Russia received the short end of Bismarck's diplomacy at the Congress of Berlin#. The Germans solidly sided against Russia. Russia resented this and believed that Germany should be more grateful to her savior#. Bismarck next made one of his few mistakes by allying with Austria against Russia. This would greatly hurt Germany later. Though Bismarck renewed the Three Emperors' League, another Balkan war shattered all hopes of an alliance between Germany, Austria, and Russia. However, the Triple Alliance# was maintained. Bismarck then struck an alliance between Germany and Russia. Unfortunately, Bismarck's successors would seemingly do everything in their power to undo his work.
When Kaiser Wilhelm II dismissed Bismarck, much of Bismarck's alliance system broke up. Bismarck's successor, Caprivi, went along with the Kaiser's inclination towards an alliance with Britain, thus he broke up the Russo-German Alliance. This backfired and only succeeded to alienate Russia while Britain remained indifferent. France, desperately trying to break Bismarck's isolation policies, was more than happy to agree to a Franco-Russian Alliance. Even Bismarck had doubted any possibility of a .
Franco-Russian Alliance, however the two alienated nations were glad to check Germany. Germany tried to pursue a competitive policy toward England. Germany raised a navy that rivaled the English's. The Kaiser hoped that this would force England to form an alliance with Germany. However, this scheme also backfired and the English joined the Triple Entente with France and Russia to curb the upstart Germany. The Kaiser, meanwhile, strengthened the Triple Alliance. The Alliance system of Bismarck, which was intended to preserve peace, had now become an instrument for further conflict.
War was greeted by immense jubilation by both sides, as no great wars had been fought since Napoleon's era. This generation could only remember the wars of Bismarck, swift, almost bloodless, and effectual.