The Franco-Russian Alliance & the 'Entente'

Test yourself

The Franco-Russian Alliance

After Otto von Bismarck resigned in 1890, Bismarck's alliances from the 1880s were damaged.

Background

Bismarck’s successor did not want to continue the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia.
As a result, Russia became closer to France.

The alliance

Changes after Bismarck led to the Franco-Russian alliance in 1892.
This threatened Germany as it meant that if there was a war, Germany could be attacked from both West and East.

The 'Entente'

The 'entente' was an informal agreement between Great Britain and France. Russia later joined.

The 'Entente Cordiale'

In April 1904, the ‘Entente Cordiale’ was signed by Great Britain and France.
- An entente is a friendly understanding or informal alliance.
- An alliance is a more formal agreement between countries that benefits them both.
In the 1904 entente, the two countries agreed not to argue over colonies. Military discussions began in 1906.

The Triple Entente

The 'Entente Cordiale' led to the Triple Entente, which allied Great Britain, France and Russia together.
This showed that Bismarck’s efforts in the 1880s had not succeeded.
- Europe was now divided into two separate groups.

1The Causes of the First World War

1.1The Alliance System

1.1.1The Threat of Germany & The Triple Alliance

1.1.2The Franco-Russian Alliance & the 'Entente'

1.1.3End of Topic Test - The Alliance System

1.2Crisis in Morocco and the Balkans

1.2.1The Crisis in Morocco

1.2.2The Crisis in the Balkans

1.2.3The Balkan Wars

1.2.4Impact on International Relations

1.2.5End of Topic Test - Morocco & the Balklans

1.3Anglo-German Rivalry

1.3.1Britain & Splendid Isolation

1.3.2Kaiser Wilhelm II's Foreign Policy

1.3.3European Rearmament

1.3.4End of Topic Test - Anglo-German Rivalry

1.4Outbreak of War

1.4.1Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

1.4.2The July Crisis

1.4.3The Schlieffen Plan and Belgium

1.4.4Reasons for the Outbreak of Hostilities

1.4.5End of Topic Test - Outbreak of War

2The First World War: Stalemate

2.1The Schlieffen Plan

2.1.1Reasons Behind the Schlieffen Plan & its Failure

2.1.2Stalemate

2.1.3End of Topic Test - The Schlieffen Plan

2.2The Western Front

2.2.1Technology

2.2.2Military Tactics

2.2.3The War of Attrition (1915-1916)

2.2.4The War of Attrition (1917)

2.2.5End of Topic Test - The Western Front

2.3The Wider War

2.3.1The War at Sea

2.3.2The War in the Air

2.3.3Other Theatres

2.3.4End of Topic Test - Wider War

3Ending the War

3.1Changes in the Allied Forces

3.1.1The Bolshevik Revolution

3.1.2Reasons for the Entry of the USA

3.1.3The Impact of US Entry on the War

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Changes in the Allied Forces

3.2Military Developments in 1918

3.2.1Tactics & Technology

3.2.2Ludendorff & the German Spring Offensive

3.2.3The Allied Advance During The Hundred Days

3.3Germany Surrenders

3.3.1The Impact of the Naval Blockade

3.3.2Abdication of the Kaiser

3.3.3Armistice

3.3.4The Contribution of Haig and Foch

3.3.5End of Topic Test - Developments & Surrender

Jump to other topics