Triple Alliance (1882)
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The Triple Alliance was a military alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy that lasted from 1882[1] until the start of World War I in 1914[2]. Each member promised mutual support in the event of an attack by any two other great powers, or for Germany and Italy, an attack by France alone. In a supplementary declaration, Italy specified that her undertakings could not be regarded as being directed against the United Kingdom. Shortly after renewing the Alliance in June 1902, Italy secretly extended a similar guarantee to France[1].
When Germany and Austria-Hungary found themselves at war in August 1914 with the rival Triple Entente of Britain, France, and the latter's ally, Russia. Italy pledged its support to the Central Powers, but subsequently entered the conflict on the side of the Entente against Austria-Hungary in May 1915[2] and Germany in August 1916.
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[edit] Austria-Hungary
In the north the Czech people wanted to rule themselves. The Slav peoples in the south-west (especially the Croats) wanted their own state. The Serbs living in the south wanted to be joined to the neighbouring state of Serbia. By 1914 the main concern of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary was how to keep this fragmented empire together. Austria-Hungary also faced problems from neighbouring states: Its newly independent neighbour [Serbia] was becoming a powerful force in the Balkans. Austria-Hungary was very anxious that it should become any stronger. Its other neighbour Russia supported the Serbs, and had a very strong army. In the Bosnian Crisis of 1908-1909, both Serbia and Austria-Hungary wanted to take Bosnia. Serbia knew that it couldn't take on the entire Austro-Hungarian empire alone so it looked to Russia for support. Russia helped Serbia at first but retreated in 1909 after Germany supported Austria-Hungary.
[edit] Italy
Like Germany, Italy had been formed from a collection of former states. At first, its main concerns were to get its government established, but by 1914 Italy was settled and was looking to 'flex its muscles'. Like some of the other European powers, it wanted to set up colonies and build up an overseas empire. With this aim in mind, Italy joined the German-Austrian Alliance to form the Triple Alliance, partly in anger at the French seizure of Tunisia in 1881, which many Italians had seen as a potential colony.
However, Italian public opinion remained unenthusiastic about their country's alignment with Austria-Hungary, a past enemy of Italian unification, and whose Italian-majority districts in the Trentino and Istria were seen as Italia irredenta ("unredeemed Italy"). In the years before World War I, many distinguished military analysts predicted that Italy would change sides. This prediction was strengthened by Italy's invasion and annexation of Tripoli, bringing it into conflict with the German-backed Ottoman Empire. There is some evidence that Germany and Austria-Hungary did not entirely trust their ally. In any case, Italy was not a strong individual or military power.
Italy's ideas for maintaining the balance of power in Europe clearly gravitated towards major alliances, even if they were a passive member. Italy's reasoning for not siding with the Central Powers was that the Triple Alliance was a defensive alliance, but Germany and Austria-Hungary had taken the offensive. It is also thought that Britain and Italy had an agreement about the Mediterranean. Britain needed access to the Mediterranean, so that she could access her African and Indian colonies easily. Because Italy is surrounded by the Mediterranean, it could not afford to fall out with Britain. This is thought to be another reason that Italy changed sides.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- The Triple Alliance (First 8 Articles) The World War I Document Archive, Brigham Young University Library, accessed 2008-04-21
- Triple Alliance, 1882 Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, accessed 2008-04-21
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