Franco-Russian Alliance
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The Franco-Russian Alliance, or Dual Alliance was a military alliance between the French Third Republic and the Russian Empire that ran from 1892 to 1917. The alliance ended the diplomatic isolation of France and undermined the supremacy of the German Empire in Europe.
The 1882 Triple Alliance of Imperial Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy had left Russia vulnerable, while France had been diplomatically isolated since its defeat in the 1870 Franco-Prussian War and the subsequent policies of Otto von Bismarck. Despite the political differences between France, a republic and Russia, an absolute monarchy, relations between the two countries rapidly improved.
From 1888, Russia was provided with cheap loans floated on the Paris Bourse, essential to rebuild the technologically deficient Russian military. In 1891, the French Fleet visited the Russian naval base at Kronstadt and was warmly welcomed by Tsar Alexander III. This visit marked the first time La Marseillaise was played on an official occasion in Russia; to play it previously had been a criminal offence.[1]
The new German Emperor Wilhelm II, after dismissing Bismarck, oversaw a change in the direction of German foreign policy. The secret Reinsurance Treaty with Russia was allowed to expire in 1890, despite Russian requests to renew it. After extensive negotiations, the Franco-Russian alliance was drafted August 17th, 1892. It became final on January 4, 1894. The alliance was to remain in place as long as the Triple Alliance existed.
The Franco-Russian Alliance was defensive in form, promising mutual military assistance if either country was attacked. In the case of an attack by Germany or another member of the Triple Alliance assisted by Germany, Russia and France were to attack Germany, forcing it to fight a two-front war. This alliance is partly responsible for World War I because Germany was put into a pressured position when Russia mobilized for Serbia's aid. They had little choice to declare war.
The Franco-Russian Alliance, along with the Anglo-Russian Entente and the Entente Cordiale formed the Triple Entente between the UK, France and Russia.
| Diplomacy of the Great Powers 1871-1913 |
| Great Powers |
| British Empire | German Empire | French Third Republic | Russian Empire | Austria-Hungary | Italy |
| Treaties and agreements |
| Treaty of Frankfurt | League of the Three Emperors | Treaty of Berlin German-Austrian Alliance | Triple Alliance | Reinsurance Treaty | Franco-Russian Alliance Anglo-Japanese Alliance | Anglo-Russian Entente | Entente Cordiale | Triple Entente |
| Events |
| Russo-Turkish War | Congress of Berlin | Scramble for Africa | Fleet Acts | The Great Game Fashoda Incident | Pan-Slavism | Boxer Rebellion | Boer War | Russo-Japanese War First Moroccan Crisis | Dreadnought | Agadir Crisis | Bosnian crisis | Italo-Turkish War | Balkan wars |
[edit] References
- ^ Nicholas Mansergh, The Coming of the First World War, Longmans Green and Co, 1949, London, p35
