If there is one major event in 1912, it must have been the compromise of the British Empire in the construction of warships.

Although the revision of the naval program was not carried out with much fanfare, the abrupt cancellation of the program by some shipyards in the British Empire still attracted the attention of the media in Britain and throughout Europe, especially the Germans.

Originally, everyone thought that the British were going to hold back their big moves, but they didn't expect that after waiting for a long time, there was no news from these shipyards that canceled shipbuilding tasks, which also made everyone have to believe in the fact that the British Empire actually compromised on warships.

For the German Empire, this was probably the best news of the second decade of the 20th century.

If the British had followed their frantic construction plans, the High Seas Fleet would never have been a match for the Royal Fleet.

Moreover, Germany also has the potential of the army, and it is impossible to spend the entire defense budget on building a navy.

The Germans could not be so stupid as to abandon their martial arts, and they gave up their expansion in the army, even though they were the world's largest army power.

The German press trumpeted Britain's retreat as fearful and incompetent of Germany's growing military power, and proudly proclaimed that another great victory was on the horizon for the German Reich.

Just as the situation in Europe was changing because of Britain's retreat, a war was quietly being planned in a region of Europe.

The Balkans are located in a special location, where there are not only Russian interests, but also those of Austria-Hungary.

Even Italy, Great Britain, Germany and other powers had no small interests in this region.

The Balkan Peninsula is located at the junction of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and is the only way for Europe to the Middle East and the Near East.

Constantinople, located at the junction of Europe and Asia, controls the border between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, and also determines whether Russia's Black Sea Fleet can go to the Mediterranean Sea and eventually enter the ocean.

In addition, the Balkan Peninsula is very rich in strategic resources, and it is naturally competing with the major powers.

This small peninsula is also home to a large number of ethnic groups. The languages, cultures, religious beliefs and customs of these ethnic groups are different and conflicting with each other.

The Balkan Peninsula became almost a rallying point for all kinds of contradictions before the world war, not only between the European powers - German, Austrian-Russian, Anglo-German, Austrian-Italian, Anglo-Russian, but also between the peoples, that is, between the Balkan peoples and the Ottoman Turkish Empire, Austria-Hungary and the Tsarist Russian Empire.

In addition, the contradictions between the peoples of the Balkan countries are also an important reason for the considerable instability of the situation in the Balkans, and these contradictions are overlapping and complex, making this region a famous powder keg in Europe.

The Ottoman Turks were disadvantaged in the war with the Kingdom of Italy, which accelerated the formation of the Balkan alliance and prepared for it.

Although the countries involved in the Balkan League had different aims, they shared a common enemy: the Ottoman Turkish Empire, which enslaved the region.

The member states of the Balkan League consisted of the Kingdom of Serbia, the Kingdom of Bulgaria, the Kingdom of Greece, the Kingdom of Montenegro. One of the most important and most powerful alliances between the two states was the treaty of alliance between Serbia and Bulgaria.

According to the treaty of alliance between Serbia and Bulgaria, it was stipulated that in the event of aggression by one or more countries of either country, it was the duty of the other side to provide full support.

In addition, the two sides also made arrangements for the timing of the war against Turkey and the question of the partition of Turkey, and agreed that Russia should be notified first in the event of a war, and that in the event of 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 sought to establish hegemony over the Slavic states and become the arbiter of all problems in the Balkans.

In this way, take control of Constantinople, the only strait that allows the Black Sea Fleet to reach the Mediterranean.

When French Prime Minister Poincaré first learned of the treaty between Serbia and Bulgaria, he could not help but exclaim: "This is exactly a treaty prepared for war!" ”

Later, he also commented on the treaty in his notes: "This treaty contains the seeds of war not only against the Ottoman Turkish Empire, but also against Austria-Hungary." He further established Russian hegemony over the Slavic states, since under the terms of the treaty Russia would be the arbiter of all problems in the region. ”

More than six months have passed since the establishment of the Balkan League. During these six months or so, the Balkan allies have carried out a large-scale military expansion, and their purpose is self-evident.

In February 1912, Bulgaria issued an ultimatum to the Ottoman Turkish Empire, demanding that Turkey allow Macedonian autonomy.

At this time, Turkey was already exhausted at home because of the war with Italy, but it refused to back down, so it decided to ignore the Bulgarian communication and delay as long as possible.

The situation in the Balkans soon aroused the attention and alarm of the major European powers.

Because the importance of this region is so high, European countries do not want to lose their interests in this area.

Almost all the Powers expressed concern about this, but all the Powers were united in their attitude of watching the situation in the Balkans unfold.

For the European powers, if they do not arrive at the most critical moment, they will end up in person, but they will be left behind.

No one knows whether the Balkan fire will burn on their bodies, which is naturally unacceptable to the European powers that are not fully prepared for war.

At this time, the major European powers, like the masses eating melons, were quietly but very expectantly, waiting for the development of the situation in the Balkans.

After Turkey did not say anything about it, Serbia, another Balkan power, also stood up and demanded that Turkey recognize the autonomy of Macedonia and compensate for the previous oppression of the Balkan peoples.

The two most powerful countries have taken a stand, and the remaining Balkan allies will naturally not be idle.

On February 19, Greece and Mendinegro expressed their demands that Turkey recognize the autonomy of Macedonia, and specifically stated that if there is no reply within a week, it will be regarded as a rejection of this circular.

This special statement of time ultimatum can also be seen as the final preparations of the Balkan countries.

On 26 February, after a week of silence for the Ottoman Turkish government, the Bulgarian government announced a general military mobilization across the country.

Just one day later, on February 27, the governments of Serbia, Greece and Montenegro also announced a general mobilization of military forces across the country.

Beginning on February 27, the armies of the Balkan Confederation countries began to assemble on the Turkish border, and all kinds of weapons, ammunition, equipment and materials were also quickly transported to the front.

The Turkish side also had to follow suit by mobilizing the troops of the European region, while at the same time asking as much as possible about the attitude of the European powers.

But to the disappointment of the Turkish government, the European powers did not take any practical action other than verbal sympathy and support, that is, painlessly keeping both sides calm.

On February 29, the first time in four years, clashes broke out between the Balkan Union and Turkish forces on the border, with dozens of dead and wounded on both sides, marking the beginning of war.

On March 1, 1912, the Kingdom of Bulgaria was the first to declare war on Turkey. Immediately after March 2, Montenegro declared war on the Turkish government. This was followed by a full-scale outbreak of war in Serbia, Greece, and the Balkans.

According to the previous Balkan alliance treaty, Bulgaria sent a total of 300,000 troops, Serbia 220,000 troops, Greece 115,000 troops, and Montenegro 35,000 troops, a total of 670,000 troops.

On the Turkish side, although there are not many Turkish troops, due to the containment of the Italian-Turkish war, the maximum number of troops that can be dispatched is only about 350,000.

The disparity in the strength of the two sides was already very large, and the Balkan countries had been preparing for this war for a long time, but Turkey was even more exhausted at home due to the attrition of the Italian-Turkish war, resulting in the attack of the Balkan countries was almost unstoppable.

In the direction of the attack, Bulgaria, which had the largest number of troops, chose to move south, occupying eastern Macedonia, Thrace, and attacking in the direction of Constantinople.

Serbia, on the other hand, chose to expand its territory to the south and occupy North Macedonia, as well as to gain an outlet to the sea.

Serbia, despite its rising ambitions, wants to create a Slavic Greater Serbian state.

But if you want to become a strong country, the most important thing is to have an outlet to the sea. Previously, Serbia was a completely landlocked country with Austria-Hungary to the north, Romania and Bulgaria to the east, Montenegro to the west, and Turkey to the south.

The main purpose of this southward expansion was to gain an outlet to the sea.

Greece, located in the southernmost part of the Balkan Peninsula, naturally expanded northward to recover South Macedonia.

As for Montenegro, which is the weakest, they don't have much choice, they can only expand slightly to the east, after all, the strength of the country is also destined for them not to swallow much land.

In fact, it can be seen from the direction of the troops sent by various countries that their purpose is definitely not to promote Macedonia's autonomy, but to divide Macedonia into three countries.

Bulgaria and Greece gained more territory, Serbia gained access to the sea, and Montenegro expanded on a small scale, which was also a plan for the distribution of spoils that had been negotiated before the Balkan Alliance.

Because of the superiority in numbers and equipment, coupled with the reason for taking the lead, the expansion of several countries was smooth, and even in a few weeks, the Ottoman Turkish Empire lost more than half of its territory in Europe.

In the midst of the expansion of these countries, Britain supported Greece and Russia supported Serbia.

But at the same time, Austria-Hungary, which had contradictions with Serbia, was watching Serbia's expansion, and they did not allow a threatening enemy to appear on their side.

As the war progressed, the eyes of the great powers came to the direction of the Bulgarian offensive.

If Turkey is the most important region in the Balkans, it is, of course, Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Turkish Empire.

Historically, Constantinople was the capital of the former Eastern Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, with thousands of years of history and culture, and is also one of the holy places in the hearts of Orthodox Christians.

Constantinople's importance is self-evident, not only as a bridge connecting the European and Asian parts of the Ottoman Turkish Empire, but also as a bridge between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

On the outskirts of Constantinople, the Turkish Empire placed a military center to defend its capital.

Adrianople, one of the most solid military fortresses in the European part of the Turkish Empire, is second only to the capital city of Constantinople.

After the outbreak of the war, the Turkish government deliberately transferred some Albanian and Macedonian troops to garrison Adriapdo in the Thrace region.

It was the outpost of Bulgaria and the Balkan states on their way to Constantinople and the last line of defense for the capital of the Ottoman Turkish Empire.

If Adrianople is conquered, then Thrace will be flattened, 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, and its ambition to occupy Constantinople was self-evident.

The rapid expansion of the Balkan states frightened the Turkish government, so it hurriedly recalled the European powers to ask for mediation.

You must know that the strategic position of the Black Sea Strait is very important, and it has always been a battleground for soldiers.

There have been several wars and crises in history for the sake of this strait, and this time will naturally be no exception.

Because of the massive offensive of the Bulgarian army, it is not surprising that a new strait crisis broke out.

On March 20, only half a month after the start of the war, the Bulgarian army was only 25 miles from Constantinople, which was already a very dangerous distance.

As the Bulgarian army launched an attack on Adrianople, Britain and France also sent troops into the Black Sea straits.

The intervention of the great powers suddenly made the situation in the Balkans even more tense.

Not daring to be careless, Russia ordered the Black Sea Fleet to be in combat readiness and privately advised the Bulgarian troops to stop the offensive.

By this time, however, the Russian exhortation could no longer stop Bulgaria, which had gone into some madness because of its easy victory.

The Bulgarian side sent more troops to Adrianople, and it looked like they would not break Constantinople's vow.

Just as Britain and France decided to make the next move, Bulgaria, carried away by the victory, was in disarray.

On 26 March 1912, after the capture of Adebiaburg, the Bulgarian army continued its assault on Constantinople, but was successfully ambushed and blocked by the Turkish army.

The offensive of the Bulgarian army stalled, and even though it was already close to Constantinople, it was still unable to advance an inch.

The defeat of the Bulgarian army relieved Russia, which had originally supported Bulgaria, and also made Britain and France decide to wait and see for the time being and stop the operation.

The security of Constantinople was temporarily guaranteed, and the crisis in the straits gradually eased and did not turn into a new round of international crisis.

Although the attack on Constantinople failed, the offensive of the Bulgarian army into the regions of East Macedonia and Thrace went well.

At the end of March, the Albanian region openly declared its independence from the Ottoman Turkish Empire and established a fully independent national government.

Since then, Turkey has lost almost all of its territory in Europe, leaving only some small lands and strongholds to support itself.

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(End of chapter)