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The Balkans
Why was the Balkans the powder keg of pre war tensions?
This region was geographically at the crossroads of all the significant powers it
was an area of entanglement for all their issues and tensions.
The tension was agitated by Germanys shift in attitude following Bismarcks
retirement in 1890 (he died in 1898) that led to Germanys increasing influence in
the Balkans under expansionist Wilhelmine policies.
The shift in Germanys foreign policy from 1897 onwards
Kaiser Wilhelm II started the policy of Weltpolitik in 1897
The geographical location as the crossroads between Europe, Africa and Asia
made control over the area vital in the eyes of leaders at the time.
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For example, Britain didnt want this area to slip under German or Russian control
as they would become unstoppably powerful and would threaten Britains empire
she was most concerned over her crown jewel India.
There was a genuine fear of Pan-Slavism (All Slavs)
Pan-Slavism was the Slav nationalist movement Russia had a
mission to liberate all Slavs living under Turkish and Austrian
rule.
To achieve this, they wanted to expand the Russian empire
creating a Slav empire.
1904 The
RussoJapanese War
1912-13 The
Second Balkan
Crisis