Snappy Answers to History Questions I

 From Quora (my answers)

What was the cause of  Anti-German sentiment in France? Was it WWI or WWII?

These events certainly worsened the situation but the sentiment likely goes back even further to the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871) when France was well defeated by its Prussian rival. One could even make the case that both sides had sown the seeds of a great deal of mistrust during the events of the Napoleonic Era and the Concert of Europe that existed afterward.

What was the difference between Marat and Robespierre? Why were each considered radical?

Both were radical authoritarians who believed that they spoke for the will of the people. Where have we seen that before? Robespierre was more of a sophisticated lawyer who in his early days could indeed be confused for an authentic liberal (this didn’t last long). Marat was a hard hitting journalist with a particular nasty streak to him. Both had no qualms about using violence to defeat their enemies and bend the will of the nation to their vision. Terror was a means to an end. Robespierre’s demise was that he alienated his own party base. Marat underestimated his opponents and picked and invited the wrong person into his room when taking a bath.

Have France and Britain always despised Germany?

No. Both France and Britain formed alliances with various German kingdoms and states as they saw fit for much of modern European history. This all changed in 1871 when a recently unified Germany crashed the global hegemony party that for sometime looked to be the sole preserve of both France and Britain. Three was way too much of a crowd.

Did the German Empire ever form an alliance with Russia?

Yes. The Dreikaiserbund (Union of the Three Emperors) signed between Germany, Russia and Austro-Hungary between 1873 to 1887. Bismarck actually renewed Germany’s ties with Russia with the Reinsurance Treaty but after he was dismissed from office by the Kaiser the alliance collapsed.France would the move closer to Russia. This would have huge implications in the march to WWI. Worth noting is that Dreikaiserbund had some precedent in the Holy Alliance signed by Russia, Austria-Hungary and Prussia in 1815 (following the Napoleonic Wars)

What was Otto von Bismarck's policies towards France and  Austro-Hungary?

He needed both sufficiently weakened by both war and diplomacy so that neither could stand in the way of eventual German Unification under the auspices of Prussia. The Austro-Prussian War (1866) dealt with Vienna and the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871) put to bed - temporarily at least - the threat from the West.