Balkan Crises

• First Balkan Crisis (1908-1909)

  1. Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908

  2. Angered Serbia and Russia, who saw it as a violation of the Treaty of Berlin (1878)

  3. Serbia sought support from Russia, leading to tensions with Austria-Hungary

  4. Ended with the Treaty of Berlin (1909), where Austria-Hungary maintained control over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but promised reforms for Serbia
• Second Balkan Crisis (1912-1913)

  1. Resulted from the Balkan League's victory over the Ottoman Empire in the First Balkan War (1912)

  2. Disputes over the division of territories among Balkan states led to the Second Balkan War (1913)

  3. Bulgaria, dissatisfied with its share, attacked its former allies Greece and Serbia

  4. Ended with the Treaty of Bucharest (1913), which redrew Balkan borders but left unresolved tensions
• Significance of the Balkan Crises

  • Heightened ethnic and nationalist tensions in the Balkans
  • Weakened the Ottoman Empire's control over the region
  • Contributed to the formation of alliances and increased militarism in Europe
  • Foreshadowed the instability and conflicts that would erupt in the Balkans leading up to WWI