Triple Alliance (1882)

Triple Alliance in 1914, in blue Germany, in red Austria-Hungary and in Italy.

European military alliances in 1914. The allies of the Triple Entente in green and the Central Powers of the Triple Alliance in olive green.

The Triple Alliance was an alliance between Germany, Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the name given to the coalition initially made up of the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire on the initiative of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, after which would later be joined by Italy. It should not be confused with the Central Powers that would be the three empires of Europe: German, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman.

On the one hand, Otto Von Bismarck considered his main diplomatic objective to maintain the isolation of France; on the other hand, Italy thought that her accession to the Alliance and her association with Germany were the best way to reach the rank of great power. Italy was dissatisfied with the French (and later the German) attitude towards its colonial aspirations in Tunisia and the Horn of Africa, and later a problem would be added due to the conflicting interests over the control of the Trentino between Austria-Hungary and Italy.

The three countries agreed to support each other, in case they were attacked by France or Russia. The treaty was reaffirmed several times until 1913, although the Italian position, as it turned out at the start of World War I, was increasingly uncomfortable. Finally, the Kingdom of Italy decided to fight on the side of the allies in 1915, thus breaking this coalition and becoming part of the Triple Entente.

Italy was promised several territories through the London treaty that were not granted at the Paris conference, leading to nationalist discontent (which is why Benito Mussolini joined the Axis side in WWII), while the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers.

End of the Triple Alliance

After World War I the Central Powers were subjected to crushing sanctions. However, they did not hesitate to intervene with Italy, having had an old alliance with the other two.

Other Allies

• Kingdom of Bulgaria
• Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan
• Sultanate of Darfur
• State of Dervish
• Emirate of Jabal Shammar