Under the terms of this military alliance, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy agreed to support each other if attacked by either France or Russia. This was reinforced by Germany's decision to form the Triple Alliance.

The Russian government considered Germany to be the main threat to its territory. Walter Trier, drawing illustrating the military alliances in Europe (1914) This concerned Austria as there was a large Serb population within the Empire, and they feared they would start demanding to become citizens of Serbia. Russia had formed a particularly close relationship with one of these nations, Serbia. (2) Triple EntenteĪt this time Russia and Austria-Hungary were in dispute over the area of south-eastern Europe known as the Balkans. Under the terms of the Treaty of Portsmouth: (i) The Liaotung Peninsula and the South Manchurian Railway went to Japan (ii) Russia recognized Korea as a Japanese sphere of influence (iii) The island of Sakhalin was divided into two (iv) The Northern Manchuria and the Chinese Eastern Railway remained under Russian control. Sergi Witte led the Russian delegation at the peace conference held in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in August, 1905. Only four Russian ships managed to reach safety at Vladivostok. Twenty Russian ships were sunk and another five were captured. In May, 1905, the Russian Navy was attacked at Tsushima. The Russian Navy fought two major battles to try and relieve Port Arthur but the Russians were defeated and were forced to withdraw.

On 8th February, 1904, the Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on the Russian fleet at Port Arthur, therefore beginning the Russo-Japanese War. Encouraged by Vyacheslav Plehve, the Minister of the Interior, the Tsar made plans to seize Constantinople and expanded into Manchuria and Korea. Although Tsar Nicholas II described himself as a man of peace, he favoured an expanded Russian Empire.

World at war guns list