The Balkans Flashcards
Why did Germany want land in the Balkans?
The Kaiser wanted to build a railway from Berlin to Persia where there were rich oilfields.
Why did Italy want land in the Balkans?
They wanted a strip of land the other side of the Adriatic so that they had complete control of the sea.
Why did the Austro-Hungarian empire want land in the Balkans?
Within their empire they had many nationalities including Serbs. The last thing they wanted was for Serbia to grow in influence as it might unsettle the Serbs in its empire.
Why did the Russians have interest in the area?
They saw themselves as protectors of the Serbs as they had similar language and customs. Pan-Slavism. They hoped to have some kind of control over the Dardanelles Straits, which would give them guaranteed access to the Mediterranean.
What happened in 1908
Austria-Hungary formally annexed Bosnia-Herzogovina.
Why was the annexation a mistake?
Most of the people living in these provinces were Serbs and King Peter of Serbia naturally claimed that they should belong to them. Moreover the people of Bosnia-Herzogovina disliked the Austrians and wanted to join Serbia.
Why were the Serbs not dissuaded from taking action?
They were supported by Russia.
Who backed Austria?
Germany
What did Germany tell Russia?
Unless they wanted war, she had to tell Serbia to back down.
Why did the Russians have to back down?
They were in no position to fight Germany.
Since when was Austria running the provinces of Bosnia-Herzogovina?
1878
How did the Russian feel after they had to back down?
They were humiliated and looking for revenge.
How could this lead to war?
Tensions were rising in Europe and as Russia were unlikely to back down in another situation, war was a big possibility.
Who else wanted revenge?
Serbia was furious with Austria and wanted revenge for the return of Bosnia.
What did Germany now know?
War was a possibility and that they were now fully committed to supporting Austrian policy in the Balkans, even if it led to war.
Who did Russia draw closer to?
France and Britain. The Triple Entente was becoming a stronger alliance, the sides were becoming more close in the wake of a possible war.
What were Serbia now determined to do?
To unite with the Serbs in the Austrian Empire.
What were Russia more determined to do?
To support the bigger Slav state.
What did the Alliance system show?
It could pull the whole of Europe into war over something quite insignificant.
Why did Italy want land in the Balkans?
They hoped to a gain a strip of land on the other side of the Adriatic Sea so that she had control of the Adriatic.
In 1912 what was formed?
The Balkan League.
What did the Balkan league successfully do?
Drive Turkey out of Turkey.
Why did the driving out of Turkey alarm Austria?
Serbia had come out the strongest Balkan state.
What did Austria decide to do with Serbia?
It decided that it needed to crush Serbia once and for all.
What did the Great Powers decide when Austria decided it wanted to do this?
It called for a peace settlement where things reached a compromise.
But what happened within a month of this peace settlement?
The league fell out and a second Balkan war started, the outcome of which was an even greater territorial gain for Serbia.
What were the consequences of this war?
Serbia was now almost twice as large and was even more determined to unite with the Serbs in the Austrian Empire.
Serbia was now a much greater threat to Austria and as was Austria even more determined to crush the Serbs.
Russia was more determined to support the Slav state.
Germans had restrained Austrians but knew in another crisis they would have to support Austria.
