Short Term Causes of WW1
THE TWO BALKAN WARS AND THE BOSNIAN CRISIS
The Bosnian Crisis
In 1908, a crisis in the Ottoman Empire caused by Young Turks created a revolution against the issue of the Eastern Question. Austria-Hungary reacted by creating an annexation to the provinces, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This annexation created an outrage in Serbia because the people hoped that these provinces would ultimately form part of a “Greater Serbia” and provide access to the Adriatic sea. Unknown to Serbia, the Russian Foreign Minister met with Aehrenthal and secretly gave Russia the acceptance for the annexation (Winter, The Bosnian Crisis).
The Balkan Wars
In 1912, the First Balkan War had been broke out. The Balkan Alliance which included Greece, Montenegro, and Serbia was formed in 1912 after the key purpose was to force “Turkey from the Balkans by taking Macedonia and dividing it up between themselves” (Ch 2. The Causes of World War I). During this time, Turkey was already weakened from a war against Italy the year before and were almost completely taken out of the Balkans very soon. The Austrians were horrified because it could not accept a strengthened Serbia. From this, Austrian generals called on war. There was a danger that Russia would fully support its ally, Serbia which could result into a wider European War. Sir Edward Grey, the British Foreign Secretary was anxious to stop the war from spreading, so he called a on a peace conference in London. As a result two things occurred: 1. the Turkish lands were divided up between the Balkan states and 2. Austria- Hungary succeeded in containing Serbia by getting the conference to agree to the creation of Albania which was placed between Serbia and the Adriatic Sea. This caused more resentment between Serbia and Austria-Hungary (McDonough 14-15).
Because of many disagreements in the first Balkan War, another war broke out in July 1913, which was known as the Second Balkan War. Over territory occupied by Serbia, Bulgaria called out a war against Serbia and Greece. Bulgarians felt that there were too many of its own people living in areas given by Serbia and Greece known as Macedonia and Salonika. Austria-Hungary asked Germany for assistance, as they knew that Russia would get involved again. Unfortunately, the German government urged Austrian restraint. The results that came out were that the Greeks, Serbs and Turks defeated Bulgaria. The Treaty of Bucharest was then signed in the late summer of 1912. Serbia was then successful again and doubled in size as well (McDonough 15-16).
The victories were a diplomatic success for Russia as for its ally, Serbia after the two wars. From this Austria-Hungary was left to dominate Serbia for its growing power. As this was also a diplomatic defeat for Germany, the people grew closer to Austria-Hungary.
The Bosnian Crisis
In 1908, a crisis in the Ottoman Empire caused by Young Turks created a revolution against the issue of the Eastern Question. Austria-Hungary reacted by creating an annexation to the provinces, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This annexation created an outrage in Serbia because the people hoped that these provinces would ultimately form part of a “Greater Serbia” and provide access to the Adriatic sea. Unknown to Serbia, the Russian Foreign Minister met with Aehrenthal and secretly gave Russia the acceptance for the annexation (Winter, The Bosnian Crisis).
The Balkan Wars
In 1912, the First Balkan War had been broke out. The Balkan Alliance which included Greece, Montenegro, and Serbia was formed in 1912 after the key purpose was to force “Turkey from the Balkans by taking Macedonia and dividing it up between themselves” (Ch 2. The Causes of World War I). During this time, Turkey was already weakened from a war against Italy the year before and were almost completely taken out of the Balkans very soon. The Austrians were horrified because it could not accept a strengthened Serbia. From this, Austrian generals called on war. There was a danger that Russia would fully support its ally, Serbia which could result into a wider European War. Sir Edward Grey, the British Foreign Secretary was anxious to stop the war from spreading, so he called a on a peace conference in London. As a result two things occurred: 1. the Turkish lands were divided up between the Balkan states and 2. Austria- Hungary succeeded in containing Serbia by getting the conference to agree to the creation of Albania which was placed between Serbia and the Adriatic Sea. This caused more resentment between Serbia and Austria-Hungary (McDonough 14-15).
Because of many disagreements in the first Balkan War, another war broke out in July 1913, which was known as the Second Balkan War. Over territory occupied by Serbia, Bulgaria called out a war against Serbia and Greece. Bulgarians felt that there were too many of its own people living in areas given by Serbia and Greece known as Macedonia and Salonika. Austria-Hungary asked Germany for assistance, as they knew that Russia would get involved again. Unfortunately, the German government urged Austrian restraint. The results that came out were that the Greeks, Serbs and Turks defeated Bulgaria. The Treaty of Bucharest was then signed in the late summer of 1912. Serbia was then successful again and doubled in size as well (McDonough 15-16).
The victories were a diplomatic success for Russia as for its ally, Serbia after the two wars. From this Austria-Hungary was left to dominate Serbia for its growing power. As this was also a diplomatic defeat for Germany, the people grew closer to Austria-Hungary.