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Between 1864 and 1871 Prussia´s blood-and iron chancellor, Otto von Birmarck, freely used war to unify Germany.
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After 1871, however Bismarck declared Gemrnay to be a "satisfied power." He then turned his energies to maintaining peace in Europe.
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Bismark formed the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria Hungary.
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Bismark took yet another possile ally away from france by making a treaty with Russia.
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Italy joined the two countries, Germany and Austria forming the Triple Alliance.
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Germnay´s foreign policy changed dramatically.
That year, Kaiser Wilhelm II,who two years earlier had become ruler of Germany forced Bismarck to resign. -
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Kaiser Wilhem II in 1888 had become ruler of Germany- forced Bismarck to resign. A proud and stubborn man, Wlhelm II did not wish to share the power with anyone.
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Russia responded by forming a defensive military alliance with France in 1892 and 1894. Such an alliance had been Bismarck´s fear. War with either Russian or France would make Germany the enemy of both.
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By the early 1900s, the Ottoman Empire, wich included the Balkan region, was in rapid decline.While some Balkan groups struggled to free themselves from the Ottoman Truks, others already had succeded in breaking away from their Turkish rules.
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This time with both France and Russia. The Triple Entente, as it was called, did not bind Britain to fight with France and Russia.
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On one side was the Triple Alliance-Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. On the other side was the Triple Entente-Great Britain, France and Russia. A dispute between two rival powers could draw all the nations of Europe into war.
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In 1908, Austri anexed, or took over, Bosnia and Herzegovina. These were two Balkan areas with large Slavic populations.
Th Serbian leraders, who had sought to rule these provinces, were outraged. The Serbs continually vowed to take Bosnia and Herzegovia away from Austria. -
The couple Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie , paid a state visit to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia.The royal pair was shot at point-bank range as they rode thought the streets of Sarajevo in a open car.
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On july 23, Austria presented Serbia with an ultimatum containing numerous demads.Serbia knew that refusing the ultimatum would lead to war against the more powerful Austria. Therefore, Serbian leaders agreed to most of Austria´s demands.
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On july 28, Austria rejected Serbia´s offer and declared war. That same day, Russia, an ally of Serbia with its largely Slavic population, took action. Russian leaders ordered the mobilization of troops toward the Austrian border.
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In1914 all the Great powers except Britain had large standing armies.In addition, military experts stressed the importance of being able to quickly mobilize, or organize and move troops in case of war.
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