The Bosnian crisis

The Bosnian crisis

Layton 60-1

·         The Balkans had long been a major problem in international relations:

o   The ottoman empire had been in decline and had lost its power and influence in southern Europe.

o   The Slavic people (Serbs, Croats and Slovenes) wanted to be independent and to create their own state (and were supported but Russia, as fellow slavs)

o   Austria hoped to keep control over the southern Slavs within its empire to prevent it being eaten away by external forces (especially Russia and its close fellow Slav state, Serbia)

·         Bismarck had tried to dissuade Austria from its ambitions in the Balkans. Yet Bulow was increasingly prepared to back Austria with its aim of maintaining its empire against Balkan nationalism, mainly because Germany, in its deteriorating diplomatic position, could no longer ignore its main major ally.

·         In 1908, Austria annexed the neighbouring province of Bosnia, which it had administered some 1878, but was nominally part of the ottoman empire. As that empire declined on the face of Slavic nationalism, Austria feared that its own Slav peoples might break way to join their borders to the south.

·         The triple entente demanded an international conference, but Austria bluntly refused to co-operate and the possibility of war dragged on for as they enjoyed good relations, Bulow felt obliged to give full support to Austria. Indeed, in January 1909 helmuth von Moltke, the German chief of general staff (and the nephew of the great general, Moltke the elder), made it clear to his Austrian equivalent that Germany would be prepared to mobilise if Serbia and Russia took military action.

·         Tensions continued and came to a head when Germany asked Russia to recognise the annexation. This amounted to an ultimatum.

·         Russia was in a weak and embarrassing position since France was unprepared to commit itself over Bosnia. Eventually, in March 1909, the annexation was recognised and war was avoided.

·         The Bosnian crisis was a diplomatic triumph for Germany. In the short term, Germany with Austria could claim victory over the incident; it strengthened the alliance between Austria and Germany, while it highlighted the weaknesses of the triple entente. However, the implications were costly, causing increased publically humiliated.

·         Both were determined not to back down again.

·         Most importantly, doubts within the triple entente about the true purpose of German foreign policy were marketedly growing.

Key Words in this section

Ottoman empire: the ottoman empire, or Turkish empire, lasted from 1299 to 1922. The sultanate was dissolved in 1922 and the state of turkey became a republic.