230:, felt no need to mollify Russia. A main advocate of the non-renewal of the treaty was Count von Berchem, undersecretary at the Foreign Office. During the lead up to the non-renewal of the treaty, Count von Berchem created a memorandum describing why the treaty was unfavorable for Germany and introduced reasons as to why it should not be renewed. The memorandum was given to Chancellor von Caprivi on March 25 and was filed by the Chancellor on March 28 showing its influence over Chancellor von Caprivi. The German foreign policy establishment was unanimous in rejecting a renewal because the treaty contradicted so many other German positions with regard to Austria-Hungary, the
266:. In the creation of this treaty, Bismarck was aware of Russian desire to control Constantinople and wished to use to influence an Anglo-Russian conflict so that Germany may consolidate more power within Europe. The non-renewal of the treaty pushed Russia away from Germany's alliance and created a need for Russia to have the military and economic security that came with such a strategic deal. France, desperate for an ally, offered financial help to rebuild the Russian economy and successfully developed the
271:
Bismarck were joint causes of the growing international instability. The dismissal of
Bismarck as chancellor as well as the non-renewal of the treaty represented a shift in foreign policy strategy for Germany. This is noteworthy because as stated by Peter R. Mansoor and William Murray, this non-renewal was an important feature of Wilhelmine Germany's foreign policy that revealed simplistic thinking in comparison to the foreign policy of Bismarck when he was chancellor.
299:
was growing in Russia, with a determination to dominate the
Balkans. As a result, Russia and Austria-Hungary became increasingly alienated from each other, and Germany was forced to support its only true ally, Austria-Hungary. A third factor was the renewal of revanchism in France, which made the
201:
if either become involved in a war with a third country. If
Germany attacked France or if Russia attacked Austria-Hungary, that provision would not apply. In those cases, the distinguished bilateral alliances could come into effect. The Reinsurance Treaty applied only if France or Austria–Hungary
85:
as its own preserve. After
Bismarck had lost power in 1890, his enemies in the Foreign Ministry convinced the Kaiser that the treaty was too much in Russia's favor and should not be renewed. The cancellation, as with the treaty itself, was generally held from the public. Russia, however, had not
270:
in 1894, which ended French isolation. This was a policy that
Bismarck utilized to his benefit as he desired to see France ostracized from the complex web of alliances within Europe. The dismissal of Bismarck, the erratic temper of Wilhelm II, and the uncertain policies of the men who succeeded
281:
Most historians, according to Norman Rich, agree that the
Reinsurance Treaty itself was not of great importance while it was in operation, but the failure to renew it marked the decisive turning point of Russia's movement away from Germany and toward France; and so was one of the
290:
agrees that it was a turning point, but also argues that non-renewal was only one of several powerful factors pushing Russia and
Germany apart. The German treaty with Britain in July 1890 made the Russians falsely suspect that Berlin was drawing closer to
261:
had long been strained by Russia's quest to take control of the
Turkish Straits, which link the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Britain feared that Russian expansion to its south would threaten British colonial interests in the
54:'s network of alliances and agreements, which aimed to keep the peace in Europe as well as maintaining Germany's economic, diplomatic and political dominance. It helped calm tensions between both Russia and Germany.
154:
convinced him that it would be best for Russia in the absence of French friendship. Bismarck refused Russia's request for
Germany to stay neutral if Russia went to war against Austria citing that Berlin was in the
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during a war between
Germany and France, and in return, Germany would recognize Russian dominance in Bulgaria and promise a friendly neutrality if Russia seized the
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that was in effect from 1887 to 1890. The existence of the agreement was not known to the general public, and as such, was only known to a handful of officials in
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of 1891–1892 to 1917 rapidly began to take shape. Historians consider the new alliance a major disaster for Germany and one of the long-term causes of the
780:
278:, as responsible for the non-renewal in 1890. Bismarck said that the failure of the treaty made it possible for France and Russia to draw together.
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In 1896, the retired Bismarck caused a huge sensation by revealing the existence of the treaty to a German newspaper. He blamed his successor,
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had removed Bismarck from office in 1890, Russia asked for a renewal of the treaty, but Germany refused. Bismarck's successor,
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would suffice to ensure further genial diplomatic ties. His higher priority was to build better relationships with Britain.
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As part of Bismarck's system of "periphery diversion", the treaty was highly dependent on his prestige. After Kaiser
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The treaty provided that both parties would remain neutral if the other became involved in a war with a third
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against both France and Russia. Bismarck risked the expansion of the Russian sphere of influence toward the
166:, which was threatened by the growing competition between Russia and Austria–Hungary for dominance over the
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Sempell, Charlotte. “The Constitutional and Political Problems of the Second Chancellor, Leo Von Caprivi.”
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French much more eager to find an alliance with Russia, despite Russia's long opposition to republicanism.
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246:, in which Germany and Austria-Hungary promised to protect Romania; Russia knew nothing of that treaty.
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wanted to terminate the alliance. Needing new allies, Russia opened negotiations with Germany's enemy
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Fay, Sidney B.; Lepsius, Johannes; Bartholdy, Albrecht Mendelssohn; Thimme, Friedrich (1922–1927).
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Germany would declare neutrality if Russia intervened against the Ottoman control of the
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479:. Vol. XII (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 112.
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The New Cambridge Modern History: The Shifting Balance of World Forces 1898–1945
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61:, with the exception of if Germany attacked France or if Russia attacked
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492:"The alliance that wasn't: Germany and Austria-Hungary in World War I"
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366:
292:
183:
163:
131:
43:
490:
Jones, Marcus (2016), Mansoor, Peter R.; Murray, Williamson (eds.),
382:
106:
The Reinsurance Treaty originated after the German-Austrian-Russian
338:
George F. Kennan, "The Aftermath of the Reinsurance Treaty" in his
608:
430:"Russia, the Straits Question, and the European Powers, 1904-8"
65:. Germany made concessions to Russia by changing its stance on
498:, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 284–312,
189:
The treaty signed by Bismarck and Russian Foreign Minister
162:
Bismarck had a long-term policy of preserving the peace in
367:"Die Grosse Politik der Europaischen Kabinette, 1871-1914"
50:. The treaty played a critical role in German Chancellor
134:
to propose a treaty in which Russia would be a friendly
242:. For example, the Reinsurance Treaty contradicted the
1104:
968:
881:
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584:(Princeton UP, 1981) pp. 462, 254–408 passim.
81:and agreeing to support Russian action to keep the
114:) had lapsed in 1887 due to competition between
599:The Struggle for Mastery in Europe, 1848–1918.
353:The Struggle for Mastery in Europe, 1848–1918.
620:
8:
146:. Bismarck strongly supported the idea, but
130:. In early 1887, a Russian diplomat went to
627:
613:
605:
77:), agreeing that they were in the Russian
27:Late 19th-century German-Russian agreement
150:rejected the plan until Foreign Minister
582:The Decline of Bismarck's European Order
340:The Decline of Bismarck's European Order
1225:Foreign relations of the Russian Empire
331:
34:was a diplomatic agreement between the
1220:Foreign relations of the German Empire
496:Grand Strategy and Military Alliances
197:Germany and Russia agreed to observe
7:
423:
421:
636:International relations (1814–1919)
320:International relations (1814–1919)
193:contained two separate agreements:
25:
342:(Princeton UP, 1981) pp. 343–358.
592:Great power diplomacy, 1814–1914
413:Great power diplomacy, 1814–1914
310:Austro–Serbian Alliance of 1881
1250:Treaties of the Russian Empire
575:Bismarck and the German empire
566:25#3 (1953), pp. 234–254
371:The American Historical Review
244:Austro-Romanian Treaty of 1883
1:
1275:Treaties of the German Empire
1006:Kronstadt–Toulon naval visits
960:1917 Franco-Russian agreement
950:Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty
434:The English Historical Review
284:causes of the First World War
182:and diplomatic tensions with
1280:Bilateral treaties of Russia
866:Second Industrial Revolution
740:League of the Three Emperors
547:The Origins of the World War
536:Rich, pp. 260–262, 317, 371.
112:League of the Three Emperors
896:Treaty of Versailles (1871)
446:10.1093/ehr/XLIV.CLXXIII.59
428:Langer, William L. (1929).
286:, which broke out in 1914.
1296:
1265:1887 in the Russian Empire
945:Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905
766:European balance of power
564:Journal of Modern History
18:Congress of Berlin (1887)
1240:Germany–Russia relations
1057:Venezuela Naval Blockade
728:Anglo-Russian Convention
601:(1954) pp. 316–319.
577:(1968) pp. 289–298.
1062:Alaska boundary dispute
735:Anglo-Japanese Alliance
718:Franco-Russian Alliance
594:(1992) pp. 244–262
475:Bury, J. P. T. (1968).
268:Franco-Russian Alliance
259:Anglo-Russian relations
92:Franco-Russian Alliance
981:Unification of Germany
928:Taft–Katsura agreement
580:Kennan, George Frost.
1067:First Moroccan Crisis
781:Spread of nationalism
745:Eight-Nation Alliance
545:Sidney Bradshaw Fay,
199:benevolent neutrality
1235:World War I treaties
1072:Algeciras Conference
1052:Annexation of Hawaii
991:Great Eastern Crisis
986:Unification of Italy
976:Formation of Romania
793:French–German enmity
527:(2012). pp. 460–462.
523:Jonathan Steinberg,
202:were the aggressors.
124:spheres of influence
1137:Philippine–American
1122:First Sino-Japanese
955:Racconigi agreement
901:Treaty of Frankfurt
861:Great Rapprochement
815:Scramble for Africa
415:(1992) pp. 230, 252
355:(1954) pp. 316–319.
79:sphere of influence
996:Congress of Berlin
913:Reinsurance Treaty
891:Congress of Vienna
871:Industrial warfare
837:Scramble for China
32:Reinsurance Treaty
1255:Otto von Bismarck
1207:
1206:
1176:Albanian Revolts
1033:German Naval Laws
1017:Naval arms races
1001:Berlin Conference
933:Hague Conventions
505:978-1-316-48690-0
75:southern Bulgaria
52:Otto von Bismarck
16:(Redirected from
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1127:Spanish–American
1047:Fashoda Incident
923:Treaty of Björkö
908:Treaty of Berlin
842:Open Door Policy
776:Eastern question
723:Entente Cordiale
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549:(1934), 1:90–97.
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90:. The resulting
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810:New Imperialism
771:Ottoman decline
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597:Taylor, A.J.P.
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140:Turkish Straits
136:neutral country
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1270:Reinsurance
1199:World War I
1162:Balkan Wars
1147:Second Boer
1132:Banana Wars
1096:July Crisis
1027:Dreadnought
1012:Weltpolitik
856:Pan-Slavism
297:Pan-Slavism
264:Middle East
218:Non-renewal
211:Dardanelles
59:great power
1214:Categories
884:agreements
832:Great Game
798:Revanchism
511:2024-03-23
377:(1): 126.
326:References
288:Sidney Fay
251:Wilhelm II
224:Wilhelm II
102:Background
847:Meiji era
694:Alliances
454:0013-8266
391:0002-8762
207:Bosphorus
142:from the
83:Black Sea
304:See also
209:and the
118:and the
67:Bulgaria
38:and the
827:In Asia
660:Germany
399:1838136
276:Caprivi
249:Kaiser
236:Romania
168:Balkans
128:Balkans
126:in the
1185:Second
1172:Second
969:Events
759:Trends
675:Russia
655:France
586:online
568:online
502:
462:552495
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293:London
184:Vienna
172:France
164:Europe
132:Berlin
88:France
44:Berlin
1190:Third
1180:First
1167:First
670:Japan
665:Italy
458:JSTOR
395:JSTOR
240:Italy
1105:Wars
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