Chapter 314 Balkan War
If we want to talk about the first major event in 1912, it must be the British Empire's compromise in warship construction.
Although the modification of the naval plan was not made with much fanfare, the sudden cancellation of plans by some shipyards in the British Empire still attracted the attention of the media in Britain and Europe, especially the Germans.
At first, everyone thought that the British were trying to hold back their big move. Unexpectedly, after waiting for a long time, there was no news from the shipyards that had canceled their shipbuilding tasks. This also forced everyone to believe the fact that the British Empire was actually building warships. Compromised.
For the German Empire, this is probably the best news in the second decade of the 20th century.
If the British's crazy construction plan was followed, the High Seas Fleet would never be able to rival the Royal Fleet.
Moreover, Germany also has army potential and it is impossible to spend all its defense budget on building a navy.
It is impossible for the Germans to be so stupid as to abandon their martial arts. Although they are the world's largest army power, they give up the expansion of the army.
The German media trumpeted that Britain's retreat was due to fear and incompetence of Germany's continuous expansion of military strength, and proudly announced that the German Empire was about to usher in another great victory.
Just as Europe was undergoing a sudden change due to Britain's retreat, in one region of Europe, a war was also quietly being planned.
The Balkans have a special location, where not only the interests of Russia exist, but also the interests of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Even great powers such as Italy, Britain, and Germany also have considerable interests in this area.
The Balkan Peninsula is located at the junction of three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is the only way from Europe to the Middle East and the Near East. It has a very important geographical location.
Constantinople, located at the junction of Europe and Asia, controls the junction of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, and also determines whether the Russian Black Sea Fleet can go to the Mediterranean and eventually enter the ocean.
In addition, the internal strategic resources of the Balkan Peninsula are very rich, and they are naturally competed for by major powers.
This small peninsula also has a large number of ethnic groups. The languages, cultures, religious beliefs and customs of these ethnic groups are different and conflict with each other.
The Balkans almost became a gathering point for all kinds of contradictions before the world war. Not only were the contradictions between the European powers - the contradictions between Germany, Austria and Russia, the contradictions between Britain and Germany, the contradictions between Austria and Italy, the contradictions between Britain and Russia, but also the contradictions between nations. That is, the conflicts between the various ethnic groups in the Balkans and the Ottoman Turkish Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Tsarist Russian Empire.
In addition, the conflicts between the various ethnic groups in the Balkans are also an important reason for the instability in the Balkans. These various conflicts are overlapping and complicated, making this region a famous powder keg in Europe.
The Ottoman Turkish Empire performed very poorly in the war with the Kingdom of Italy, which also accelerated the formation of the Balkan Alliance and prepared for war.
Although the goals of the countries participating in the Balkan League were not the same, they had a common enemy, which was the Ottoman Turkish Empire that enslaved this region.
The member states of the Balkan League are composed of the Kingdom of Serbia, the Kingdom of Bulgaria, the Kingdom of Greece, and the Kingdom of Montenegro. The most important link, and the alliance between the two most powerful countries, was the Treaty of Alliance between Serbia and Bulgaria.
According to the alliance treaty signed by Serbia and Bulgaria, it is agreed that if either side of the two countries is invaded by one or more countries, the other side has the responsibility to provide full support.
The two sides also made arrangements for the timing of launching a war against Turkey and the issue of carving up Turkey. They agreed that Russia should be notified first when going to war. If there is a dispute between the two countries, the issue should also be submitted to Russia for arbitration.
As can be seen from the alliance treaty established between Serbia and Bulgaria, Russia attempted to establish hegemony over the Slavic countries and become the arbiter of all issues in the Balkans.
Use this method to control Constantinople and control the only strait that allows the Black Sea Fleet to sail to the Mediterranean.
When French Prime Minister Poincare first learned about the treaty between Serbia and Bulgaria, he couldn't help but exclaimed: "This is completely a treaty preparing for war!"
Afterwards, he also commented on the treaty in his notes: "This treaty not only contains the seeds of war against the Ottoman Empire, but also contains the seeds of war against the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He further established Russia's control over the Slavic countries. Hegemony, because according to the provisions of this treaty, Russia will become the arbiter of all issues in this region.”
More than six months have passed since the establishment of the Balkan Alliance. In the past six months or so, the Balkan Alliance countries have carried out a massive military expansion, and their purpose is self-evident.
In February 1912, Bulgaria issued an ultimatum to the Ottoman Empire, demanding that Türkiye allow Macedonian autonomy.
At this time, Turkey was already exhausted at home due to the war with Italy, but it refused to give in, so it decided to ignore Bulgaria's proposal and delay as much time as possible.
What happened in the Balkans quickly aroused the attention and vigilance of the major European powers.
Because the importance of this area is so high, no European country is willing to lose interests in this area.
Almost all the powers have expressed concern about this, but all the powers have the same attitude, which is to sit back and watch the development of the situation in the Balkans.
For the European powers, if they do not come to the fore at the most critical moment, they will be at a disadvantage.
No one knows whether the fire in the Balkans will burn themselves, which is naturally unacceptable to the European powers who are not fully prepared for war.
At this time, the major European powers are like the spectators, quietly but expectantly waiting for the development of the Balkan situation.
Not to disappoint the spectators, after Turkey did not make any statement, another Balkan power, Serbia, also stood up and demanded that Turkey recognize the autonomy of the Macedonian region and compensate for the previous oppression of the various ethnic groups in the Balkans.
The two most powerful countries have expressed their opinions, and the remaining Balkan allied countries will naturally not be idle.
On February 19, Greece and Montenegro successively expressed their opinions, demanding that Turkey recognize the autonomy of the Macedonian region, and specifically stated that if there is no response within a week, it will be regarded as a rejection of this ultimatum.
This ultimatum with a special time statement can also be regarded as the final preparations of the Balkan countries.
On February 26, after the Ottoman Turkish government remained silent for a week, the Bulgarian government announced a national military mobilization.
Only one day later, on February 27, the Serbian government, the Greek government and the Montenegrin government also announced a national military mobilization.
From February 27, the armies of the Balkan Alliance began to gather at the Turkish border, and various weapons, ammunition, equipment and materials were quickly transported to the front line.
The Turkish side also had to mobilize the troops in the European region and ask the attitudes of the European powers as much as possible.
But to the disappointment of the Turkish government, the European powers, apart from verbal sympathy and support, just asked both sides to keep calm without any practical actions.
On February 29, a day that only happens once every four years, the Balkan Alliance army and the Turkish army clashed for the first time on the border, with dozens of casualties on both sides, which also marked the arrival of war.
On March 1, 1912, the Kingdom of Bulgaria took the lead in declaring war on Turkey. Immediately afterwards, on March 2, Montenegro declared war on the Turkish government. Then came Serbia and Greece, and the Balkan war broke out.
According to the previous Balkan Alliance Treaty, Bulgaria sent a total of 300,000 troops, Serbia sent 220,000 troops, Greece sent 115,000 troops, and Montenegro sent 35,000 troops, a total of 670,000 troops.
As for Turkey, although the Turkish army is not small, due to the containment of the Italo-Turkish War, the maximum number of troops that can be dispatched is only about 350,000.
The gap in the strength of the two sides is already very large. In addition, the Balkan countries have been preparing for this war for a long time, but Turkey has become more exhausted due to the consumption of the Italo-Turkish War, resulting in the offensive of the Balkan countries being almost unstoppable.
In terms of the offensive direction, Bulgaria, which sent the most troops, chose to go south, occupy eastern Macedonia, Thrace, and attack in the direction of Constantinople.
Serbia chose to go south and occupy the North Macedonia region to expand its territory, and also to fight for a sea outlet for itself.
Although Serbia has the ambition to rise and wants to establish a Slavic Greater Serbia.
But to become a powerful country, the most important thing is to have an outlet to the sea. Before, Serbia was surrounded by the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the north, Romania and Bulgaria in the east, Montenegro in the west, and Turkey in the south. It was a completely landlocked country.
The main purpose of this expansion to the south is to gain an outlet to the sea.
Greece, located in the southernmost part of the Balkan Peninsula, naturally expanded to the north and recovered the southern Macedonia region.
As for Montenegro, which is the weakest, they have few choices and can only expand slightly to the east. After all, the national strength also determines that they cannot swallow up much land.
In fact, from the direction of the troops sent by various countries, it can be seen that their purpose is definitely not to promote Macedonian autonomy, but to divide Macedonia among three countries.
Bulgaria and Greece obtain more territory, Serbia obtains an outlet to the sea, and Montenegro expands in a small area. This is also the plan for sharing the spoils that the Balkan Alliance had discussed before.
Because of the advantages in numbers and equipment, and because of the advantages of taking the lead, the expansion of several countries was very smooth. In just a few weeks, the Ottoman Empire lost more than half of its territory in Europe.
In the expansion of these countries, Britain supported Greece and Russia supported Serbia.
But at the same time, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which had conflicts with Serbia, was paying attention to Serbia's expansion. They did not allow a threatening enemy to appear around them.
As the war progressed, the eyes of the great powers came to the direction of Bulgaria's attack.
If we say that the most important area of Turkey in the Balkan Peninsula is Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
From a historical point of view, Constantinople was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, that is, the Byzantine Empire. It has thousands of years of history and culture and is also one of the holy places in the hearts of Orthodox Christians.
The importance of Constantinople is self-evident. It is not only a bridge connecting the European and Asian parts of the Ottoman Empire, but also controls the connection between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.
On the outskirts of Constantinople, the Turkish Empire arranged a military stronghold to defend its capital.
Adrianople is one of the most solid military fortresses in the European part of the Turkish Empire, and it is also the iron wall second only to the capital Constantinople.
After the outbreak of the war, the Turkish government deliberately transferred some troops from Albania and Macedonia to garrison Adrianople in Thrace.
This is the outpost for Bulgaria and the Balkan countries to Constantinople, and it is also the last line of defense for the capital of the Ottoman Turkish Empire.
If Adrianople is conquered, Thrace will be flat, and the enemy's army will soon reach Constantinople.
In order to conquer this important military town, Bulgaria mobilized an entire army group to surround the town. Its ambition to occupy Constantinople is self-evident.
The rapid expansion of the Balkan countries made the Turkish government very afraid, so it quickly recalled the European powers to request mediation.
You know, the strategic position of the Black Sea Strait is very important, and it has always been a battleground for military strategists.
For this strait, several wars and crises have broken out in history, and this time will naturally be no exception.
Because of the Bulgarian army's massive attack, as expected, a new Strait crisis broke out.
On March 20, just over half a month after the war began, the Bulgarian army was only 25 miles away from Constantinople, which was already a very dangerous distance.
As the Bulgarian army launched an attack on Adrianople, Britain and France also sent troops to the Black Sea Strait.
The intervention of the great powers made the situation in the Balkans more tense.
Russia did not dare to be careless, ordered the Black Sea Fleet to be on combat readiness, and privately advised the Bulgarian army to stop the attack.
But at this time, Russia's advice could no longer stop Bulgaria, which was a little crazy because of the easy victory.
Bulgaria sent more troops to Adrianople, as if it would not return until Constantinople was destroyed.
Just when Britain and France decided to take the next step, Bulgaria, who was overwhelmed by the victory, lost its footing.
On March 26, 1912, after conquering Adbia Fortress, the Bulgarian army continued to attack Constantinople, but was successfully ambushed and blocked by the Turkish army outside Constantinople.
The Bulgarian army's offensive stagnated. Even though it was very close to Constantinople, it still could not advance an inch.
The failure of the Bulgarian army, on the contrary, made Russia, which originally supported Bulgaria, feel relieved, and also made Britain and France decide to wait and see for the time being and stop the action.
The security of Constantinople can be guaranteed temporarily, and the Strait crisis has gradually eased and has not become a new round of international crisis.
Although the attack on Constantinople failed, the Bulgarian army's attack on East Macedonia and Thrace was very smooth.
At the end of March, the Albanian region publicly declared independence and would leave the Ottoman Empire and establish a completely independent national government.
Since then, Turkey has almost lost all its land in Europe, leaving only some small lands and strongholds struggling to support.
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