Sorry I’m advance if this isn’t the correct place to put this or if I have broken any rules, but what the hell was going on with all the alliances and enemies in ww1? I’ll show all the ones I have problems understanding. V will signify enemies and X will signify allies.
Austria x Germany
It’s my understanding that Prussia, the biggest factor in the forming of Germany, and Austria had never been truly close allies. Prussia and Austria were previously rivals, so what caused this shift.
Austria x Ottomans
This one confuses me the most. I thought Austria’s whole thing was being the defender of Europe from the Turks. What caused the sudden shift in attitude.
Bulgaria x Ottomans
The Bulgarians were a young state, freshly liberated from the ottomans, it is strange to me that they would fight on the same side of their oppressors.
Russia V Bulgaria
On the flip side, it’s my understanding that Bulgaria was freed as a result of the Russo-Turkish war, it feels like a betrayal to immediately fight against the Russians.
Russia X France(and France x basically everyone)
How did France go from being the literal satan of Europe to buddies with Russia?
Russia x Serbia I believe i understand the Russian idea of panslavism, but why wouldn’t the same policy apply to Bulgaria. Why was Russia so protective of Serbia but not Bulgaria.
Again, sorry if this isn’t correct in anyway
Some of these are outside my area of expertise, I'll highlight those while answering what I can:
Austria x Germany
This Alliance stems from the Bismarckian efforts to portray Germany as peacemaker in Europe and to strengthen the German position in the middle of the continent and was formalised in the Dual Alliance treaty of 1879. It was further strengthened after Italy joined the Triple Alliance in 1882.
The principal reasons for the formation of those alliances was to secure the borders of the respective realms against attack by Russia (primary German/Austrian concern) and France (primary German/Italian concern).
Austria x Ottomans
This one is convoluted. Basically it goes like this:
The Eastern Question:
Habsburg Austria takes Hungary & Croatia from the Ottomans at the end of the 17th century
Russia isn't pleased and blocks further expansion into the Balkans
Russia helps several Balkan nations to rebel against the Ottomans
Balkan Wars
Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria & Greece fight against the Ottomans for independence and gain it
Ottomans are left with effectively no European territory
Russian pro-Serbian position in the 2nd Balkan War (which pitted Serbia against Bulgaria) led to Bulgaria aligning more closely with the Central Powers
Austria-Hungary viewed the Serbian gains with alarm
WW1
Bulgaria x Ottomans
Not my area of expertise but I touched on a potential reason in the section above. Russia had supported Serbia in the war against Bulgaria which probably led Bulgaria into a closer relationship with anyone who was against Russia. It is my understanding though that this alliance was not formalised until after the outbreak of hostilities that began WW1
Russia v Bulgaria
Effective the same answer as above. Bulgaria resented Russian support to Serbia during the 2nd Baltic War - and that's as much as I know.
Russia x France
I could try to write on this but it's really not my area at all and I only know general history.
Basically Russia wanted Germany to stop posturing vis a vis France in the late 1870s, not wanting a repeat of the 1871 Franco-Prussian war. While France initially wanted enter into more cordial relations with Germany, that ultimately didn't eventuate and they found a natural economic partner in Russia who was lagging behind Germany in industrialisation.
The Russo-French alliance was formalised in 1891 and led to each nation supporting the other's colonial policies which ultimately benefited each others' economy.
Russia x Serbia
This is actually fairly simple (for the region). The Ottomans had allied with Napoleon in his ventures and Serbian rebels fought against them. Russia had attacked Napoleon and offered aid to Serbia which led to an alliance forming in the early 19th century.
As I mentioned above though, I'm not 100% sure why Russia didn't pursue a similar policy with Bulgaria.