Dual Alliance, 1879
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The Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary was created by treaty on October 7, 1879. In it, Germany and Austria-Hungary pledged to aid one another in case of an attack by Russia. Also, each state promised benevolent neutrality to the other if one of them was attacked by another European power (generally taken to be France, especially after the Franco-Russian Alliance of 1894).
After the formation of the German Empire in 1871, German chancellor Otto von Bismarck wanted to portray his nation as a peacemaker and preserver of the European status quo. In 1877, Russia defeated the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-Turkish War; the resulting Treaty of San Stefano gave Russia much influence in the Balkans. This development outraged Austria-Hungary, who was Russia's chief competitor for influence in the Balkan region (despite being an ally of the Russians and the Germans in the Three Emperors' League). Hence, in 1878, Bismarck called an international conference (the Congress of Berlin) in order to sort out the problem. The Treaty of Berlin that resulted from the conference reversed Russia's gains from the Treaty of San Stefano and provided the Austrians with compensation for lost territory. Despite Bismarck's attempts to play the role of an "honest broker" at the Congress of Berlin, Russo-German relations deteriorated following the conference. The Three Emperors' League was discontinued, and Germany and Austria-Hungary were free to ally with one another against Russia.
The Alliance's existence was the reason for Russia's military mobilisation (July 30, 1914) against both allies (despite the absence of an immediate Russo-German dispute), rather than against Austria-Hungary alone following the latter's declaration of war against Serbia, whose independence Russia had pledged to uphold. Russia found it impossible to comply with Germany's subsequent demand that she stand down her forces, since her war plan had been drawn up with both allies in mind, and mobilisation against Germany could not be countermanded without jeopardising preparations against Austria-Hungary also.
Germany's resultant declaration of war against Russia (August 1) and France (August 3) signalled the general outbreak of World War I among Europe's Great Powers, though by August 4, with all engaged in hostilities apart from neutral Italy (nominally joined with Germany and Austria-Hungary in the Triple Alliance), none had actually declared war in fulfillment of an alliance obligation.de:Zweibund it:Duplice Alleanza nl:Tweebond sl:Dvozveza (1879)