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Germany and Austria-Hungary formed an alliance in 1879, known as the Dual Alliance, which was one of the more surprising alliances of its time. The two powers promised each other support in the case of an attack by Russia and neutrality if either was attacked by another power. The alliance was formed by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who wished to portray his nation as a peacemaker and preserver of the European status quo, and to prevent the isolation of the German Empire. The addition of Italy in 1882 turned the Dual Alliance into the Triple Alliance.
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What You'll Learn
The Austro-Prussian War
The war was part of the wider rivalry between Austria and Prussia and resulted in Prussian dominance over the German states. Prussia deliberately challenged Austria for leadership of the German Confederation. Prussia had also challenged Austria in 1850, but its mobilisation was a complete failure, and it was forced to accept humiliating terms at Olmütz. Since then, Prussia had prepared for a fresh challenge, and in 1866, Bismarck found a pretext in a dispute over the administration of Schleswig and Holstein, which both Prussia and Austria had seized from Denmark in 1864.
The issue was decided in Bohemia, where the principal Prussian armies met the main Austrian forces and the Saxon army, most decisively at the Battle of Königgrätz. A Prussian detachment, known as the army of the Main, dealt with the forces of Bavaria and other German states that had sided with Austria. Simultaneously, a campaign was fought in Venetia between the Austrian army of the south and the Italians, who had made an alliance with Prussia.
The war ended with a Prussian victory, resulting in the abolition of the German Confederation and its partial replacement by the unification of all the northern German states in the North German Confederation, excluding Austria and the other southern German states. Prussia also annexed four of Austria's former allies. The Peace of Prague on 23 August 1866 resulted in the permanent exclusion of Austria from German affairs, allowing Prussia to organise the North German Confederation.
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The Dual Alliance
In the Dual Alliance, both powers promised each other support in the case of an attack by Russia and neutrality if either was attacked by another power. Bismarck saw the alliance as a way to prevent the isolation of the German Empire and preserve peace, as Russia would not wage war against two empires. The formation of the alliance was surprising to some, as Austria-Hungary and Germany were often driven apart, most notably during the Austro-Prussian War. Despite this, both nations shared the German language and a similar culture.
In 1882, Italy joined the Dual Alliance, forming the Triple Alliance. Italy was motivated to join the alliance after losing out to France in the race to establish a colony in Tunis (modern-day Tunisia) in 1881. During World War I, Italy remained neutral and did not join its allies in war until 1915, when it declared war on Austria-Hungary, and in 1916, against Germany. The Dual Alliance persisted throughout World War I as part of the Central Powers and ended with their defeat in 1918.
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The Triple Alliance
Italy sought their support against France shortly after losing North African ambitions to the French. Each member promised mutual support in the event of an attack by any other great power. The treaty provided that Germany and Austria-Hungary were to assist Italy if it was attacked by France without provocation. In turn, Italy would assist Germany if attacked by France without provocation. In the event of a war between Austria-Hungary and Russia, Italy promised to remain neutral.
Otto von Bismarck, the Chancellor of Germany, was chiefly responsible for the Triple Alliance. His primary goal was to preserve the status quo in Europe after he had unified Germany in 1871. He was particularly concerned about France finding allies to help it regain Alsace-Lorraine. By promising to aid Austria-Hungary and Italy in the event of an attack, Bismarck sought to make them somewhat dependent on Germany and therefore unsympathetic to French adventures.
In 1890, Kaiser Wilhelm II dismissed Bismarck and within five years had abandoned Bismarck’s carefully constructed diplomatic policies. He did not renew the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia and embarked upon an ambitious colonial policy and expansion of the German navy that provoked British hostility. By 1895, France and Russia had formed a military alliance. In 1905, Britain and France negotiated the "Entente Cordiale", which included provisions for military cooperation in the event that either signatory entered a war with Germany.
Europe was thus dominated by two power blocs: the Triple Entente (France, Russia, and Britain) and the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy).
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World War I
Austria-Hungary, also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire or the Dual Monarchy, was a key player in the outbreak of World War I. The empire consisted of two sovereign states, Austria and Hungary, with a single monarch, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. Austria-Hungary was a member of the Triple Alliance, alongside Germany and Italy, and was one of the Central Powers during the war, along with the German Empire and the Ottoman Empire.
In July 1914, Austria-Hungary invaded Serbia, which was backed by Russia, a rival alliance system to that of Germany and Austria-Hungary. This invasion was driven by a desire for revenge for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which had taken place in Sarajevo, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian province of Bosnia and Herzegovina. When Russia came to the aid of Serbia, Germany, in support of its ally, declared war on Russia, bringing France into the war on Russia's side. Thus, within a matter of weeks, Europe's largest powers were primed for war.
During World War I, the Austro-Hungarian Army fought alongside German forces in several significant offensives, including the successful Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive in the summer of 1915. However, the Austro-Hungarian Army suffered heavy losses, particularly against the Russians in the Brusilov Offensive in 1916, where they lost about 1 million men. The Austro-Hungarian forces also faced off against Italy on the Italian Front, with fighting continuing in a stalemate similar to other fronts. Additionally, they engaged in battles in Serbia, on the Eastern Front, and in Romania, where they forced the country out of the war in 1917.
By 1918, the empire of Austria-Hungary was effectively dissolved, and it accepted the Armistice of Villa Giusti on November 3, 1918, bringing World War I to a close. The war had far-reaching consequences, breaking the empires of Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary, forcing the USA onto the world stage, and laying the seeds for future conflicts around the globe.
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Complicated relations
The relationship between Austria-Hungary and Germany was a complicated one, with several factors influencing their dynamic. Firstly, the two shared cultural similarities, with a common language and certain cultural parallels. Despite this, the Austro-Prussian War drove them apart, and their individual foreign policy goals often conflicted.
Following the fall of Napoleon in 1814-15, Austria became the leader of the German states. However, this dynamic shifted when the German Confederation expelled Austria after the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. This prompted Emperor Franz Joseph to reorient his policies towards the east and consolidate his heterogeneous empire, recognising the need to come to terms with the rebellious Hungarians.
In 1871, the political unification of Germany made it the dominant power in Central Europe, and its influence over Austria-Hungary became more pronounced. The German-speaking populations within Austria-Hungary were split between identifying with Austria and Germany, further complicating their relationship.
To prevent isolation and preserve peace, Germany and Austria-Hungary formed the Dual Alliance in 1879, a defensive pact promising mutual support in the event of an attack by Russia and neutrality if either was attacked by another power. This alliance was surprising to many, given the recent tensions between the two countries. Nonetheless, it became an important element of their foreign policies, with Italy joining in 1882 to form the Triple Alliance.
Despite their alliance, the relationship between Austria-Hungary and Germany during World War I was strained. Mutual mistrust arose due to a lack of military success and competing war aims. When Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Germany supported its ally, leading to Russia's entry into the war on Serbia's side. This complex web of alliances and competing interests illustrates the complicated nature of the relationship between Austria-Hungary and Germany.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria-Hungary, also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was a unified state from 1867 to 1918.
It was a multi-national constitutional monarchy consisting of two sovereign states, Austria and Hungary, with a single monarch, who was titled both Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.
It was one of the major powers in Europe, geographically the second-largest country and the third most populous after Russia and the German Empire.
The unification came about through the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, following the Austro-Prussian War and wars of independence by Hungary against Habsburg rule.
The empire was dissolved after World War I, with the Hungarian parliament declaring independence from Austria on October 17, 1918. The armistice with the Allies was signed on November 3, 1918, and the empire was effectively dissolved by the time the military authorities signed the armistice.
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