World War One Alliances

The Allied Powers

Triple Alliance 1882

The Allied Powers of World War One were Britain, France, and Russia with America joining in later. The first three countries of the Allied Powers all formed alliances in response to the increase in aggressiveness following the 'Triple Alliance' of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.

Bibliography

"Alliances." World War I. N.p., 2012. Web. 20 July 2016.

"The Dual Alliance Between Austria-Hungary and Germany - October 7, 1879." Yale Law School: The Avalon Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2016.

"The Triple Alliance (The English Tranlation)." - World War I Document Archive. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2016.

"World War I Today." Triple Alliance. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2016.

The Triple Alliance set up a complex set of alliances between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. There was an agreement that Germany and Austria-Hungary would defend Italy if it was attacked by France. Also, it stated that Italy would defend Germany if it was attacked by France. However, if there was conflict between Austria-Hungary and Russia, Italy would not get involved.

ARTICLE 1. The High Contracting Parties mutually promise peace and friendship, and will enter into no alliance or engagement directed against any one of their States.

They engage to proceed to an exchange of ideas on political and economic questions of a general nature which may arise, and they further promise one another mutual support within the limits of their own interests.

ARTICLE 2. In case Italy, without direct provocation on her part, should be attacked by France for any reason whatsoever, the two other Contracting Parties shall be bound to lend help and assistance with all their forces to the Party attacked.

This same obligation shall devolve upon Italy in case of any aggression without direct provocation by France against Germany.

ARTICLE 3. If one, or two, of the High Contracting Parties, without direct provocation on their part, should chance to be attacked and to be engaged in a war with two or more Great Powers non-signatory to the present Treaty, the casus foederis will arise simultaneously for all the High Contracting Parties.

ARTICLE 4. In case a Great Power non-signatory to the present Treaty should threaten the security of the states of one of the High Contracting Parties, and the threatened Party should find itself forced on that account to make war against it, the two others bind themselves to observe towards their Ally a benevolent neutrality. Each of them reserves to itself, in this case, the right to take part in the war, if it should see fit, to make common cause with its Ally.

ARTICLE 5. If the peace of any of the High Contracting Parties should chance to be threatened under the circumstances foreseen by the preceding Articles, the High Contracting Parties shall take counsel together in ample time as to the military measures to be taken with a view to eventual cooperation.

They engage henceforward, in all cases of common participation in a war, to conclude neither armistice, nor peace, nor treaty, except by common agreement among themselves.

ARTICLE 6. The High Contracting Parties mutually promise secrecy as to the contents and existence of the present Treaty.

ARTICLE 7. The present Treaty shall remain in force during the space of five years, dating from the day of the exchange of ratifications.

ARTICLE 8. The ratifications of the present Treaty shall be exchanged at Vienna within three weeks, or sooner if may be.

In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Treaty and have annexed thereto the seal of their arms.

Done at Vienna, the twentieth day of the month of May of the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.

Italy, however, ended up violating the Triple Alliance and joining the Allies instead. On May 23, 1915 Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary. This picture drawn during 1915 shows Italy's king Victor Emmanuel III concealing the Triple Alliance behind his back as he shakes hands with Wilhelm II and Franz Josef

The Dual Alliance Between Austria-Hungary and Germany

7 October, 1879

CENTRAL POWERS

This primary source document illustrates Germany's pledge to protect Austria-Hungary if it was attacked. As soon as Gavrilo Princip from Bosnia shot Archduke Ferdinand from Austria, Germany willingly backed the Austrian-Hungary Empire. These two countries defended and fought for each other until the end of the war and served as the main duo of the Central Powers.

ARTICLE 1. Should, contrary to their hope, and against the loyal desire of the two High Contracting Parties, one of the two Empires be attacked by Russia the High Contracting Parties are bound to come to the assistance one of the other with the whole war strength of their Empires, and accordingly only to conclude peace together and upon mutual agreement.

ARTICLE 2. Should one of the High Contracting Parties be attacked by another Power, the other High Contracting Party binds itself hereby, not only not to support the aggressor against its high Ally, but to observe at least a benevolent neutral attitude towards its fellow Contracting Party.

Should, however, the attacking party in such a case be supported by Russia, either by an active cooperation or by military measures which constitute a menace to the Party attacked, then the obligation stipulated in Article 1 of this Treaty, for reciprocal assistance with the whole fighting force, becomes equally operative, and the conduct of the war by the two High Contracting Parties shall in this case also be in common until the conclusion of a common peace.

ARTICLE 3. The duration of this Treaty shall be provisionally fixed at five years from the day of ratification. One year before the expiration of this period the two High Contracting Parties shall consult together concerning the question whether the conditions serving as the basis of the Treaty still prevail, and reach an agreement in regard to the further continuance or possible modification of certain details. If in the course of the first month of the last year of the Treaty no invitation has been received from either side to open these negotiations, the Treaty shall be considered as renewed for a further period of three years.

ARTICLE 4. This Treaty shall, in conformity with its peaceful character, and to avoid any misinterpretation, be kept secret by the two High Contracting Parties, and only communicated to a third Power upon a joint understanding between the two Parties, and according to the terms of a special Agreement.

The two High Contracting Parties venture to hope, after the sentiments expressed by the Emperor Alexander at the meeting at Alexandrovo, that the armaments of Russia will not in reality prove to be menacing to them, and have on that account no reason for making a communication at present; should, however, this hope, contrary to their expectations, prove to be erroneous, the two High Contracting Parties would consider it their loyal obligation to let the Emperor Alexander know, at least confidentially, that they must consider an attack on either of them as directed against both.

ARTICLE 5. This Treaty shall derive its validity from the approbation of the two Exalted Sovereigns and shall be ratified within fourteen days after this approbation has been granted by Their Most Exalted Majesties. In witness whereof the Plenipotentiaries have signed this Treaty with their own hands and affixed their arms.

Bibliography

https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Main_Page

https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/The_Franco-Russian_Alliance_Military_Convention

https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/The_Anglo-Russian_Entente

https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/zimmermann/

https://www.mtholyoke.edu/~raina20s/ww1/images/alliesleads2.JPG

http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc313/

This Poster features an American Soldier paying his respects to the French soldiers that suffered during the War.

The Zimmerman note effectively provoked the United States into entering World War One.

The Zimmerman Note

The leaders of the Allied Powers featured in a poster to raise awareness.

These important documents lead to the creation of the Allied Powers that would fight against the Central powers during World War One.

18 August, 1892

The Franco-Russian Alliance Military Convention

The Zimmerman Note was a telegram Germany sent to Mexico which brought America into the first World War. The message proposed that Mexico ally itself with Germany to attack America in the case of it joining the war. The note offered to give Mexico american territory if they joined Germany's cause.

The Franco-Russian Alliance Military Convention

The First two allied powers to form an alliance were France and Russia, whom were both potentially in danger as a result of the Triple Alliance. They feared a massive war involving all three countries and thus took their own precautions. The alliance between the two nations was kept secret, likely to prevent the Triple Alliance from finding out.

The Anglo Russian Convention of 1907

During the Anglo Russian Convention of 1907, Britain joined France and Russia and the Triple Entente was formed.

Alliances in WWI

In Europe, many alliances were created to help keep the peace between the different countries. However, this complex series of alliances actually had the reverse effect.

With many countries promising to support the others in case of conflict, almost every major country in Europe became entangled in World War I. Due to these alliances, the countries in Europe became greatly divided as they split into the Central Powers and the Allies.

By: Brendan Smith, Richard Turnbach, and Maria Macaluso