Bismarck’s Foreign Policy

Bismarck’s Foreign Policy Aims before 1870 Make Prussian influence greater than Austria’s amongst the German States (nations – as they were before 1870) Contain the hostility of France (which had increased as Prussia’s influence over the German States had increased)

Bismarck’s Foreign Policy Aims for 1871 onwards Maintain the status quo (keep things the same): meaning that: his primary aim was to prevent external events from disrupting what he had achieved

Bismarck’s Foreign Alliances Three Emperors’ League 1873 - Alliance between Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary. Dual Alliance 1879 – Germany and Austria-Hungary Triple Alliance 1882 – Germany, A-H and Italy Reinsurance Treaty 1887 - Germany and Russia

Bismarck’s Foreign Alliances Three Emperors’ League 1873 (renewed 1881) - Alliance between Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary. Goal of isolating France, who was still upset over the loss of Alsace-Lorraine and wanted ‘revanche’ against Germany.

12 February 1887 The First Mediterranean Agreement (Britain and Italy, subsequently adhered to by Austria [24 March] and Spain [4 May]) was an exchange of notes rather than a treaty; terms: maintenance of the status quo in the Mediterranean, including the Adriatic, Aegean, and Black Seas; British and Italian policies to be mutually supporting in Egypt and North Africa; the agreement(s) provided a basis for common action in the event of a disturbance in the Mediterranean by France or Russia.

Bismarck’s Foreign Alliances Dual Alliance 1879 – Germany and Austria-Hungary – anti-German feelings in Russia following the 1878 Congress of Berlin led to Bismarck wanting to make Germany’s relations with Austria-Hungary more secure.

Bismarck’s Foreign Alliances Triple Alliance 1882 – Germany, A-H and Italy When the French occupied Tunisia, Bismarck took advantage of Italian resentment towards France and created the Triple Alliance between Germany, Italy and Austria- Hungary In exchange for Italy's agreement to stay neutral if war broke out between Austria-Hungary and Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary would protect Italy from France.

Bismarck’s Foreign Alliances Reinsurance Treaty 1887 - Germany and Russia Russia and Austria-Hungary grew suspicious of each other over conflicts in the Balkans. Bismarck repaired the damage to his alliances with a Reinsurance Treaty with Russia, allowing both powers to stay neutral if the other was at war.