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The Lines Are Drawn
The Great War was really fought between two alliances. France, the United
Kingdom and Russian made up what is known as the Entente Powers or the Triple
Entente (agreement). Spain, the U.S. and Japan joined these allies later in the
war. Russia had been in a previous alliance with Germany and Austro-Hungary but
that union fell apart in 1890. The French, nervous about the power accumulating
at the centre of Europe, reached out to Russia as a partner. In fact, French
francs underwrote a number of major engineering projects in Russia, including
the Trans-Siberian Railway. By 1895, a Dual Alliance between Russia and France
was cemented and announced.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom had been invited to join in an alliance with
Germany but disagreed with its military goals and ended up in a naval race with
the Germans prior to the Great War.
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On
the other side were the Central Powers: the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian
Monarchy. They were known as "der Zweibund" or Group of Two. On November
10th, the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) joined and the the alliance became "der
Dreibund" or Group of Three. On October 14, 1915, Bulgaria joined and the
alliance, now "der Vierbund," or Group of Four, was complete.
The Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain and Scandinavian nations remained neutral.
Prior to the war, in 1882, Italy had become part of a Triple Alliance with
Germany and Austro-Hungary but for defensive purposes only. When the Great War
was declared Italy declined to participate. In May, 1915, it did however, join
the battle, but on the side of the Entente Powers against the Central Powers. |
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Borden and Churchil
Prime Minister Robert Borden and a young Winston Churchill
would play key roles for the Allies in the upcoming Great War. |
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