The map above shows the rapidly shifting alliances during the 1910s in the Balkans. Over the course of the decade three different wars were fought there with very different alliances and outcomes.
More about them below:
First Balkan War (1912–1913)
Alliances
Balkan League (against Ottoman Empire)
- Serbia
- Bulgaria
- Greece
- Montenegro
Opponent
- Ottoman Empire
Why this alliance formed
- Shared goal: drive the Ottomans out of Europe
- Rise of nationalism in the Balkans
- Weakening of the Ottoman Empire
- Russia encouraged cooperation (especially Serbia & Bulgaria)
Outcome
Winners: Balkan League
- Ottomans lost almost all European territory
Key territorial gains:
- Serbia → gained Kosovo & parts of Macedonia
- Greece → gained Thessaloniki & southern Macedonia
- Bulgaria → gained large parts of Thrace
- Montenegro → expanded slightly
But a problem emerged:
- Disputes over Macedonia, especially between Serbia and Bulgaria
This disagreement directly caused the next war.
Second Balkan War (1913)
Alliances
Bulgaria (attacker)
- Fought alone initially
Against Bulgaria:
- Serbia
- Greece
- Later joined by:
- Romania
- Ottoman Empire (took advantage of Bulgaria’s weakness)
Why alliances shifted
- Bulgaria felt it didn’t get its fair share of Macedonia
- It attacked Serbia and Greece
- This backfired, former allies united against Bulgaria
- Others joined opportunistically:
- Romania wanted land
- Ottomans wanted territory back
Outcome
Winner coalition:
- Serbia, Greece, Romania, Ottoman Empire
Loser:
- Bulgaria
Key results:
- Serbia → major expansion (became strongest Balkan state)
- Greece → secured southern Macedonia & Thessaloniki
- Romania → gained Southern Dobruja
- Ottoman Empire → regained part of eastern Thrace (incl. Edirne)
- Bulgaria → lost territory and prestige
This war reshaped alliances before WWI:
- Serbia grew stronger (worried Austria-Hungary)
- Bulgaria became resentful and isolated
Balkans in World War I (1914–1918)
Major alliances
Allied Powers (Entente)
- Serbia
- Montenegro
- Later joined by:
- Greece (1917)
- Romania (1916)
Central Powers
- Austria-Hungary
- Germany
- Ottoman Empire
- Bulgaria (joined 1915)
Why alliances shifted
Serbia
- Target of Austria-Hungary after assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- Supported by Russia → joined Allies
Bulgaria
- Angry after Second Balkan War losses
- Wanted Macedonia back
- Joined Central Powers (against Serbia)
Ottoman Empire
- Sought protection and modernization
- Joined Central Powers (aligned with Germany)
Romania
- Initially neutral
- Joined Allies in 1916 to gain Transylvania
Greece
- Deep internal division:
- King favored Germany
- Government favored Allies
- Eventually joined Allies in 1917
Outcomes in the Balkans
Central Powers early success
- Serbia was defeated and occupied (1915)
- Bulgaria gained territory temporarily
Turning point
- Allied forces regrouped (Salonika front)
- Bulgaria collapsed in 1918
Final results (1918)
Winners (Allies):
- Serbia → became core of new state:
- Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia)
- Greece → gained territory in Thrace
- Romania → gained Transylvania and expanded greatly
Losers (Central Powers):
- Austria-Hungary → collapsed completely
- Ottoman Empire → lost most of its territory
- Bulgaria → lost territory again and was weakened
Big Picture: Why alliances kept shifting
Nationalism
- Each country wanted territory based on ethnic claims
Macedonia problem
- Main source of conflict between Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece
Opportunism
- States switched sides when it benefited them (e.g., Romania, Ottomans)
Great Power influence
- Russia backed Serbia
- Austria-Hungary opposed Serbia
- Germany supported Central Powers
Simple Summary
- First Balkan War → Balkan states unite to defeat Ottomans
- Second Balkan War → They fight each other over the spoils
- WWI → Alliances split along larger global lines:
- Serbia vs Austria-Hungary
- Bulgaria switches sides to get revenge
Make sense?
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