The Triple Alliance (1882–1915)

The Triple Alliance was a secret military alliance between the German Empire, Austria-Hungary and the Kingdom of Italy which was formed on May 20th, 1882 and was renewed continuously until its dissolution with World War II in 1915. It was an alliance constructed by Otto von Bismarck in order to isolate France diplomatically. The German Empire succeeded in courting Italy by exploiting the conflict between Italy and France over Tunisia. ^[1]

The occupation of Tunisia by France in 1881 conducted in the interests of French monopoly capital and imperial expansion deprived Italian capital of a hoped‑for settler colony and forced the Italian ruling class to seek compensation through other alignments^[1]

Origin[edit | edit source]

The Alliance grew out of a previous dual-alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary, but invited Italy after the ‘’Slap of Tunis’, each of the three nations had their own motivations for joining the alliance: ^[1]

The German Empire: Germany had an interest in isolating France diplomatically after France’s loss in the Franco-Prussian War between 1870 - 1871 in order to prevent it from seeking revenge.

Austria-Hungary: Austria-Hungary facing pressure from the Russian Empire and instability in the Balkans alongside the Habsburg ruling class requiring German backing to sustain its imperial weight and to suppress social tensions at home.

Kingdom of Italy: Italy in it’s pursuit of Great Power status after being humiliated over Tunisia was convinced by the Austria and Germany to unite to achieve their great power status.

Otto von Bismarck summarized his diplomatic philosophy regarding Europe as: "All politics reduces itself to this formula: try to be à trois in a world governed by five powers." - The Saburov Memoirs

Treaty[edit | edit source]

The main contents of the treaty were: ^[2]

Multi-Power Threat: The contracting parties would maintain peace and friendship with each other and would not participate in any hostile alliances towards each other. If any country was attacked by two or more Great Powers they had an obligation to defend and assist them. It was an attempt to organise a balance of power favourable to capitalist accumulation and to restrain revolutionary pressures that might be unleashed by war or economic crisis within each respective country.

"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 nonsignatory to the present Treaty, the casus foederis will arise simultaneously for all the High Contracting Parties." - The Secret Treaties of Austria-Hungary 1879-1914, Vol. 1,

British Exemption: At Italy’s insistence, the Triple Alliance signed an exemption for Great Britain to reassure them that the Triple Alliance is not directed towards them as Italy was threatened by the British Royal Navy’s and Italy’s vulnerable coastline. Italy’s insistence on this reflects the tactical calculation of a weaker capitalist state trying to avoid direct confrontation with British sea power.^[2]

"The Royal Italian Government declares that the provisions of the secret Treaty... cannot, as has been previously agreed, in any case be regarded as being directed against England." - Ministerial Declaration appended to the Triple Alliance Treaty,

Mutual Defense Against France: Germany and Austria-Hungary agreed to defend Italy in it was attacked by France without provocation and Italy agreed to do the same for Germany and remain neutral if Austria-Hungary was attacked by the Russian Empire. ^[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."- The Secret Treaties of Austria-Hungary 1879-1914, Vol. 1,

References[edit | edit source]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Albertini, Luigi. The Origins of the War of 1914. Vol. 1. London: Oxford University Press, 1952. Emphasis is on Italy’s participation in the alliance. French occupation of Tunis was the main reason for Italy seeking a formal relationship with Germany and Austria.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Langer, William L. European Alliances and Alignments, 1871-1890. 2d ed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1950.

[:0-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Albertini, Luigi. The Origins of the War of 1914. Vol. 1. London: Oxford University Press, 1952. Emphasis is on Italy’s participation in the alliance. French occupation of Tunis was the main reason for Italy seeking a formal relationship with Germany and Austria.

[:1-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Langer, William L. European Alliances and Alignments, 1871-1890. 2d ed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1950.

[1]

[2]