3 ms·

> Bismarck tried to freeze Europe in that situation No he didn't, he was quite flexible in his approach as for what was needed at any point in time. > it fail

> Bismarck tried to freeze Europe in that situation No he didn't, he was quite flexible in his approach as for what was needed at any point in time. > it failed and left Germany in a bad diplomatic situation when WW1 started. Not really. Germany was in a fantastic situation when he left. And even by WW1 Germany wasn't in a bad situation. Relationship with Britain had been improving for years. Relationship with the Ottoman had also been improving. British French relationship wasn't that close. And British Russian relation were a disaster. The reality is Bismark did brilliantly and the people that came after him were idiots. - Building a huge North Atlantic Navy, rather then a smaller Baltic Navy. - Instead of Balancing Russia and Austria going all in on Austria - Creating international crisis over irrelevant issues to bring France/Britain, Russia/Britain closer together. And then to start the War did the dumbest possible things and instantly made sure Britain was on the other side.

pyrale 3y ago
> Instead of Balancing Russia and Austria going all in on Austria That was already Bismarck's choice : he signed a secret deal aligning Germany with Austria in case of conflict, and jeopardized his relations with Russia at the Berlin conference. > And then to start the War did the dumbest possible things and instantly made sure Britain was on the other side. Britain would have been on the other side regardless, already in 1875, Britain and Russia were more likely to align with France if Germany sought a preventive war.
- panick21_ 3y ago
  > That was already Bismarck's choice And its secret deal because he is playing both sides. That's the whole point. > Britain would have been on the other side regardless This isn't at all true. Britain-German relations were actually quite good. And British-Russian relations were terrible. Germany had messed up generally good relations with Britain because of the idiotic Navy project. But by 1912 this was basically over and relations were improving. British-Russian relations were going to over Persia. Look at how close the margins for war were in British Parliament even after Belgium. > if Germany sought a preventive war Ok but I'm not talking about a preventative war.

pyrale 3y ago

> Instead of Balancing Russia and Austria going all in on Austria That was already Bismarck's choice : he signed a secret deal aligning Germany with Austria in case of conflict, and jeopardized his relations with Russia at the Berlin conference. > And then to start the War did the dumbest possible things and instantly made sure Britain was on the other side. Britain would have been on the other side regardless, already in 1875, Britain and Russia were more likely to align with France if Germany sought a preventive war.

panick21_ 3y ago
> That was already Bismarck's choice And its secret deal because he is playing both sides. That's the whole point. > Britain would have been on the other side regardless This isn't at all true. Britain-German relations were actually quite good. And British-Russian relations were terrible. Germany had messed up generally good relations with Britain because of the idiotic Navy project. But by 1912 this was basically over and relations were improving. British-Russian relations were going to over Persia. Look at how close the margins for war were in British Parliament even after Belgium. > if Germany sought a preventive war Ok but I'm not talking about a preventative war.