Study Notes on “The Balkan Wars: Road to World War I”

Introduction

The Balkan Wars, which took place between 1912 and 1913, were a series of two intense conflicts fought primarily over the territorial disputes and national aspirations in Southeast Europe. These wars played a pivotal role in the buildup to World War I, primarily by exacerbating tensions between the European powers, destabilizing the Balkans, and setting the stage for larger confrontations in the years that followed.

The Balkan region, once under the control of the Ottoman Empire, had been subject to rising nationalism and territorial ambitions by various Balkan states, including Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Montenegro. These aspirations were further fueled by the weakening of the Ottoman Empire, known as the “sick man of Europe,” which began losing its European territories. The Balkan Wars marked a crucial turning point in the history of the region and contributed significantly to the chain of events that led to the outbreak of the First World War.

This module explores the causes, events, consequences, and historical significance of the Balkan Wars, with a particular focus on how these conflicts contributed to the tensions that eventually ignited World War I.

I. The Causes of the Balkan Wars

A. Decline of the Ottoman Empire

• Weakened Control: The Ottoman Empire, once a dominant power in Southeast Europe, began to lose its grip on the region in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The empire’s military defeats, coupled with internal political instability, created a vacuum of power in the Balkans.
• Nationalist Movements: As the Ottomans weakened, nationalist movements within the Balkan states, including Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria, sought independence and territorial expansion. These movements were further encouraged by the influence of external powers like Russia and Austria-Hungary, each trying to expand its own sphere of influence in the region.

B. The Rise of Nationalism and Territorial Ambitions

• Pan-Slavism: Serbian nationalism, supported by Russia, promoted Pan-Slavism, a movement that sought to unite Slavic peoples in the Balkans against the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. Serbia hoped to expand its territory at the expense of both the Ottomans and Austria-Hungary.
• Greek and Bulgarian Nationalism: Greece and Bulgaria were equally motivated by territorial expansion, particularly in the Ottoman-controlled regions of Macedonia and Thrace. This competition among the Balkan states would set the stage for the Balkan Wars.

C. The Balkan League and Its Formation

• Formation of the Balkan League (1912): In response to the Ottoman threat, the Balkan states of Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, and Bulgaria formed the Balkan League. The goal was to cooperate and push for the expulsion of the Ottomans from the region.
• External Influences: Russia supported the Balkan League, seeing it as a means to weaken the Ottoman Empire and gain influence in the region, while Austria-Hungary and Germany, on the other hand, sought to prevent Serbia from gaining too much power.

II. The First Balkan War (1912–1913)

A. The Outbreak of the War

• The Balkan League’s Offensive: In October 1912, the Balkan League launched a coordinated military campaign against the Ottoman Empire. The League’s forces attacked Ottoman-held territories in the Balkans, including Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania.
• Ottoman Retreat: The Ottoman forces were unable to defend their territories, and their control over the Balkans rapidly diminished. By the end of 1912, the Balkan League had achieved significant victories, and the Ottomans were forced to retreat from much of their European holdings.

B. Key Battles and Military Campaigns

• Battle of Kumanovo (1912): This decisive battle between the forces of Serbia and the Ottoman Empire took place in northern Macedonia. The Serbian victory was a major blow to the Ottoman military presence in the Balkans.
• Battle of Lule Burgas (1912): A significant battle fought between the Bulgarian and Ottoman armies in which Bulgaria emerged victorious, further weakening the Ottoman forces.
• Siege of Adrianople (1912–1913): The prolonged siege by Bulgarian forces marked the final major military engagement of the First Balkan War. The capture of Adrianople (modern-day Edirne) forced the Ottomans to relinquish control of the last remaining European territories.

C. Treaty of London (1913)

• End of the First Balkan War: The Treaty of London, signed in May 1913, officially ended the First Balkan War. The Ottoman Empire was forced to surrender almost all of its European territories, and the Balkan League divided the spoils of victory.
• Creation of Albania: Albania declared independence during the war, which complicated the post-war negotiations. The creation of Albania was intended to act as a buffer state, preventing Serbia from gaining access to the Adriatic Sea.

III. The Second Balkan War (1913)

A. Causes of the Second Balkan War

• Disputes Over Territory: Despite their successful collaboration in the First Balkan War, tensions between the Balkan League members soon escalated. Bulgaria, dissatisfied with the territorial settlement of the First Balkan War, sought to gain more land, particularly in Macedonia.
• Bulgaria Attacks Serbia and Greece: In June 1913, Bulgaria launched an attack on its former allies, Serbia and Greece, aiming to seize more territory. Bulgaria’s aggression led to a swift response from Serbia and Greece, backed by Romania and the Ottoman Empire.

B. The Course of the Second Balkan War

• Defeat of Bulgaria: Bulgaria was quickly defeated in the Second Balkan War. Serbia and Greece, with the support of Romania and the Ottoman Empire, inflicted heavy losses on Bulgaria.
• Treaty of Bucharest (1913): The Treaty of Bucharest ended the Second Balkan War. Bulgaria was forced to cede significant territories to its neighbors, including parts of Macedonia to Serbia and Greece, and Dobruja to Romania.

IV. Consequences of the Balkan Wars

A. Shifting Alliances and Diplomatic Consequences

• Increased Tensions Between Serbia and Austria-Hungary: The outcome of the Balkan Wars significantly heightened tensions between Serbia and Austria-Hungary. Serbia’s territorial gains and growing influence in the Balkans were seen as a direct threat by Austria-Hungary, which was determined to maintain its control over the region.
• The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (1914): The Balkan Wars helped create a climate of instability in the region. This instability would later contribute to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo in 1914, which set off the chain of events that led to World War I.

B. The Impact on the Ottoman Empire

• Decline of Ottoman Power in Europe: The Balkan Wars marked the final collapse of Ottoman power in Europe. The empire lost almost all of its European territories, leaving only a small area around Istanbul.
• Internal Consequences for the Ottoman Empire: The Ottoman defeat in the Balkan Wars led to internal reforms and the rise of Turkish nationalism, setting the stage for the eventual collapse of the empire after World War I.

C. Long-Term Effects on the Balkans

• Instability and Ethnic Tensions: The territorial divisions and shifting alliances created lasting ethnic and territorial disputes in the Balkans. The unresolved issues from the Balkan Wars would continue to fuel conflicts in the region for years to come.
• Prelude to World War I: The rivalry between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, along with the alliances formed during the Balkan Wars, contributed directly to the outbreak of World War I.

V. Conclusion

The Balkan Wars were pivotal in shaping the political landscape of Europe in the early 20th century. The wars exposed the fragility of the region, with shifting alliances and territorial disputes setting the stage for future conflict. The wars also contributed to the unraveling of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of nationalism in the Balkans.

The unresolved issues from the Balkan Wars, particularly the growing tension between Serbia and Austria-Hungary, set the stage for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which would be the spark that ignited World War I. The Balkan Wars thus stand as one of the most significant precursors to the global conflict that reshaped Europe and the world.

The Balkan region’s history of conflict, nationalism, and shifting alliances during the early 20th century provides critical context for understanding the events that led to World War I.