International situation in early 20th century. 1904 Entente Cordiale. For Europe, agreement between these powers fiercely competing for colonies was a revolution in diplomacy. However, the UK had previously succeeded in thwarting the French ambitions in Equatorial Africa, and France had accepted the status of the British rule on this continent., 1905 The First Moroccan Crisis In order to mark their ambitions as a superpower, Germans decided to demonstrate their strength. In March, German Emperor Wilhelm II arrived in Tangier on his yacht, allegedly to visit the Sultan of Morocco. In response, in January 1906, the European superpowers held an international conference in Algeciras, Spain. It resulted in recognition of Morocco’s independence, but also assurance of France’s special position in this country., 1907 Anglo-Russian Convention. Creation of the Triple Entente. This was done by establishing the zones of colonial influence between the UK and Russia. The convention concerned Persia, Tibet, and Afghanistan. These arrangements removed the source of divergences which, until then, had been believed to be impossible to dispel. This Europe’s second military bloc provided a counterbalance to the Triple Alliance., 1908 Annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary The annexation of the previously occupied territory led to a political upheaval in this region. In response, the Russian Empire began to arm itself, and Serbia announced mobilization. No war broke out only because Germany supported the causer of the crisis – their ally from the Triple Alliance., 1911 The Second Moroccan Crisis It was triggered by the reaction of Germany to the uprising that broke out against the sultan – this time, the arrival of a German gunboat in Agadir caused a strong reaction of France and the United Kingdom. Europe was on the verge of war. Finally, France declared a protectorate over Morocco, but gave a part of the French Congo to Germany as compensation. Expansion of the French and German armed forces started., 1912 The First Balkan War As its result, the Ottoman Empire was driven out of Europe by the Balkan states. This greatly unbalanced the already unstable composition of forces in this region., 1913 The Second Balkan War The countries of the anti-Turkish coalition soon quarreled about the division of the conquered territories. Bulgaria attacked Greece and Serbia, but they managed to defeat the aggressor with the help of Romania. The great powers could not control the fierce rivalry between the Balkan states. Austria was worried about the increase in Serbian power, while Russia was concerned by a possible increase in German influence in Turkey.

Mark fragments about Germany's imperial ambitions in the text. Meanwhile the dream of a Colonial Empire had taken deep hold on the German imagination. Emperor, statesmen, journalists, geographers, economists, commercial and shipping houses, and the whole mass of educated and uneducated public opinion continue with one voice to declare: We must have real Colonies, where German emigrants can settle and spread the national ideals of the Fatherland, and we must have a fleet and coaling stations to keep together the Colonies which we are bound to acquire. To the question, “Why must?” the ready answer is: “A healthy and powerful State like Germany, with its 60,000,000 inhabitants, must expand, it cannot stand still, it must have territories to which its overflowing population can emigrate without giving up its nationality.” [...] On this view of the case it would have to be, assumed that Germany is deliberately following a policy which is essentially opposed to vital British interests, and that an armed conflict cannot in the long run be averted, except by England either sacrificing those interests, with the result that she would lose her position as an independent Great Power, or making herself too strong to give Germany the chance of succeeding in a war. This is the opinion of those who, see in the whole, trend of Germany’s policy conclusive evidence that she is consciously aiming at the establishment of a German hegemony, at first in Europe, and eventually in the world.