<P> During the Franco - Prussian War of 1870--1871, Prussia defeated the Second French Empire, resulting in the establishment of the Third Republic . In the Treaty of Frankfurt, Prussia forced France to cede Alsace - Lorraine to the new German Empire . Ever since, relations had been poor . </P> <P> France, worried about the escalating military development of Germany, began building up its own war industries and army to deter to German aggression . Also, France developed a strong bond with Russia by ratifying the Franco - Russian Alliance, which was designed to create a strong counter to the Triple Alliance . France ′ s main concerns were to protect against an attack from Germany and to regain Alsace - Lorraine . </P> <P> Russia had by far the largest manpower reserves of all the six European powers, but it was also the most backward economically . Russia shared France ′ s worries about Germany . After the Germans started to reorganise the Ottoman army, Russia feared that they would come to control the Dardanelles, a vital trade artery that carried two fifths of Russia's exports . </P> <P> There was also Russia's long history of rivalry with Austria - Hungary . Austria - Hungary had recently annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, greatly angering Russia, which had considered itself the leader of the Slavic world (Pan-Slavism). Russia viewed the invasion as another step towards annexing Serbia and Montenegro . </P>

Who made up the triple alliance in 1914