When, in the first years of 1880, when many crises occurred, as in the previous decade, Bismarck was never to go to war.On three occasions, he did everything in his power to keep the peace.Looking back, he cited all the internal factors that had weakened Austria.Ethnic complexity, Catholic power, Pan-Slavism, Bosnian, Serb, Polish questions, Czechs, Trintino questions, he expected that any one or all of these problems would become crystallizers.It caused a crisis not only in Austria, but in all of Europe, and Germany was affected only by the strong alliance between Germany and Austria.It would be irrational to think that the Triple Alliance, no matter what the vicious period, has a solid foundation internally.After the alliance, Bismarck refused to provide German help to Austria in the Balkans, and on several occasions in the following years.He was careful not to break with Russia.Only under such conditions could the Triple Alliance be preserved only under the guidance of Bismarck.When he was there, such a loose bond was rarely in danger.In the hands of his successor, the alliance became a mortal wound at that time.What Bismarck would have dealt with in the pre-war crisis in Europe can be inferred from his behavior when the crisis of 1880 occurred.The alliance of the three empires broke down because of disagreement on the Bulgarian question, Bismarck united with Austria, Italy, and Romania, and the Russians were just about to expel the Batenberg Führer and to govern Bulgaria themselves; The Viennese suddenly asked the Germans to help them with the Baryu plan.Bismarck absolutely refused, he was willing to do so until the status quo was maintained.If the Austrians want to take land, it is their business, and they do it at their own risk, "In the event that Russia provokes by wanton aggression or in disregard of the treaty, we are prepared to support Austria with all our might; If Austria invades Serbia without talking to us, and therefore fights Russia, we are not prepared to say to Germany that we are going to fight Russia this time. ”These many crises re-unstruck Bismarck.He said to the Minister of War: "We have no money to prepare for the new army, so I will steal it, and I will sleep more comfortably in prison than I do now" The Russian Emperor Alexander was assassinated for the second time.His son, Alexander III, was not opposed to Germany, but it was more difficult to speak.The new Russia refused to develop a Triple Alliance, and Bismarck changed his face again, first proposing an alliance with Russia, and Bismarck was preparing to meet Russia eight years after his talks with Austria.But the alliance with Austria remained immovable, and it was still preferred by lovers of such alliances.It was advantageous and natural for the Germans to be willing to unite with the Germans in Austria, and they had no time to take care of the southern part of the empire, and only a few were Germanic, and they were not aware of the fact that the civil servants who worked in the Austrian government, and the soldiers who fought under the Austrian flag, were aliens, and had a different language, and they were as hostile to the Germans as the French.At that time, Count Paul Shuvarov, the younger brother of Count Pyotr Shuvarov, turned into the head of the Eastern Policy of Russia.He told Bismarck that as long as Russia could reach the Channel, Germany would be able to send a guard to Paris.Bismarck is now in a hurry to conclude a treaty with Russia, just as Andrassy was in a hurry to conclude a treaty with Germany eight years ago.Both times were reinsurance, but with very different intentions, this time the new alliance with Russia was to protect Germany against France.His purpose was purely conservative.He must not make France weaker and not a great power.He did not want France to weaken, because he fancied that Gladstone could be willing to form an alliance with Russia.In this way, Germany had to throw itself into the arms of France.One way or another, he had to get help from France or Russia."
If France were to attack us, we should never have the illusion that we would be able to destroy a nation of forty million such wise men.The three great empires of the eastern half of Europe have been trying to destroy the Polish nation, which is far less robust than France, for a hundred years, and they will not be able to destroy it, if France remains a great power or, after a little recuperation, then becomes a great power, so that we often regard it as a terrible neighbor.If we win the second war, we must have as much compassion for Austria as we did after the German-Austrian war.If I sometimes sing another tone in the Imperial Diet, I will only intimidate our future enemies in order to preserve the peace.If war is not avoided, we must make peace with France by easy means after our first victory.If we were to lose, we could hardly be sure that Russia would like to see a victorious French Republic advance closer to Russia's borders. ”Bismarck said to the Kaiser: "Not only the problem between China, Japan, Britain and France, but also considering Tsarist Russia, our strongest enemy, has always been Tsarist Russia" "Do you think that the diplomacy between China and Germany has an impact on Tsarist Russia, and has a relationship" Wilhelm I heard Bismarck say this, and re-nervous, Germany and Tsarist Russia never seemed to really get together, and it seemed that the entire European countries had no way to get together with Tsarist Russia."
Of course, it has a relationship, if China handles this matter with Japan well, it is very likely to stabilize the defense line in Central Asia, which will plant a bomb around Tsarist Russia, a bomb that will explode at any time At the same time, if China really intervenes in the Afghan issue and tears its face with Britain, it is extremely important to curb Britain's development in Asia, we have no ability and it is not convenient to directly intervene, there is a country that can make trouble with Tsarist Russia and Britain, and at the same time, they are always in the shadow of war.
Is there still time to develop the economy, is it not advantageous for Germany" Bismarck's argument is very favorable.Kaiser Wilhelm I stood up and looked at the world map in the hall, a large area of red was a little dazzling, those represented the sphere of influence of China, but the Central Asian region of China was inserted between the sphere of influence of Tsarist Russia and Britain, which made William I feel comfortable.Wilhelm I looked at the red envelope on the table again, still undecided, looked at Bismarck and said: "You said you moved me, but even if we stay out of the matter, we can take this money" Bismarck also looked at the Kaiser, without any expression, thinking about how to answer.For Bismarck, war was only a tool to achieve his ends, so his sense of "self-control" was also expressed in his attitude towards force.He was a believer in power politics, however, Bismarck was not first and foremost a military maniac; Rather, a politician, a politician who completely subordinates the means to the end.After the end of the Austro-Prussian War, there were calls for reunification through violence in Germany, but Bismarck remained very sensible: "I also think that it is possible to advance the reunification of Germany through violence alone."
But a completely different issue is the mission that caused a violent catastrophe, and the responsibility for choosing the moment.Arbitrarily and solely on subjective grounds, the decision to intervene in the development of history will always result in the unripe fruits.As for the fact that German reunification is not a ripe fruit at the present time, it seems to me very clear. ”The use of force must be prudent and must serve realpolitik purposes.In the state of international anarchy, which emphasizes the primacy of national interests, the realization of national goals must be based on strong national strength; At the same time, the use of national strength should be prudent, and the strong strength possessed by the state should be combined with a flexible balance of power policy to better achieve national goals and interests.For the unification of Germany, Bismarck waged three dynastic wars.The Prussian-Danish War took place in 1864 and began in February 1864, with Denmark quickly defeated.Under the Treaty of Vienna signed in October of that year, Prussia took possession of Schleswig, and the Austrian Empire received Holstein.After the end of the war against Denmark, he actively planned the war against Austria, and on June 17, 1866, Prussia sent troops to Holstein to launch the war against Austria."
If there is a Chinese state, it can keep Britain and Tsarist Russia in the shadow of war, which in itself is a good thing for Germany."
Bismarck made a final effort.t1706231537: