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2 Events Leading to War
... D The Balkan Wars, 1912-13 i The Balkan Wars finished in August 1913 just twelve months before the outbreak of the First World War and their influence on the overall European situation was very important. The emergence of a much larger Serbia frightened Austria and a quick war seemed to the Austrian government the only way to ward off the Serbian threat. In October 1913, when the Serbs moved into Albania to restore order on the frontier, Austria demanded their withdrawal within a week and Kaiser William II told the Austrian Minister, Berchtold, 'You can be certain I stand behind you and am ready to draw the sword whenever your action makes it necessary' (Taylor). This was the green light for Austria. ii The Balkan Wars weakened the Turkish Empire and gave Germany an opening to become dominant at the Straits. Constantinople could be the spearhead of German economic expansion and railway penetration into the Middle East. 'The temptation was irresistible and indeed if Germany were to continue on her course as a Great Power, unavoidable' (Taylor). iii Russia had also a vital interest in the Straits. Southern Russia depended on a free passage through the Straits for her export trade in general and for her corn trade in particular. The last thing that Russia wanted to see was a foreign power such as Germany established in Constantinople. This explains her vigorous protest in November 1913, when a German General, Liman von Sanders, was put in charge of the Turkish army and given command of Constantinople. The Russians backed by France and Britain persuaded the Germans to remove him. iv The net result of the Balkan wars was to underline harshly in the area of the Balkans and the Turkish Empire, the basic conflict between Pan-German aims as represented by Austria and Germany, and Pan-Slav aims as represented by Russia and Serbia. This was the more dangerous at a time when Germany had promised unconditional support for Austria, while France, more confident than at any time since 1871, was more ready to back Russia, even in the Balkans where she had no direct interest. v As a final ironic touch the speed with which the Balkan states had won their war against Turkey was noted. The major powers on the continent thought in terms of a similar lightning war, and made preparations for it.
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