The Rise and Fall of the German Empire | Part 3 |

The Formation of multiple alliances surrounding Germany was beginning to show that Germany would be encircled by a Coalition between Russia, France, and Great Britain. The Nation's Neglect of Bismarck's Alliance led them to be relatively exposed at this point with only Austria Hungary and Italy as Firm Alliances. While these alliances weren't explicitly Anti-German these certainly were the result of Germany's New Foreign Policy Course and we're being seen as being anti-German by the General Public. Finally realizing the Disadvantages position it had driven itself into Germany attempted to try and reverse these recent misfortunes, the way they did this was far more desirable. Encouraged by Von Bülow, Kaiser Wilhelm embarked on a Clumsy mission to turn Britain and France against each other. He traveled to Morroco, a French Spheres of Influence in the spring of 1905, and proclaimed after touring Tangier with a white horse that, the Sultan had full support to break away from France. He hoped that this move would win the support of Britain who would jump into the opportunity to undermine French Colonial interests. unfortunately for the Kaiser, this did not happen. On Contrary this served to Strengthen the Anglo-French ties as Britain Stood Firn to their French Counterparts. Dumbfounded, Germany called for a mutilation conference to issue the French stood their ground and refused. This caused Bülow to threaten France into a War though the Kaiser wrote in his memoir and said

" No man in standing Germany entertained an idea of War an account to French Morroco."
-Kaiser Wilhelm II

While the Kaiser's Memoirs should have been more than a few grains of salt seeing his primary motive for writing was to absolute himself and Germany of a War Guilt. It is still debated whether Germany was being seriously considering to Declare War on France at this point, despite the tensions between both nations being dramatically high. Though the French were forced to join a Conference on Algeciras. In January 1906, US President, Theodore Roosevelt.

So on the 16th of January, 1906, The Great Powers met to settle the issue. The Conference seems to strengthen the Entente Cordial as Britain supported France along with other nations that are present. Only Austria-Hungary stood with Germany in the Conference, the Kaiser felt embarrassed and made as if Germany was not speaking African Affairs. The Affair also served Better France's Ties with the Kingdom of Italy, and The Russian Empire. And only made Germany Diplomatically Isolated further. Which also made it easier for Alfred von Tirpitz to lobby for the further expansion of the Imperial German Navy. Further in 1907, Britain signed yet another Entente this time with Russia, settling colonial disputes over Tibet, Afghanistan, and Persia (Iran). The Agreement was Partial, but not a total Concern of the German aggression. This new cooperation between France, Russia, and Britain or known as the Triple Entente. By this Point Newspapers in Germany were beginning to claim that Germany was entirely encircled. This was exactly untrue, given the defensive nature of this alliance yet it was certainly evident that Germany was in a worse position diplomatically in 1890, at the Dismissal of Otto Von Bismarck and Only Austria-Hungary as an Ally and Italy beginning slowly distant from Germany.

Due to its Dependency on Austria-Hungary, Germany was now forced to accept their meddling in the Balkans where it was not. This led to the Bosnian Crisis. In October 1909, Austria-Hungary annexed the Territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina, which was part of the Ottoman Empire, and was administrated by Austria-Hungary since 1878. This was opposed by Turkey but also Serbia, who wished to annex the territory for themselves in an attempt to create a Pro-Slavic Nation. And of course, being a Slavic nation, Serbia had the firm backing of Russia, which saw itself as a protector of the Slavic People. Even Germany wasn't particularly pleased with the annexation, as it was trying to improve relations with the Ottomans, though it resolves to support Austria Regardless. So Tensions are rising between Germany and Austria Hungary on One side and Russia and Serbia on the other. These tensions nearly came to head when Austria-Hungary threatened to invade Serbia over the disputes. Russia, at this point, does not want to risk war with both Austria and Germany standing down. And Serbia had been forced to accept the Conditions from Austria-Hungary.

On Paper, it seems like it was a Diplomatic Success for Germany and Austria-Hungary. It caused Russia and Germany's relations to further drift away. It was also quite humiliating for Russia. It would not easily be forgotten for not making it eager not to suffer such a fate. Which contributes quite significantly to the attitude it adopted upon the Outbreak of World War 1. Coming to the Naval Rivalry against Britain and Germany. It had by now become developing an arms race. In 1906, Britain unveiled its latest naval development: the HMS Dreadnought. A glorious vessel that cannot be easily surpassed by what came before it. Wilhelm was eager to keep up the threatening British Navy and boosted the Expansion of the German Navy. Britain, seeing that Germany wouldn't back down, double its efforts, and produced eight more Dreadnoughts. There were attempts to settle this and to end the Arms Race. However, the Kaiser would not back down, leading to the breakdown of these talks in 1911. There were, of course, several attempts to abate the arms race, notably by Winston Churchill, who was First Lord of the Admiralty in 1912, he proposed a so-called Naval Holiday, which would entail the momentary end of all new naval development. This was rejected by Kaiser who described the attempt as "Arrogant.". Returning to the Diplomatic events, France took steps forward from gaining full control over Morroco, Germany accepted this but demanded territorial compensation. To impose on France the seriousness of their demands, Germany sent a Gunboat The Pather, to the port of Agadir, Furthermore, they now demanded the entire French Congo. Naturally, this increased tensions once again and Britain stepped up to the defense of its ally sending battleships to Morroco, to show the strength of the Entente. Eventually Germany Backdown and gained little land from the French Congo. While France established a Protectorate on Morroco. The Crisis Confirmed Germany's aggression ambitions to the Triple Entente and led to confidential high-level talks between the French and British Militaries. Which was agreed that the British Military would deploy to the left of the french army and that the French Navy could be deployed in the Mediterranean Sea with the British Army defending Northern France, in case of war with Germany both sides are seeing War as Inevitable and they are now ready for it.

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