Chapter 8 - Pan Slavism and the Bosnian Crisis

Question 1

What had been a political force in Russia and the Balkans for decades?

Answer 1

Pan-Slavism - the ideal of uniting all Slavs who shared ethnic, religious and cultural identities in the creation of a South Slav state called Yugoslavia - the ultimate goal for Slav nationalists, especially in Serbia and Croatia

Question 2

What caused Pan-Slavism to grow even stronger?

Answer 2

The increasing number of Balkan states declaring independence from the Ottoman Empire increased the ambition of Pan-Slavism

Question 3

What was Russia’s self appointed role?

Answer 3

Protector of the Slavs

Question 4

What did Russia’s role as Protector of the Slavs mean they had to do for the Pan-Slavism cause?

Answer 4

Offered support to Balkan nations like Serbia and Bulgaria

Question 5

What did AH do to defend their own ambitions in the Slav region?

Answer 5

Took a more proactive approach, appointing Alois von Aehrenthal as FM and Franz von Hotzendorf as Chief of the General Staff - both men had the same goal of halting the decline of the Habsburg Empire, though Hotzendorf’s methods were more aggressive

Question 6

Which three empires did Slav nationalists now have to bear in mind when pursuing their Yugoslav objective?

Answer 6

• The decaying Ottoman Empire - still had control of Macedonia and Albania - The AH Empire - occupied and administered BH since 1878 and made it clear they wanted a full annexation of the provinces - The Russian Empire - promised support but had been badly weakened by its defeat in the Russo-Japanese War 1905

Question 7

What did the Russian defeat in the Russo-Japanese war bring about in January 1905?

Answer 7

Sparked the First Russian Revolution - caused pan-Slavism to grow in Russia as politicians and intelligentsia searched for solutions to Russia’s apparent decline

Question 8

What happened in 1903 which worried the Austrians?

Answer 8

The Serbian coup - Serbia now had an aggressively pro-Russian monarch and government

Question 9

What happened in 1908, risking damaging of relations between the Habsburg Empire and Russia?

Answer 9

The Habsburg Empire made plans for the Sanjak of Novi Bazar, which it had been given permission to occupy under the 1878 Berlin Treaty. The Sanjak was a province located between Serbia and Montenegro, providing a convenient barrier for AH since it meant that the independent and nationalistic Serbia and Montenegro would be able to mount a challenge to AH influence by uniting. Austria planned a railway through the Sanjak region to cement its authority and extend its influence further into the Ottoman Empire, angering Russia

Question 10

What caused AH to fear a resurgence of Turkish power?

Answer 10

The Young Turk Revolution in Constantinople, which could threaten the AH ambition to absorb Bosnia-Herzegovina - the provinces were invited to send representatives to the Turkish parliament too, which undermined the justification AH hoped to give for their annexation (to protect them)

Question 11

What did Serbia want for Bosnia-Herzegovina?

Answer 11

Regarded BH as Slav states waiting to be liberated from foreign rule as they contained a combined population of 44% Serbians, and therefore, according to Serb nationalists, it would belong to the future Yugoslavia

Question 12

What did Aehernthal believe the Habsburg Empire should do?

Answer 12

To act quickly and take full control of BH before the Turks were ready to mount a challenge. His anxiety to incorporate BH was inflamed by desire to stop Serbia’s ambition of forming a union with the provinces. Other influential Austrian voices hoped the action might provoke Serbia into war, giving Austria the chance to crush them once and for all

Question 13

Which international agreement did Russia hope to have revised?

Answer 13

The granting of access to the Black Sea Straits - Aleksandr Izvolsky’s, Russian FM, hopes were raised by the Anglo-Russian agreement 1907 as the British were positive about the idea of ending their traditional policy of blocking Russia’s access to the Straits. Izvolsky and Tsar Nicholas II discussed making concessions to AH in the Balkans in return for AH support for access to the Straits

Question 14

What did the Austrians need to be sure of before risking war with Serbia over BH?

Answer 14

That Russia would not intervene against them in defence of its ally and pan-Slav interests. Though the Tsar and Izvolsky were prepared to make concessions to AH, Franz Josef could not be sure of the Russian reaction, especially as Russian pan-Slavism had resurged after the 1905 Russian Revolution

Question 15

What happened on 15th and 16th September 1908?

Answer 15

Aehrenthal held discussions with Izvolsky in Moravia, and though no records have been preserved of the discussions, the two ministers agreed in some terms - Aehrenthal was granted Russian approval for the annexation in return for the promise of support for a revision of the Black Sea Straits agreement in Russia’s favour.

Question 16

What happened on 5th October 1908?

Answer 16

AH troops marched into BH

Question 17

What happened on 6th October 1908?

Answer 17

Aehrenthal announced the annexation of BH without any further reference to Russia

Question 18

Who was Aleksandr Izvolsky (1856-1919)?

Answer 18

Russian FM from 1906-1910 - pro-British and a key architect of the 1907 Anglo-Russian agreement, and sought to mend diplomatic relations with Japan following Russia’s defeat in war against them. In 1908, following his out-manoeuvring by Aehrenthal and Russia’s embarrassing climb-down in the Bosnian Crisis, Izvolsky was accused of betraying fellow Slavs, leading him to be demoted and sent to France as a diplomat, where he strengthened the alliances with Britain and France before and during WW1

Question 19

What were the reactions of other powers to the annexation of BH?

Answer 19

There was deep concern in Europe - the Russian government, which had not been informed of Izvolsky’s intentions, condemned AH’s action outright and threatened to send in troops in support of Serbia. Izvolsky tried to save face by demanding an international conference, and for weeks it was unclear how Serbia and Russia would respond to the annexation. Tension increased when Serbia mobilised its army

Question 20

What did AH do in January 1909?

Answer 20

AH reached an agreement with Turkey whereby the Turks accepted the annexation in return for £2 million compensation, however, Serbia’s troops remained mobilised, awaiting Russian support to force AH out of BH.

Question 21

What were Germany’s intentions?

Answer 21

Bulow announced Germany’s intention to support AH, and General Moltke, Chief of the German General Staff, wrote to Hotzendorf on 19th March 1909, declaring that AH and Germany could crush anyone should they “stand shoulder to shoulder”. Kaiser Wilhelm II was not happy about this provocation of Russian hostility and the risking of Germany’s Turkish influence, however, Germany could not afford to alienate AH. Wilhelm declared that Germany would be a “knight in shining armour” to AH should they be attacked. This was the first time Germany had made such a promise to AH.

Question 22

Why did the agreement between Germany and AH put Russia in a difficult position?

Answer 22

Though Russia had begun a rearmament programme in 1906, it was not yet ready to face both AH and Germany in the wake of the Russo-Japanese War defeat

Question 23

What occurred between Germany and Russia on 21st March 1909?

Answer 23

Germany sent Russia a note warning that if it did not accept the annexation and end support for Serbia, events would “run their course”. Ten days later, under pressure from Russia, Serbia withdrew its objections and made promises of good behaviour to AH. Russia had been forced to back down completely, and Izvolsky was forced to resign

Question 24

What did the Bosnian Crisis do for the Balkan States?

Answer 24

It fuelled the ambitions for the Balkan States, with Serbia in particular being determined to fight back from the humiliation, seeing the annexation as a deliberate act of hostility to their “legitimate” ambitions.

Question 25

How did Serbia respond to the Bosnian Crisis?

Answer 25

They borrowed money from France for railway building and laid track to the AH border. They also bought artillery guns from the French to increase the strength of the Serbian army. She grew more open in her support of Southern Slavs and did not stop terrorist organisations forming in the country and acting in the southern provinces of the Habsburg Empire, e.g. the Black Hand. In Austria, some argued that Austria should launch a pre-emptive war against Serbia, and one such person was Hotzendorf

Question 26

How did Bulgaria react to the Bosnian Crisis?

Answer 26

Sought to profit from the demonstration of Turkish weakness - fostered closer relations with Russia, who were seeking to create a barrier against further AH expansion, accepting Russian money to help pay Turkey the compensation agreed as a result of its declaration of independence. Russia encouraged an alliance between Serbia and Bulgaria, which was signed in March 1912 when the powers agreed their future stakes to Macedonia. Meanwhile, AH gave up occupation if the Sanjak of Novi Bazar in its agreement with Turkey, ending one of the smaller sources of tension between AH and Russia

Question 27

Why did the Bosnian Crisis have a major impact on the future division of Europe?

Answer 27

Germany had shown its total commitment to AH and the Russians were determined to never give in again as if they did, they risked losing all their influence in the Balkans as well as their reputation as “Protector of the Slavs”. Indirectly drove Italy further from AH though it was a member of the Triple Alliance as its ambitions were contrasting to those of AH - it wanted border areas in the Italian speaking Tyrol, which fell within the Austrian Empire.

Question 28

What did Italy do in 1911 which indicated its future loyalties?

Answer 28

It was prepared to respond to Russia’s request for support and signed an agreement with Russia whereby each agreed to consult with the other on any future Balkan settlements. Though limited, the agreement showed Italy’s future loyalties

Question 29

How did the Bosnian Crisis damage the Russian’s reputation as “Protector of the Slavs”?

Answer 29

Pan-Slavism remained a strong goal for Russians, yet they had allowed a region with a majority Slav population desired by the Slav Serbia to be absorbed by AH rule. The Russian government could not afford to back down again in a future dispute in the Balkans, or its influence there would be finished. The ambitions of Pan-Slavism were also a useful distraction from severe internal problems

Question 30

What had the Russian humiliation in the Russo-Japanese War 1904-05 meant?

Answer 30

The Russian state had been weakened, which had prevented it responding more effectively to the Bosnian annexation, and this highlighted its drastic and urgent need for improvement

Question 31

What was a positive for Russia to come out of the Bosnian Crisis?

Answer 31

Despite Izvolsky risking French disapproval by asking Aerenthal for help in revising the Black Sea Clauses at Buchlau, the Bosnian Crisis helped to bring Russia and France into closer alignment. News of Germany’s support for AH’s actions was welcomed in France as it made Russia more likely to develop plans for war against Germany on Germany’s eastern border

Question 32

How did Russia feel about Germany?

Answer 32

Russia was not ready to adopt a more openly hostile stance towards Germany - in 1910 at Potsdam, the new Russian FM, Sazonov, formally ended Russia’s long held objections to Germany building a railway linking Berlin and Baghdad

Question 33

What did Russia do on 8th July 1912?

Answer 33

Russia secretly signed the Russo-Japanese Agreement separate to either party’s agreements with Britain, but allowing Russia to focus on relations with European Powers