alternatehistory.com

The year of where the league of three emperor's would lapse if not revised to keep the parties happy and in doing so the world Takes a step in a direction none was certain how it could shift the powers feet. For in this moment the great Iron Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck marched in worry to plead his case to the Kaiser and as the doors swung open for his audience A battle for Germany's fate, of such a scope not even Bismarck realised just how much it mattered. Bismarck and the Kaiser argued for up to an hour eventually the Kaiser relented with one servant having reported it was after Bismarck Asked, "what happens if Russia turns to France your majesty? a two-front war with the bear is one we are unlikely to win and I am confident that Vienna will see the error in their ways if they oppose any changes". This statement would fall into the list of Bismarck’s few miscalculations. With consensus reached, Bismarck utilised both back and official channels offering Russia what they so craved for it had been promised that in case of ottoman collapse Russia would be permitted a free hand in their border territories of the Balkans and caucuses, however, any incursion into the Balkans would mean that Vienna had to be notified beforehand with any expansion having to result in some provided some form of compensation to Vienna though the same also applied to them. this was provided along with free use of black sea fleet without restriction and economic guarantees with the sale of Russian goods such as grain within Germany. the Reason for such concessions was the belief that by obtaining Russian support would guarantee Germany's station in Europe with such measures as it would save the alliance as any protest by Vienna would be eventually be browbeaten by the other two. This was a miscalculation larger than any other previously made as upon hearing the proposed rectifications to the league's treaty Franz Joseph and the whole imperial government had only one answer "NO!" In their eyes this was not better then total surrender of the Balkans to Russia a summary which does hold water and amplified by the belief that in their eyes the Balkans was solely their sphere of influence and they had no intention of letting it slip, resulting in a refusal to sign the revised treaty with Franz joseph stating "we shall not stand in the bears shadow nor abide by our brother Germany's cowardice towards them". in this stubborn refusal where no matter how they attempt to browbeat or convince they would not budge with many even Otto Bismarck believed this was death to the treaty and league of emperors and with its death the end of his hope of a 2 of the three policy, for Blame lays at his feet. The Kaiser and chancellor met with small hope that possibly they could find some solution to the problem at first they were unable to provide a suitable solution but as the kaiser thought of his s hough this fallout saw a gap open in the league one that needed to be filled if Germany wanted to maintain a stronger balance and dominance over Europe and help keep Russia from obtaining the dominant position in the alliance.



The main candidate was Italy while believed to be one of the weaker powers a notion which held many truths. though it was one of the few powers that did not hold any real problem with German and Russian expansionism for the time and boasted ally Spain through savoy rule though rocky as an unstable country however, the potential was there. It was also already in the triple alliance which further strengthened the wish as much of the framework was there. Though Austria was not happy to see this leading them to become strained within the triple alliance and especially with Italy leaving both too practically cut ties. not long before Italy would sign the pact and join the league merging the triple alliance and league. While Austria abandons its own alliances in practice but not quite yet on paper for the triple alliance.