Armed Peace (1870-1914)

Between 1870 and 1914 there was a period in Europe without major war conflicts, but deep down there was a permanent tension between the great powers. For this reason, historians have coined this stage with a suggestive term, peace navy.

In the period of the Armed Peace the key figure is the German Chancellor Bismarck

By 1870 the Prussian army had utterly defeated the French troops in the Franco-Prussian War and France was forced to cede its Alsace and Lorraine territories. The first consequence of this episode was the dismantling of the world order established in the Congress Vienna, 1815.

Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck established the German Empire in 1871 and began to weave his plan for his country to become a power world. To achieve his goal, Bismarck launched a double strategy: isolating France internationally so that she could not ally herself with other powers (especially Great Britain, Russia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire) and, at the same time, renounce colonial expansion so as not to antagonize the British.

While the Germans activate this politics, the French focus on expanding their colonial empire in Africa and Asia and in this way become rivals of the British, as they also had aspirations expansionists.

Bismarck's plans go awry and a period of tension begins that would end up causing World War l

Bismarck's intentions began to weaken when two of his allies (Russia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire) sought to control the territory of the Balkans to the detriment of the Ottoman Empire. In this way, in 1878 the Russians militarily defeated the Ottoman Turks and ended up controlling the territory of Bulgaria. This puts in danger European stability and after a conference in Berlin pressure is placed on Russia to renounce its interests in the Balkans.

Bismarck articulates new strategies and allies with the Austro-Hungarian Empire and with Italy. Germany and Russia secretly agree to a collaboration agreement despite the fact that they are officially powers with opposing interests.

The system of balances promoted by Bismarck takes a turn with the new German monarch, William II. In 1890 William ll came to power, dismissed Bismarck as chancellor and expressed his desire to turn Germany into an empire, just as Great Britain and France had.

One of the first measures he adopts is to break the secret alliance with the Russians, who finally ally with the French because both peoples share their fear of a strong Germany.

The Germans begin to build a powerful fleet to expand their colonial dominions and, logically, the British react and ally with the French to stop the imperialism German.

As a consequence of all these movements and alliances, in Europe two axes are created: that of Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Italy against a bloc formed by Great Britain, France and Russia. This tense and convulsive panorama was the preamble to the First World War that began in 1914.

Photo: Fotolia - Friedberg