Post on 18-Jan-2018
description
THE ROAD TO WAR
Tension In the
BALKANS
The Balkan Region
Russian Interest in The Balkans• After being humiliated
in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905 they refocused attention to Europe
• Special interest in Balkans (Bosnia, Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria and Part of Greece)
• Feuded with Turkey and Austria Hungary, who had similar interests
Austria-Hungarian Interest
• In 1908 Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina from Turkey
Serbia’a Response• They were upset for
two reasons:– 1) There were many
Serbs in the area
– 2) It cut Serbia off from the Adriatic Sea
They hoped that Russia would intervene, but Russia were reluctant in fear of a German attack.
Heightening Conflict in the Region
• 1912: Formation of The Balkan League under Serbian leadership
• Declared War on Turkey and defeated them
• Pushed Turkish influence out of the region
Serbia -vs- Austria-Hungary
• Austria-Hungary worried about Serbia’s growing power
• Serbia doubled in size after another war in 1913
Russia Officially Enters into the Conflict
• Serbia was weary of eminent aggression from Austria-Hungary
• They turned to their ally Russia for protection
Look at what we then had….
• Austria-Hungary -vs- Russia
• That means their allies are behind them
• Austria-Hungary ~ Germany and Italy (Triple Alliance)
• Russia ~ Britain and France (Triple Entente)
RECAP
• Let’s take another look at the major European Powers at the time of The Balkan Crisis
BRITAIN
• Major industrial power (behind US and Germany)
• Wanted to maintain status quo as major colonial power
GERMANY
• Major industrial power under authoritarian monarch
• Challenge existing order of powers and wanted to flex its muscle in doing so
RUSSIA• 4th largest industrial
power (but mostly in food and textiles rather than equipment and arms)
• Mostly a peasant, agricultural society
• HUGE army (1.3 million troops; 5 million reserves
FRANCE
• 5th leading industrial power
• Slow growing population (especially compared to Germany)