Kaiser's foreign policy
The Kaiser’s Foreign Policy
Section 1: Causes of World War 1
The personality of the Kaiser, his foreign policy and his naval policy in particular were major contributory factors to the outbreak of WW1. However other factors were also important.
System of Alliances: Bismarck united Germany by war culminating in the Franco-Prussian war. After 1870, his foreign policy concentrated on keeping France isolated. Bismarck’s nightmare was a two-front war and so forged agreements with Austria and Russia to prevent this (the Driekaiserbund). However, Bismarck’s failure to reconcile the conflicting differences between Russia and Austria in the Balkans forced Bismarck to choose Austria over Russia leading to the Dual Alliance 1879. This created one of the armed camps that would fight WW1. Although he would later form the Reinsurance treaty with Russia, relations with Russia never really recovered. The French nightmare was isolation and as France and Russia moved closer to a full agreement, Bismarck fell from power. The fall of Bismarck in 1890 marked a great turning point in international affairs. German foreign policy was taken over by the Kaiser. William was young, arrogant and much less calculating than Bismarck and his foreign policy quickly reversed German security within Europe and eventually saw the emergence of a rival armed camp consisting of Britain, Russia and France. The shift in the balance of power began quickly when William allowed the Re-insurance treaty to lapse. Russia became alarmed at its growing isolation and, in 1894, the Franco-Russian alliance was finally agreed. Out of this came a System of Alliances that divided Europe into two armed camps. This defeated the central purpose of Bismarck’s diplomacy. French isolation was at an end. Germany would now have to fight the war on two fronts if she attacked either France or Russia.
Section 2: The Kaiser and Britain
The Kaiser’s foreign policy would also quickly antagonise the British. William’s
Section 1: Causes of World War 1
The personality of the Kaiser, his foreign policy and his naval policy in particular were major contributory factors to the outbreak of WW1. However other factors were also important.
System of Alliances: Bismarck united Germany by war culminating in the Franco-Prussian war. After 1870, his foreign policy concentrated on keeping France isolated. Bismarck’s nightmare was a two-front war and so forged agreements with Austria and Russia to prevent this (the Driekaiserbund). However, Bismarck’s failure to reconcile the conflicting differences between Russia and Austria in the Balkans forced Bismarck to choose Austria over Russia leading to the Dual Alliance 1879. This created one of the armed camps that would fight WW1. Although he would later form the Reinsurance treaty with Russia, relations with Russia never really recovered. The French nightmare was isolation and as France and Russia moved closer to a full agreement, Bismarck fell from power. The fall of Bismarck in 1890 marked a great turning point in international affairs. German foreign policy was taken over by the Kaiser. William was young, arrogant and much less calculating than Bismarck and his foreign policy quickly reversed German security within Europe and eventually saw the emergence of a rival armed camp consisting of Britain, Russia and France. The shift in the balance of power began quickly when William allowed the Re-insurance treaty to lapse. Russia became alarmed at its growing isolation and, in 1894, the Franco-Russian alliance was finally agreed. Out of this came a System of Alliances that divided Europe into two armed camps. This defeated the central purpose of Bismarck’s diplomacy. French isolation was at an end. Germany would now have to fight the war on two fronts if she attacked either France or Russia.
Section 2: The Kaiser and Britain
The Kaiser’s foreign policy would also quickly antagonise the British. William’s