The Mediterranean and World War I

Summary

ABSTRACT.The British, French and later Italian control of the Mediterranean was threatened by the surface fleets, and even more by the submarines of Austria-Hungary, Germany and Turkey. In the end these threats were contained, but the overall allied victory, and the survival of three overseas empires, depended on retaining control of the Mediterranean.

RÉSUMÉ.Le contrôle de la Méditerranée par les britanniques, les français puis les italiens risquait d'être mis à mal par les flottes de surface, voire même davantage par les forces sous-marines, austro-hongroises, allemandes et turques. Ces menaces furent au final écartées mais la victoire alliée dans son ensemble, ainsi que la survie de trois empires coloniaux, dépendirent du maintien de leur contrôle sur la Méditerranée.

The Mediterranean on the outbreak of war was the scene of intense rivalries. The sea was a vital link for the British Empire as it was the route to the Suez Canal and onward communications with India, the Far East, Australia and the newly developed oil resources in Persia. The Mediterranean route was also the most important one for the export of British manufactured goods. The British also controlled two of the major entrances to the Mediterranean at Gibraltar and the Suez Canal and had a centrally located base at Malta. For the French the Mediterranean was a link with their North African possessions and colonies in Asia and the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, security in the Mediterranean was essential for the French mobilization scheme, which included the transfer of the XIXe army corps to metropolitan France to join the anticipated battles along France's eastern frontier with Germany. The Italians saw the Mediterranean as a link with their newly won footholds in Libya and the Dodecanese as well as the route to Gibraltar and the Atlantic. In 1914 Austria-Hungary had control of much of the eastern shores of the Adriatic and had traditional interests in trade with the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. Moreover, the Austro- Hungarian Navy – the K.u.K. Kriegsmarine – was a new and disturbing factor in the Mediterranean naval balance of power. In the first decade of the 20^thcentury the Austrians began to build more modern and powerful warships, including Dreadnought-class battleships, the standard of strength at the time. Austrian resources ensured that they would be small in number – only four in the first program – but their existence opened a disturbing possibility.