Crises

• 1905 Moroccan Crisis

  • both Germany and France wanted to control Morocco as it was independent
  • foreign agreements made for France to have it in offer for support - Entente Cordiale
  • 1905, Kaiser stated he supported Moroccan independence, angering French
  • French agreed to a conference due to threat of war looming
• 1906 Algeciras Conference

  • Kaiser humiliated, views rejected
  • only Austria-Hungary supported them
  • Kaiser's attempt to drive a wedge between France and Britain turned Entente Cordiale into loose military alliance
• 1911 Moroccan Crisis

  • March, rebellion broke out in Fez, France sent army to defend
  • July, Panther sent to Agadir, this increased mutual suspicion and hostility
  • Germany received marshland in Congo (no significant use), France got Germany's acceptance
• Balkan Crises

  • Ottoman Empire weakened, neighbouring powers saw this as an opportunity to expand territory, rebellions in empire to gain independence
  • 1908, rebellion in Turkey, Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia
  • Serbian and Bosnian fury, ethnic disputes, particularly for Pan-Slavism
  • Serbia asked Russia to take action, who called an international conference
  • Germany offered full support for AH like at Algeciras Conference
  • Russia backed down, not feeling strong enough
  • resulted in Russia improving military, AH confidence
• Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

  • 28th June 1914, Serbian terrorist group, Black Hand Gang attempted murder on FF
  • they wanted to create Greater Serbia, angered at Bosnian annexation
  • failed grenade, route changed, Princip shot FF
  • direct trigger for WW1
• Consequences of Assassination

  • AH believed Serbian government to blame
  • issued 10 point ultimatum, given 48 hours
  • did not agree to point that challenged Serbian independence
  • German 'blank cheque' emboldened AH
• July Crisis

  • 23 July - ultimatum
  • 28 July - AH declare war
  • by 3 Aug - all major European counties bar Britain declared war
  • 4 Aug - Germany invades Belgium, violates Treaty of London, Britain declares war
• Schlieffen Plan

  • Germany wanted to avoid a war on two fronts
  • aimed to surprise attack France through Belgium
  • assumed that there would be minimal resistance from Belgium, Russia would take 6 weeks to mobilise, saw Treaty of London as a 'Scrap of Paper'
• Causes of Battle of the Marne

  • Russia mobilised in 10 days, Germany had to send 100,000 to Eastern Front
  • German army weary, commanders unwilling to change 1905 plans
  • Belgium destroyed roads which slowed Germany
• Consequences of Battle of the Marne

  • neither side could progress, forcing them to build trenches, adding guns, barbed wire
  • British and French forces moved troops by rail to block Germany