What was the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente?

1 Answer
Jan 27, 2018

Its complicated because Italy switched Alliances and they were all 3s pre-War.

Explanation:

Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy were the Triple Alliance. They were occasionally the called the Central Powers.

Russia, Britain and France were the Triple Entente.

Italy stayed out of the fighting until 1915 when it attacked Austria. France had offered Tyrol and Trieste as war booty should Austria be defeated. As well Italy had real concerns about Austria taking back Lombardy and Venice if they won the War. Italy decided that there was no threat from France and they joined them and Britain.

Italy had trouble during the war and were painfully defeated in the Battle of Caporetto. They recovered but only just and with the the Battle of Vettorio Veneto were the final blow that destroyed the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The Alliances labels are confusing and transitory and don't really help the discussions about the War. Nothing was the same afterward.

https://www.thoughtco.com/world-war-one-the-major-alliances-1222059