Primary Documents - Pre-1914
This page of the Primary
Documents section of the website collects together archive source documents
originating in the years preceding the outbreak of the First World War in
1914 - in some cases many years before.
Included among the pre-1914 documents is the 1839 Treaty of London, which bound Britain to defend neutral Belgium, with momentous consequences some 75 years later; and the text of the 1904 Entente Cordiale which saw Anglo-French relations improve to the point that a military alliance in the event of war against either at the hands of Germany became feasible.
The list presented below - with each entry accompanied by a brief summary of its significance - is sorted by date, with earlier documents listed first.
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
 Treaty of London 1839 |
1839 - Britain guaranteed Belgian neutrality |
| Ems Telegram |
1870 - Bismarck's attempt to provoke France into war |
| Dual Alliance |
1879 - Germany's alliance with Austria-Hungary |
| Three Emperor's League |
1881 - Russia's alliance with Germany/Austria-Hungary |
| Triple Alliance |
1882 - Italy joined Germany and Austria-Hungary's alliance |
| Reinsurance Treaty |
1887 - Bismarck's alliance with Russia |
| France-Russian Military Convention |
1892 - French/Russian precursor to Triple Entente alliance |
| Anglo-Japanese Alliance |
1902 - Intended as counterweight to France and Russia |
| Entente Cordiale |
1904 - Anglo-French diplomatic agreement |
| Anglo-Russian Entente |
1908 - Russia joins the Anglo-French Entente agreement |
| Young Turk Proclamation |
1908 - Issued by Young Turk administration in 1908 |
| President Wilson's Inauguration Address |
1913 - Address given by Wilson at start of his first term |
| Crown Prince Wilhelm on Upcoming War |
1913 - Germany heir to the throne's enthusiasm for war |
A 'flying pig' was a mortar bomb.
- Did you know?
