Historical Significance – Kaiser Wilhelm II and the Bosnian Crisis of 1908

Kaiser Wilhelm II is one of the most influential people in the lead up to World War One due to his beliefs and actions that caused some of the biggest developments in pre-WWI Europe. The Kaiser was the one to push for the foreign policy of Weltpolitik (world politics in German) in his empire which prompted Germany’s introduction into the arms race and the Scramble for Africa (albeit at a later time than the rest of the European powers). His personal standpoint greatly affected the stance of the German empire concerning Great Britain, as a personal hate or envy he had for the nation pushed him to want to build a fleet to rival theirs. These actions, influenced by his own personal bias, pushed the possibility of an Anglo-German alliance and can be thought to have pushed Britain towards France and Russia instead.

A portrait of Kaiser

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02994/KAISER-WILHELM_2994889k.jpg

 

The Bosnian Crisis of 1908 is also significant in its effects on pan-Slavism and south-Slav nationalism. The annexation of the provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina is important as it drove tensions between the Slavic people (nations, like Serbia and Russia, as well as ethnic Slavs within the provinces and the rest of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) and the Austro-Hungarians: Austria-Hungary even mobilised against Serbia and could’ve have caused war if not for Russia accepting an ultimatum from Germany in 1909. This agitation caused animosity towards Austria-Hungary from the Slavic nations and could have even been the reason behind the formation of the Black Hand, a Serbian secret society that wanted to unite all south-Slav peoples under one nation. This crisis also pushed Russia to encourage Serbia into inciting anti-Austrian agitation amongst the Slavs living in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Alexander Izvolsky, Russia’s Foreign Minister at the time of the annexation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%98%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%90%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D1%80_%D0%9F%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87,_1894.jpg

 

4 thoughts on “Historical Significance – Kaiser Wilhelm II and the Bosnian Crisis of 1908”

  1. Cire,
    You greatly explained the significance of Kaiser’s role in the tensions between Britain and Germany. You could have also add the fact that it was Kaiser who broke the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia to try to make an alliance with Britain. But it’s Weltpolitik intervene between Germany and Britain. Furthermore, I agree with you about the fact that the role of Austria-Hungary in the Bosnian Crisis could be the reason why the Black Hand was created. You could have add the fact that Austria-Hungary made a pact with Russia before hand. This pact was to let the two powers take a part of Balkan. But Austria-Hungary took Bosnia and Herzegovina but refuse the russian part of the deal. This addition could’ve explain the tension between Russia and Austria-Hungary

  2. Hello, this is Jeff from RIS and great article by the way. I totally agreed with you about the Kaiser’s view on the British and I’ve read an article about the Kaiser a while ago and the Kaiser’s relationship with his parents might play a part in his hatred towards British. The Kaiser’s mother was from Britain and Wilhelm have a very bitter relationship with his mother, he often try to get her attention but this often fail which planted a hatred of all thing British in him since he was young. Another factor that might contribute to his hatred toward the British is probably the doctor that was sent from Britain to assist his birth, during his birth things went horribly wrong and his arms was unequal. Kaiser Wilhelm’s actions and decisions did come from his emotion in fact there is a lot of document and records of his outburst and rages. The 1908 Bosnian crisis absolutely intensify the tension between the Slavic people and Austro-Hungary but there is also another factor that intensify the tension, since Bosnia was annexed both nation Serbia and Austro-Hungary can never coexist because the dream of creating united Slavic nation is gone and if they want to do it Austro-Hungary must be remove and Austro-Hungary will never leave no matter what because they have to control the Slavic nationalism or their empire will crumble. This is a very interesting article by the way.

  3. I agree that after the resignation of Bismarck, the kaiser adopted the aggressive Weltpolitik, which led to many problems. The Bosnian Crisis of 1908, which the Austro-Hungarian Empire annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, escalated the conflicts between ethnic Germans of Austria-Hungary and their Slavic neighbors. Accurately, the Black Hand was created as a pro-Slavic terrorist organization to destroy the Austro-Hungarian Empire and create Greater Serbia.

  4. Hi Cire,
    The visuals definitely add both appeal and added detail, and I hope you continue to augment your posts in the future. Considering the Kaiser’s impact not only on the war but also on colonialism and militarism helps reinforce his selection as historically significant. The Bosnian Crisis might be a lesser-known choice, but the justification provided with links to the larger developments of panslavism and the alliance system are convincing and demonstrate your understanding of the concept of significance.

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