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1792-1918 ?
INTRODUCTION
Nations increasingly preferred to fight along side allies during 1792-1918 or at
least fight an enemy in isolation. The benefits derived from alliance warfare
1813-15 and 1914-18 derive from attrition. A lack of allies such as the CSA
1861-5 or France 1870-71 allowed for the individual defeat in detail of those
armies. Alliances could also be perceived as a force for peace such as the
Congress system 1815-60 and the Bismarckian alliances 1879-1889.
THE BIT IN THE MIDDLE
ALLIANCES 1792-1812
Nations were in alliance against France ( Austro-Britain 1809)
Napoleon was able to defeat his enemies in singular combat (Ulm ,
Austerlitz and Jena)
Britain played a major role (Indirect approach) through finance and supply
British troop involvement provided a second front against Napoleon
(Peninsular War 1808-14)
The turning point came with Russian success and the decision of
Alexander I to invade Napoleonic Europe (1812 campaign)
THE GRAND ALLIANCE 1813-15
Castlereagh was the diplomatic founder of the Grand Alliance (Britain ,
Prussia , Russia , Austria)
The alliance had a single aim , to defeat Napoleon without making a
separate peace (Treaty of Chaumont)
The BRAP Led to the attrition(progressive degradation using the
Bernadotte strategy) of Napoleon and his abdication 1814 and 1815
(Waterloo).
Unlike the years of legend (1804-09) , Napoleon was unable to defeat Great
Powers individually.
THE INVENTION OF PEACE 1815-1860
The Grand Alliance decided to deal with the reorganisation of Europe after
the war 1792-1815 over a period of years (Congress System)
The alliance accepted the Kantian idea that all were responsible for peace
(the idea of positive peace rather than negative peace)
Alliances could be used to maintain peace reflecting two broad ideas
The Holy Alliance set up by Alexander I (Universalism)
The Balance of Power system (State Paper 1820 of Castlereagh)
Holy Alliance ended with the death of Alexander I 1825 and the 1815
Balance was disrupted by the Crimean War 1854-6 (removed Russia from
the equation until 1894) and Unification of Germany 1860-71 (created a new
assertive military power in central Europe)