Bismarck's Diplomatic Legacy

Bismarck's foreign policy prioritized Germany's security by avoiding direct confrontations with potential adversaries and maintaining good relations with London. He created alliances and agreements to prevent coalitions from forming against Germany, while also avoiding direct conflict with France and Russia. Bismarck's diplomatic finesse and mediation skills were recognized, and he was seen as the architect of European peace. However, after Bismarck's dismissal, tensions between Germany and Russia grew, and Russia sought an alliance with France. The Franco-Russian alliance alarmed Germany and raised concerns about potential encirclement. The UK was seen as a potential ally by Germany, but the reinsurance treaty between Germany and Russia lapsed and Russia turned to France. This led to the formation of a military convention between Russia and France, ultimately culminating in the alliance of 1894. Despite differing views on Bismarck's policies and the rise of anti-German sentiment, these events laid the foundation for the complex alliances and tensions that shaped the outbreak of World War I.