France. This Russian- French alliance was doubtless against Germany.

Great Britain did at first not form any alliances. Only after the relation between the other countries became too tensed, GB gave up its isolation politics. At first it tried to form an alliance with Germany, but the two states could not come to terms about the size of their fleets.

After that GB formed an alliance with France. The crisis in North Africa was solved: Morocco became a French colony and Egypt became an English colony.

1904 saw the foundation of the ENTENTE CORDIALE between GB and France. Russia joined this alliance in 1907, from this day forth it was called TRIPLE ENTENTE.

Middle forces:

Entente

Powers that joined the Triple Entente were called "Allies". The USA, that joined later, were called "Associate" The most important Allies were: Italy, Romania, Portugal, USA, Greece, China, Brazil and most of the Latin American states.