Leslie Massey
Germany and Austria-Hungary's alliance was formed in 1879, with the two powers promising each other support in the event of an attack by Russia. The pact was also intended to preserve peace, as Russia was unlikely to wage war against both empires. The alliance was surprising at the time, as the two nations had been rivals, with Austria-Hungary losing confidence after its defeat by the Prussians in 1866. The pact was part of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck's plan to unify Germany and portray the nation as a peacemaker and preserve the status quo in Europe. The addition of Italy in 1882 formed the Triple Alliance. However, the two nations' alliance was not without its issues, with little military-strategic cooperation and secrecy between their respective military staffs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Alliance | 1879 |
| Type of Alliance | Defensive |
| Reason | To prevent isolation of Germany and to preserve peace |
| Treaty | Treaty of San Stefano |
| Alliance Members | Austria-Hungary, German Empire, Italy |
| Alliance Name | Dual Alliance, Triple Alliance |
| Alliance Promise | Support in case of attack by Russia, benevolent neutrality if attacked by another European power |
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What You'll Learn
The Austro-German Alliance of 1879
The formation of the German Empire in 1871 had disrupted the old 'balance of power' in Europe. In the same year, Otto von Bismarck sought to portray Germany as a peacemaker and preserver of the European status quo, with the aim of gaining more power for the newly unified German nation state. In 1878, the Russian Empire's victory over the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-Turkish War resulted in the Treaty of San Stefano, which gave Russia significant influence in the Balkans. This development angered Austria-Hungary, which had its own imperial ambitions in the region. Bismarck, who had previously allied with Russia and Austria-Hungary in the League of the Three Emperors, called an international conference in 1878, known as the Congress of Berlin, to address the issue. The resulting Treaty of Berlin reversed Russia's gains and provided Austria with compensation in the form of Bosnia.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, by a Serbian-backed terrorist in 1914, sparked a crisis. Austria-Hungary's desire to crush Serbia clashed with Russia's support for the latter, leading to fears of losing their status as 'Great Powers' if they backed down. Germany, bound by the terms of the alliance, reluctantly entered World War I on the side of Austria-Hungary, marking a significant escalation of the conflict.
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The two nations' shared history
Germany and Austria have a shared history that dates back to the Holy Roman Empire, which Austria led from 1156 to 1806. During this period, Austria and Prussia (which would later become part of the German Empire) were allies, fighting together against the French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. After the Holy Roman Empire fell during this conflict, the Austrian Emperor Francis II established the Austrian Empire in 1804.
Following Napoleon's defeat in 1815, Austria created the German Confederation, reuniting with Prussia. The Confederation was an attempt to unify the German states, but it lacked a central authority figure, leading to diplomatic tensions between Prussia and Austria, both of which had their own proposals for unification. This period saw the rise of Pan-Germanism, an ideology that would shape the two nations' future.
In 1866, Austria was defeated by Prussia at the Battle of Königgrätz, resulting in the loss of Venetia to Italy and Prussia's ascendancy among the German states. The German Empire was formed in 1871, and Austria-Hungary was established a year later, led by Austria. The two empires became rivals, with competing ambitions and interests. However, they were briefly united in their opposition to Russia's growing influence in the Balkans following the Russo-Turkish War. This shared concern led to the Dual Alliance of 1879, a pact in which they promised mutual support against potential Russian aggression.
In the lead-up to World War I, the two empires continued to have a complex relationship, marked by both rivalry and cooperation. Despite being allies, they maintained a certain level of secrecy and independence in their military strategies. During the war, Austria-Hungary's desire to crush Serbia, and Germany's reluctant support for its ally, contributed to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, pushing Europe towards the First World War.
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Military-strategic cooperation
The alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary was formed in 1879, known as the Dual Alliance. This pact was a defensive agreement, where both powers promised mutual support in the event of an attack by Russia and neutrality if either was attacked by another European power (generally assumed to be France). The alliance was intended to prevent Germany's isolation and maintain peace, as Russia would be deterred from waging war against two empires.
Otto von Bismarck, the German Chancellor, sought to portray Germany as a peacemaker and preserver of the status quo in Europe, having only recently unified as a nation state in 1871. The formation of the German Empire disrupted the old 'balance of power', and Bismarck aimed to increase its power and influence. The alliance with Austria-Hungary was part of a broader system of alliances orchestrated by Bismarck to prevent or limit war.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire and the German Empire had a history of cooperation and rivalry. They were both part of the Holy Roman Empire, which ended during the Napoleonic Wars in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. During this period, Austria and Prussia (which later became a key part of the German Empire) were allies against the French Empire. However, after Napoleon's defeat, diplomatic tensions arose between Prussia and Austria due to their competing proposals for unifying Germany.
In the lead-up to World War I, the two empires experienced little military-strategic cooperation, with their respective military staffs operating in secrecy from one another. Only when the war began did they fully coordinate their strategies. The Germans even expressed surprise at Austria's teething problems with general mobilization, revealing a lack of prior coordination.
Despite the alliance, the relationship was not always harmonious. Vienna and Berlin had differing aims and were sometimes rivals. Austria-Hungary's imperial ambitions were focused on the Balkan Peninsula, while the German Empire prioritized building armaments in competition with the United Kingdom. Additionally, Austria-Hungary's desire to turn Serbia into its protectorate led to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, which sparked World War I. Germany reluctantly entered the war on Austria-Hungary's side, honouring their alliance.
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The First World War
In the late 19th century, the unification of Germany as a nation state under Bismarck disrupted the old 'balance of power' in Europe. In 1871, the German Empire was formed, and German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck sought to portray his nation as a peacemaker and preserve the status quo in Europe. In 1878, the Russian Empire defeated the Ottoman Empire, gaining influence in the Balkans and alarming Austria-Hungary, which had ambitions in the region. Bismarck, seeking to prevent Russia from waging war, formed the Dual Alliance with Austria-Hungary in 1879. The two powers promised to support each other in the case of a Russian attack and remain neutral if the other was attacked by another power (generally assumed to be France). The addition of Italy in 1882 created the Triple Alliance.
In the years leading up to the First World War, tensions rose between the major powers. Germany's pursuit of 'world power' status and its growing strength worried Britain, France, and Russia, who formed the Triple Entente. Austria-Hungary's desire to turn Serbia into its protectorate and crush Russia's ally caused further friction. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, by a Serbian-backed terrorist in 1914, was the final catalyst for war. Austria-Hungary stirred up excuses for a war against Serbia, and Germany, bound by the terms of the alliance, entered the war on its side.
Despite the alliance, the relationship between Germany and Austria-Hungary was not without its complexities. The two nations had differing aims and were sometimes rivals. There was little military-strategic cooperation between them before the war, and their interactions were often kept secret from each other. Once the war began, however, they were forced to coordinate their strategies more openly. Germany eventually gained the upper hand in the alliance, taking over the supreme command in 1916 and making decisions over the Austrian generals.
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The Anschluss
Historically, Austria and Germany have had a complex relationship, with periods of alliance and rivalry. From 1156 to 1806, Austria (excluding its non-German lands) was part of the Holy Roman Empire, which also included various German states. In 1866, Austria was separated from Germany, and the German Confederation was dissolved. The following year, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was established, led by Austria. This empire was a rival to the German Empire, led by the Kingdom of Prussia. Despite this rivalry, Austria-Hungary and the German Empire maintained a military alliance in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
The origins of the Anschluss can be traced back to the aftermath of World War I. In 1918, with the fall of the Austro-Hungarian and German Empires, Austria briefly renamed itself the Republic of German-Austria, seeking union with Germany. However, this union was forbidden by the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1919), created by the winners of World War I to prevent such a union. Despite this, tensions and rivalries remained between the two nations.
In the lead-up to the Anschluss, Kurt Schuschnigg, the Chancellor of Austria, was pressured by Hitler to accept Nazi ministers into his government. Schuschnigg initially called for a plebiscite on the annexation but later cancelled the vote. Arthur Seyss-Inquart, an Austrian Nazi politician, became chancellor and invited the German Army to cross the border. On March 12, 1938, the Anschluss was declared, and Austria became a part of Germany. Britain and France did not intervene, following a policy of appeasement towards Hitler. A month later, Hitler held a plebiscite, claiming a 99% vote in favour of the union and his rule. This resulted in Austria's Jews falling under Nazi control, with many murdered in the Holocaust.
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Frequently asked questions
Germany and Austria-Hungary formed an alliance in 1879, known as the Dual Alliance, to prevent an attack by Russia and to preserve peace.
The two powers promised each other support in the case of an attack by Russia and neutrality if either was attacked by another European power.
The Dual Alliance was an important element of German and Austro-Hungarian foreign policy until 1918. It also led to the formation of the Triple Alliance in 1882 when Italy joined.
Despite the alliance, there was little military-strategic cooperation between the two powers at the start of the war. However, once the war began, they coordinated a common strategy, and Germany eventually took over supreme command.
