1879: The Dual Alliance
This alliance joined together, for their common security, GERMANY and
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. Concluded after the breakdown of the Dreikaiserbund and the disruption
in Russo-German relations caused by the diplomatic setback suffered by Russia at the
Congress of Berlin in 1878,
this was Bismarck's device to bind Austria to Germany in case either was
attacked by Russia. It was a purely defensive treaty. It also committed each
power to be benevolently neutral in case either was attacked by another
power(i.e., France). If Russia joined with France in such an eventuality,
however,both Austria and Germany would act together. The treaty was secret
(though it soon became generally known and was revealed by Bismarck in 1888) and
remained
permanent via automatic
renewal after 1902.
The alliance is an example of Bismarck's desire (for German security) to prevent
any Russian threat to its Germanic neighbor. Austria and Russia, both vitally interested
in the affairs of the Balkans, had incompatible goals--the one, Austria, determined to
support Turkey and absorb Serb territory; the other, Russia, to weaken Turkey and acquire
a dominating influence in the Balkan region. The terms of the alliance were made public
in 1888 when
Austro-Russian tensions had again reached the danger point, thus putting
Russia on notice that Germany would not stand idly by if Russia attacked
Austria.