Chapter 728 - 337: War Breaks Out (2)

Indeed, this was the case. After the term of the Triple Alliance treaty ended, Germany and Russia did not choose to renew it but instead signed a new reinsurance treaty resembling a non-aggression pact.

The main goal of this treaty was to achieve a non-aggression pact, ensuring a temporary peace along the German-Russian border.

As for the disputes in the Balkan Peninsula region, this reinsurance treaty did not mention them much. This actually also represented one thing: in future situations regarding the Balkan Peninsula, Germany will firmly stand by Austria-Hungary.

Russia certainly understood what this reinsurance treaty represented, and at the same time as signing the treaty, it reached further cooperation agreements with France.

However, at that time, Russia did not want to damage the relationship with Germany, so the Franco-Russian Alliance that the French wanted to see was not achieved, but the relationship between France and Russia did indeed become closer.

At present, France became the only country likely to support Russia, and Alexander III could no longer care about relations with Germany.

Even if this war breaks out, Germany and Russia are likely to become enemies. In such a situation, a France that could support Russia becomes evidently more important.

As the Russian ambassador contacted the French Government, the pressure of the European situation also fell on the shoulders of the French Government.

The current Prime Minister of France was Charles Thomas Floquet, a radical member of the Republican Faction.

Although ideologically quite intense, he did not show a decisive stance in handling such significant international matters.

After the Russian ambassador contacted the French Government, Charles Thomas Floquet found himself in quite a difficult choice.

Although agreeing to Russia’s demands could likely foster the Franco-Russian Alliance, which would completely break the diplomatic isolation of France since the Franco-Prussian War.

But the problem is, doing so could likely trigger a war of enormous scale. Although the military strength of the Franco-Russian Alliance is strong, this alliance would face three enemies: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and even Spain.

The close relationship between Italy, Germany, and Austria-Hungary is well known, which also suggests that Italy is likely to join in as well.

The more critical issue is that the relationships of both France and Russia with the United Kingdom are not great, and the United Kingdom could likely join the German-Austrian Alliance to counterbalance France and Russia.

If indeed France’s support for Russia triggers a larger-scale upheaval in Europe, it could be a losing proposition for France.

While the French Government hesitated, Austria-Hungary was already preparing for war.

At the same time, Austria-Hungary contacted Germany and Italy, requesting both parties to provide military support to Austria-Hungary during the war.

According to the military alliance treaty signed by the three countries, if Russia declares war on Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy should immediately announce a state of war and send troops to support Austria-Hungary.

Faced with the request of its ally, King Umberto I of Italy immediately ordered the government to comply with Austria-Hungary’s request.

However, Italy is not without ambition. Italy also wants to expand in the Balkan Peninsula region, and they do not plan to contest Bosnia and Herzegovina with Austria-Hungary; instead, they have set their sights on the southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Black Mountain, and Albania.

These two regions are geographically close to Italy, with the nearest point being just over 70 kilometers apart. For Italy, acquiring these two regions would be an extremely important supplement to the homeland.

When signing the alliance treaty, Austria-Hungary had already discussed with Italy regarding the partitioning of situations in the Balkan Peninsula. Although the lands of Black Mountain and Albania are good, they lie too far for Austria-Hungary to annex.

If these two unattainable pieces of land could be used to attract Italy’s support for their war, it naturally would be the best choice.

Therefore, after Italy proposed its request, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria quickly agreed to Italy’s request.

Compared to Italy’s straightforwardness, Germany’s attitude was not as decisive.

At this time, the Emperor of Germany was William II, and the Prime Minister was Bismarck. There was significant conflict and contradiction between the administrative beliefs of these two, and their views on this war were vastly different.

For Bismarck, this war not only would exacerbate contradictions between Germany and Russia but might also force Russia to quickly lean towards France.

For Germany, this would not only destroy the diplomatic environment of isolating France previously established by Bismarck but also make the Franco-Russian Alliance a major threat to Germany.

Theoretically, the combined strength of the Franco-Russian Alliance exceeds that of the German-Austrian-Italian Alliance. Germany’s military strength can defeat either France or Russia individually, but Germany and Austria’s military strength cannot defeat the combined forces of France and Russia.

As for Italy, considering its current military strength, although it is a powerful state, it ultimately plays a secondary role in such a large-scale war.

Bismarck does not hold high regard for Italy’s military capabilities nor believes that Italy can play a crucial role in such a large-scale war.

If the European Continent really forms a situation of the Franco-Russian Alliance against the German-Austrian Alliance, for Germany, a country right in the middle of the Franco-Russian Alliance, it would be a hellish end.

If war breaks out, France, and Russia will undoubtedly attack Germany first. Once Germany’s industry and agriculture are destroyed, the German-Austrian Alliance would lose its strength to resist.

Do not be deceived by Austria-Hungary’s territory, which is no weaker than Germany. If Germany is first defeated by the Franco-Russian Alliance, Austria-Hungary would have no resistance against the two superpowers of France and Russia.

After all, Austria-Hungary was previously an enemy of Germany, and Bismarck is very familiar with this already defeated enemy.

If Austria-Hungary only consisted of Austria and Bohemia, Bismarck would consider it a moderately powerful state.

However, if we add Hungary, Galicia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other regions, the comprehensive strength of the complete Austria-Hungary is considerably weakened.

The largest state within the country, Hungary, is not very fond of the Austrian Empire, and with so many other ethnic groups domestically, the core German ethnicity does not hold an advantage, significantly weakening this once powerful nation’s strength.

In contrast to Bismarck’s pessimism about the war, the newly crowned Emperor William II was very optimistic about it.

William II believed that currently, the war was Germany and Austria-Hungary and Italy facing only one enemy, Russia. Moreover, Spain had already expressed its support for Austria-Hungary. If the four can unite to eliminate Russia first, the hellish outcome Bismarck spoke of naturally would not occur.

Even if the Franco-Russian Alliance is eventually established, it might not necessarily mean a hellish end for Germany.

Indeed, Germany is flanked by France and Russia on both sides, but if Spain can be allied, France will be similarly flanked.

Although Germany faces attacks from two sides, the north and south still promise safety. By prioritizing the destruction of either France or Russia, the war can still end quickly.

Defeating France or Russia would be beneficial for Germany either way.

Defeating France could yield substantial reparations and could even seize France’s colonies in Africa. Defeating Russia could snatch the Russian-occupied Poland region, with the Polish Plain also being highly valuable land.

Owing to the ideological conflict between the new Emperor and the established leadership, Germany did not immediately express its stance.

Emperor Franz Joseph I in Vienna gazed deeply. After confirming no news from Germany, he kept his eyes on the situation map of the Balkan Peninsula for a long time and finally gave his order to the government: "Go to war!"