Triple Alliance (1882)

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For other uses, see Triple Alliance.

The Triple Alliance in 1913.

The Triple Alliance was a military alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy that lasted from 1882 until the start of World War I in 1914. Each member promised mutual support in the event of an attack by any two other great powers, or for Germany and Italy, an attack by France alone. In a supplementary declaration, Italy specified that her undertakings could not be regarded as being directed against the United Kingdom. Shortly after renewing the Alliance in June 1902, Italy secretly extended a similar guarantee to France.

Italy's adherence to the German-Austrian Dual Alliance was triggered partly from anger at the French 1881 seizure of Tunisia, which many Italians had seen as a potential colony. However, Italian public opinion remained unenthusiastic about their country's alignment with Austria-Hungary, a past enemy of Italian unification, and whose Italian-majority districts in the Trentino and Istria were seen as Italia irredenta ("unredeemed Italy").

In the years before World War I, many distinguished military analysts predicted that Italy would change sides. This prediction was strengthened by Italy's invasion and annexation of Tripoli, bringing it into conflict with the German-backed Ottoman Empire.

When Germany and Austria-Hungary found themselves at war in August 1914 with the rival Triple Entente of Britain, France and, the latter's ally, Russia, Italy pledged its support to the Central Powers, but subsequently entered the conflict on the side of the Entente against Austria-Hungary in May 1915 and Germany in August 1916.

Italy's ideas for maintaining the balance of power in Europe clearly gravitated towards major alliances, even if they were a passive member. Italy's reasoning for not siding with the Central Powers was that the Triple Alliance was a defensive alliance, but Germany and Austria-Hungary had taken the offensive. It is also thought that Britain and Italy had an agreement about the Mediterranean. Britain needed access to the Mediterranean, so that she could access her African and Indian empires easily. Obviously, because Italy is surrounded by the Mediterranean, it could not afford to fall out with Britain. This is thought to be another reason that Italy changed sides.

Diplomacy of the Great Powers 1871-1913

Great Powers

Treaties and agreements

Events

[edit] External links

The Triple Alliance (First 8 Articles) The World War I Document Archive, Brigham Young University Library, accessed July 27, 2006
Triple Alliance, 1882 Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, accessed January 14, 2007