INTERNATIONAL CRISES: 1905-1914
1. What did Germany hope to gain by instigating the first Moroccan Crisis, in 1905? Why did the stratagem fail?
2. What was the result of the Bosnian Crisis of 1908?
3. What was the result of the second Moroccan Crisis, in 1911?
4. How was the first Balkan Crisis resolved, in 1912? What impact did this have on German foreign policy?
INTERNATIONAL CRISES: 1905-1914
1. What did Germany hope to gain by instigating the first Moroccan Crisis, in 1905? Why did the stratagem fail?
In 1904, Britain and France had signed the Entente Cordiale, a treaty which settled all their outstanding colonial disputes. Germany hoped to split the two nations apart, by challenging one it its major clauses - French control over Morocco. There was also some hope that French might be forced out of Morocco, allowing Germany to move into this key possession. Some military leaders even hoped the crisis would provoke a war with France, since the German High Command was confident it could defeat the French army at that time.
2. What was the result of the Bosnian Crisis of 1908?
After the Bosnian Crisis, relations between Austria-Hungary and Russia became very tense. It was only Germany’s threat to go to war with Russia which caused the Russians to back down. This backdown caused considerable humiliation on the part of the Russian government, and it decided never to bow to German threats again.
The Germans, on the other hand, learned an entirely different lesson. The threat of force could bring considerable diplomatic benefits. Germany became determined to use the tactic again.
These competing determinations were one of the principal causes of World War I.
Another result of the crisis was that Austria-Hungary realised that it could afford to use military force to solve its Balkan problems, as long as it had the unconditional support of Germany.
3. What was the result of the second Moroccan Crisis, in 1911?
The second Moroccan Crisis further poisoned relations between Britain and France on the one hand and Germany on the other. Both nations moved closer together, principally by coordinating their military planning.
Ironically, the lesson Germany learned from the crisis was that such interventionism was counterproductive. After 1911, Germany ceased encroaching on other nations’ colonial possessions.
4. How was the first Balkan Crisis resolved, in 1912? What impact did this have on German foreign policy?
The crisis was resolved when Germany and Britain restrained their respective allies (Austria-Hungary and Serbia), which were threatening to go to war. Following this, Germany realised that it would have to back Austria-Hungary in the next crisis or risk the possibility of losing its only ally.