Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Bosnian Crisis (1)
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October 6, 1908. The usually serene German Foreign Office was thrown into utter chaos.
The Bulgarian Principality, nominally part of the Ottoman Empire, had formally declared independence the day before. And early this morning, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary had announced the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
This was the result of a deal Austria-Hungary had struck unilaterally with Russia, without so much as consulting Germany. Foreign Minister Schoen clutched the back of his neck in frustration over his ally's reckless blunder.
Whether it was Austria-Hungary now or Italy come the inevitable Italo-Turkish War soon after, why did they insist on acting without a word to us?
He was starting to doubt whether these so-called allies even saw Germany as a partner—or just a convenient fool.
'Honestly, I'm more afraid of these two backstabbing allies than France or Russia.'
Of course, Austria-Hungary was a sovereign nation, so Germany had no right to dictate their foreign policy.
And Germany had no particular stake in Bosnia-Herzegovina either.
Yet this Bosnian Crisis was far from irrelevant to the German Empire.
Everyone knew it would eventually lead to the Sarajevo Incident, but even setting that aside, the annexation itself blatantly violated the 1878 Treaty of Berlin from the Berlin Congress era under Bismarck.
The Berlin Congress had been Bismarck's diplomatic summit to resolve tensions after Russia unilaterally imposed the Treaty of San Stefano following its victory in the Russo-Turkish War.
Russia had won the war but was forced to cough up most of its spoils, sparking real friction with Germany. But that wasn't the point right now.
What mattered was that the Berlin Congress had placed Bosnia-Herzegovina under joint Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman administration—nominally Ottoman territory, but effectively managed by Austria-Hungary.
So Austria-Hungary swallowing it whole amid the Young Turk Revolution was a clear treaty violation.
'Of course, in the original history, Germany backed Austria-Hungary unconditionally during the Bosnian Crisis...'
But I had no intention of doing that.
I hadn't prevented the crisis itself—lest history veer into something I couldn't handle—but I had to minimize any fallout for us.
Fine, let the hotheaded Serbs and feeble Montenegrins rage so furiously they nearly declared war on Austria-Hungary for real (though Russia reined them in). That much was inevitable.
The real problem was Italy.
Italy had been willing to accept the annexation in exchange for unredeemed territories like Trentino or the Istrian Peninsula that Austria-Hungary held. But the Austrians had coldly ignored the request.
And that resentment would drive Italy to abandon the Triple Alliance mid-World War I and switch to the Entente.
'Better to head that off if possible.'
No matter how useless an ally Italy was, it beat them stabbing us in the back and becoming enemies.
Besides, if Italy flipped, Austria-Hungary would bear the brunt—and we'd end up cleaning up the mess anyway, per original history.
'Tch. Annoying as it is, a rotting ally is still an ally. We help where we can.'
It was the same reason I was pulling Greece to our side.
Truth be told, whether Greece fought well or poorly in World War I didn't matter.
The real point was reducing variables and easing Austria-Hungary's burden across the Balkans.
'Though Greece's geopolitical position does help check Russia and Serbia.'
Plus, contrary to popular belief, Greece wasn't some weakling state back then.
In the upcoming Balkan Wars, Greece mobilized fewer troops than Bulgaria or Serbia but still handily crushed the Ottoman army.
And above all, among the Balkan minnows, Greece alone boasted a modernized, formidable navy.
In the Balkan Wars, the Greek navy smashed the Ottomans repeatedly, blockaded the Dardanelles, seized Aegean sea control, and severed European Turkey from Asian Turkey—a masterstroke.
Bulgaria, the alliance's powerhouse, didn't credit Greece's navy for its victory despite its pride for nothing.
Of course, Bulgaria later grew greedy, attacked Greece and Serbia, and sparked the Second Balkan War.
'Anyway, time to have a word with Foreign Minister Schoen and Chancellor von Bülow.'
Reducing enemies and bolstering allies was Diplomacy 101.
If Italy stayed in the Triple Alliance, our burden lightened while France's doubled.
"...I've heard your thoughts, Baron."
But Chancellor von Bülow looked distinctly displeased after hearing my proposal.
"Italy's rift with Austria over this Bosnia-Herzegovina annexation. Plausible enough. And per the Triple Alliance treaty, Austria-Hungary must consult Italy on any Balkan territorial changes."
It was a clause Bismarck had strong-armed Austria-Hungary into accepting just to lure Italy aboard.
Small wonder Italy was buzzing about reclaiming some unredeemed lands from this crisis.
"The issue is Austria-Hungary won't listen if we invoke the Triple Alliance and tell them to yield to Italy."
"Worth a try, isn't it?"
"Sigh. Every monarch and royal you've met so far has taken a liking to you, Baron."
Von Bülow continued.
"As a former diplomat, King Edward VII of Britain judges men by merit, not race or class. Russia's Nicholas II is kindhearted by nature. Crown Prince Constantine likes you thanks to Her Highness Sophie."
"So Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary is different."
"Yes. Experience it yourself—he's a headache in every sense. And this time, we can't even lean on His Majesty the Kaiser. In prestige and authority, even he must defer to Franz Joseph."
Fair enough. The Habsburgs had dominated Europe for centuries.
Prestige-wise, their dynasty outranked the Hohenzollerns, realities be damned.
'Still beats doing nothing.'
I wasn't expecting miracles anyway.
Just better to try and fail than sit idle.
"Cede our rightful Italian territories to Italy? Have you come to my palace just to waste my time with such nonsense?"
But upon arriving in Vienna, I understood why von Bülow had tried to dissuade me.
Franz Joseph I.
He was a boomer among boomers.
October 1908, Schönbrunn Palace, Austria-Hungary.
"...Your Majesty, this is necessary to preserve the Triple Alliance."
Franz Joseph I, founding Emperor of Austria-Hungary and another 'Kaiser,' scowled at the young man before him.
Baron Hans von Choi.
First time seeing his face, but the rumors—and reputation—preceded him.
Yet his words were plenty to irk an emperor stuck in the past.
"I thought Germany would support Austria. Is this truly your Kaiser's will?"
"Your Majesty, Germany values its alliance with Austria above all. We're simply saying that, just as we respect Austria-Hungary, you should respect our other allies too."
Hans replied.
"Per the Triple Alliance mutual agreement clause, having annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina, Austria-Hungary must make concessions to gain Italy's recognition. Ceding at least part of Trentino would satisfy them."
"Your Majesty, the Baron has a point. And just a portion of Trentino..."
"Enough."
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, familiar with Hans from German court events, tried to back him up and persuade his uncle. But Franz Joseph cut him off, clearly done listening.
"Cease this absurd discussion and spare my ears."
Franz Ferdinand sighed inwardly.
No arguing with his uncle in this mood.
"Baron, let's withdraw for now and try again later."
Alois Aehrenthal's predecessor as foreign minister—and now Austria-Hungary's ambassador to Germany—Count Szögyényi, who had accompanied Hans, suggested retreat, sensing futility.
But Hans refused to back down. Ignoring Franz Joseph's displeasure, he spoke again. The emperor furrowed his brow at the impudent upstart.
"Your Majesty, Germany stood by Austria-Hungary even when the Triple Alliance nearly collapsed over Bosnia-Herzegovina at the 1878 Berlin Congress."
Bismarck bore some blame for that rift, but Hans skipped that detail.
"And now, despite Austria-Hungary violating Berlin without consulting us, we're still stepping up to help—yet you disregard alliance oaths. We're on the brink of clashing with Russia again over Austria!"
"Minister, we've already coordinated with Russia on this..."
"That promise they won't even honor?"
As Hans raised his voice, the hitherto silent Foreign Minister Aehrenthal offered a weak defense—but fell silent under the piercing retort.
Austria-Hungary could annex Bosnia-Herzegovina only because they'd promised Russia to withdraw from the Sanjak of Novi Pazar and open the Bosphorus.
It oddly echoed what Hans had pulled during the Russo-Japanese War, but the situations differed.
Unlike Germany, Austria-Hungary wasn't cozy with the Ottomans (relations had soured further from this crisis). And Britain, scarred by the Moroccan mess over the Straits, wouldn't sit idly.
In original history, Britain torpedoed Russia's Straits passage when revising Berlin over the Bosnian Crisis.
Post-Morocco, they'd go full chihuahua at any whiff of a breach.
"Russia will love hearing Austria-Hungary tricked them."
"...We have our countermeasures. Even if Russia rages, they'll have to accept the annexation."
"Sure, for now. But it'll poison relations with Russia even further."
In reality, Russia fumed at the swindle but backed down helplessly.
The grudge lingered, fueling World War I's outbreak.
"Your Majesty, please let Austria-Hungary honor the alliance so Germany can too. Yield a little to Italy, and we'll promise maximum support on this issue."
"Heh, a lucky noble of base blood—unknown parents no less—dares lecture me?"
"!"
"Uncle!"
"Your Majesty!"
"Leave."
Despite the gasps from Franz Ferdinand and Szögyényi at the insult, Franz Joseph issued a cold dismissal.
"Yes. I'll return another time."
Yet Hans bowed calmly and turned to go.
Grit—
But as he turned from the old emperor, his eyes gleamed with unprecedented menace.