Leslie Massey
The alliance between Austria-Hungary and the German Empire was formed in 1879, with both powers promising each other support in the event of an attack by Russia, and neutrality if either was attacked by another European power. This pact, known as the Dual Alliance, was formed as part of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck's plan to prevent war and preserve peace, as Russia would not wage war against both empires. The addition of Italy in 1882 created the Triple Alliance. However, the alliance between Austria and Germany was surprising at the time, given their differing aims and sometimes rivalrous relationship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Alliance | 7 October 1879 |
| Type of Alliance | Defensive alliance |
| Treaty | Yes |
| Treaty Validity | 14 days after approbation of the two Exalted Sovereigns |
| Treaty Duration | 5 years |
| Treaty Renewal | To be discussed one year before expiration |
| Treaty Confidentiality | Yes |
| Alliance Members | Austria-Hungary, Germany |
| Alliance Motivations | Prevent isolation, preserve peace, prevent war |
| Alliance Against | Russia |
| Alliance Support | In case of attack by Russia, or aggression by another power |
| Alliance Neutrality | In case of aggression by a European power |
| Alliance Outcome | Addition of Italy in 1882 to form Triple Alliance |
| Alliance Duration | Until 1918 |
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What You'll Learn
To prevent isolation and preserve peace
The unification of Germany as a nation state under Bismarck in 1871 had disturbed the old 'balance of power' in Europe. In the same year, Germany became an empire, excluding Austria-Hungary. This led to Austria-Hungary turning its imperial ambitions to the Balkan Peninsula, which was also an area of interest for Russia. In 1878, the Russian Empire defeated the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-Turkish War, resulting in the Treaty of San Stefano, which gave Russia considerable influence in the Balkans. This outraged Austria-Hungary, which was Russia's chief rival in the region. To prevent the isolation of the German Empire and to preserve peace, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck called an international conference (the Congress of Berlin) in 1878 to address the issue. This resulted in the Treaty of Berlin, which reversed Russia's gains and provided the Austrians with compensation in the form of Bosnia.
In 1879, Bismarck formed the Dual Alliance, a defensive pact between Germany and Austria-Hungary, in which both powers promised each other support in the event of an attack by Russia and neutrality in the event of aggression by another power (generally taken to be France). Bismarck saw this as a way to prevent the isolation of Germany and preserve peace, as Russia would not wage war against both empires. The addition of Italy in 1882 created the Triple Alliance. This agreement remained an important element of German and Austro-Hungarian foreign policy until 1918.
In the years leading up to World War I, the members of these rival power blocs maintained mass armies through compulsory military service and spent huge sums on military technology. Despite their alliance, Germany and Austria-Hungary had differing aims and were sometimes even rivals. When war broke out in 1914, Germany was focused on the conflict with France, while Austria-Hungary was more concerned with Serbia and the Balkans. There was little in the way of military-strategic cooperation between the two allies, and Austria-Hungary became increasingly dependent on German assistance as the war progressed.
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To counter the Franco-Russian Alliance
The formation of the Franco-Russian Alliance in 1894 pushed Germany into a closer alliance with its neighbour, the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Dual Alliance, formed in 1879, was a defensive pact between Germany and Austria-Hungary, in which the two powers promised each other support in the event of an attack by Russia and benevolent neutrality if attacked by another European power (generally taken to be France).
Otto von Bismarck, the German Chancellor, saw the alliance as a way to prevent the isolation of the newly founded German Empire and to preserve peace, as Russia would not wage war against two empires. The addition of Italy in 1882 created the Triple Alliance.
The alliance between Austria-Hungary and Germany was surprising at the time, given that Austria-Hungary was outraged by Russia's influence in the Balkans following the Treaty of San Stefano, which ended the Russo-Turkish War in 1878. Russia was Austria-Hungary's chief rival in the region. Bismarck called the Congress of Berlin in 1878 to address this issue, and the resulting Treaty of Berlin reversed Russia's gains from the Treaty of San Stefano and provided the Austrians with compensation in the form of Bosnia.
Despite their alliance, the relationship between Austria-Hungary and Germany was not always smooth. When war broke out in 1914, Austria-Hungary struggled with general mobilisation due to its primarily agricultural economy, and its army became increasingly dependent on German assistance as the war progressed. There was also little in the way of military-strategic cooperation between the two allies, and their war aims were divergent, with Austria-Hungary focused on Serbia and the Balkans, and Germany principally concerned with the conflict with France.
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To counterbalance the Triple Entente
The formation of the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1879 was, in part, a response to the emergence of the Triple Entente—a union of France, Britain, and Russia. The Triple Entente was formed to curb the ambitions of the German Empire under Wilhelm II to become a major power. Italy, which had joined the Dual Alliance in 1882, making it the Triple Alliance, switched sides in 1915, joining the Triple Entente.
The Dual Alliance was a defensive pact between Germany and Austria-Hungary, in which both parties promised to support each other in the event of an attack by Russia and remain neutral if either was attacked by another European power, which was generally taken to be France. The alliance was also formed to prevent the isolation of the German Empire, which had been founded a few years prior, and to preserve peace, as Russia would not wage war against both empires.
The unification of Germany as a nation-state in 1871 had disturbed the old 'balance of power' in Europe. The creation of the German Empire also excluded Austria-Hungary, which then turned its imperial ambitions to the Balkan Peninsula. The German Empire, meanwhile, focused on building armaments in a race against the United Kingdom.
In the years leading up to World War I, Germany's growing strength and pursuit of 'world power' status pushed Britain to align with its traditional rivals, France, in 1904. Germany's military and political leadership concluded that war should be risked "now or never" if they were to achieve their vision of Germany's destiny. They planned to defeat France swiftly, before Russia could marshal its forces. The invasion of France and the violation of Belgian neutrality brought Britain into the war.
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To support each other in case of attack by Russia
The alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary, known as the Dual Alliance, was formed in 1879. The pact was a defensive alliance, with both countries promising to support each other in the event of an attack by Russia. This was a significant concern at the time, given that Russia had defeated the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-Turkish War in 1878, gaining influence in the Balkans, much to the outrage of Austria-Hungary.
The alliance was also intended to preserve peace, as Russia was unlikely to wage war against both empires simultaneously. This mutual support was outlined in the treaty of the alliance, which stated that an attack on one country would be considered an attack on both. The treaty also stipulated that each state would maintain benevolent neutrality if one of the signatories was attacked by another European power, which was generally assumed to refer to France, particularly after the Franco-Russian Alliance of 1894.
The formation of the Dual Alliance was part of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck's strategy to prevent Germany's isolation and to preserve peace in Europe. Bismarck had previously united Germany in 1871, creating the German Empire. However, this had disrupted the old 'balance of power' on the continent, and Bismarck now sought to portray Germany as a peacemaker and preserver of the status quo.
The alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary was an important element of both countries' foreign policies until 1918, even though their relationship was not always smooth. For instance, in the lead-up to World War I, there was a notable lack of military-strategic cooperation between the two allies, and their war aims were often divergent. Nonetheless, when World War I broke out, Germany and Austria-Hungary found themselves on the same side, fighting against the Triple Entente of France, Britain, and Russia.
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To maintain neutrality if attacked by another European power
The alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary, known as the Dual Alliance, was formed on October 7, 1879, through a treaty. This treaty was created to maintain neutrality if either of the two powers were attacked by another European power. The two powers also promised each other support in the case of a Russian attack.
Otto von Bismarck, the German Chancellor, wanted to portray Germany as a peacemaker and preserver of the European status quo to gain more power for the German Empire and unify Germany. The formation of the German Empire in 1871 had disturbed the old 'balance of power'. Bismarck's system of alliances was designed to prevent or limit war. The alliance with Austria-Hungary was surprising at the time, as the two powers had different aims and were sometimes rivals.
The treaty stated that each state would promise benevolent neutrality to the other if one of them was attacked by another European power. This was generally taken to mean France, especially after the Franco-Russian Alliance of 1894. The alliance was also formed to prevent the isolation of Germany, as Russia would not wage war against both empires.
The alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary was one of the dominant alliances in Europe in the years leading up to World War I. The two powers, along with Italy, formed the Triple Alliance in 1882. However, there was little military-strategic cooperation between Germany and Austria-Hungary on the eve of World War I, and their strategies were more suggestive of rivalry than of a 'brotherhood in arms'.
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Frequently asked questions
Germany and Austria-Hungary formed an alliance, known as the Dual Alliance, in 1879. This was largely to protect themselves from Russia, with both powers promising each other support in the case of a Russian attack.
The unification of Germany in 1871 had disrupted the 'balance of power' in Europe. In 1878, Russia defeated the Ottoman Empire, gaining influence in the Balkans and alarming Austria-Hungary. Germany's Chancellor Otto von Bismarck called an international conference to address the issue, and the resulting Treaty of Berlin reversed Russia's gains.
The two powers agreed to support each other with their full military force in the case of a Russian attack. They also promised each other neutrality if attacked by another power (generally taken to be France). The treaty was to be kept secret and was valid for five years.
The alliance was significant as it was one of the surprising alliances of its time, and it remained an important element of German and Austro-Hungarian foreign policy until 1918. It also contributed to the complex web of alliances that characterised pre-World War I Europe.
No, the alliance did not prevent conflict with Russia in the long term. In the years leading up to World War I, tensions rose between Russia and Austria-Hungary over their conflicting ambitions in South-Eastern Europe, particularly regarding Serbia. In 1914, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, sparked the outbreak of World War I, with Russia supporting Serbia.
