<P> The Dual Alliance was a defensive alliance between Germany and Austria - Hungary , which was created by treaty on 7 October 1879 as part of Bismarck 's system of alliances to prevent or limit war . The two powers promised each other support in case of attack by Russia . Also , each state promised benevolent neutrality to the other if one of them was attacked by another European power ( generally taken to be France , even more so after the Franco - Russian Alliance of 1894 ) . Germany 's Otto von Bismarck saw the alliance as a way to prevent the isolation of Germany and to preserve peace , as Russia would not wage war against both empires . </P>
<P> The Dual Alliance was a defensive alliance between Germany and Austria - Hungary , which was created by treaty on 7 October 1879 as part of Bismarck 's system of alliances to prevent or limit war . The two powers promised each other support in case of attack by Russia . Also , each state promised benevolent neutrality to the other if one of them was attacked by another European power ( generally taken to be France , even more so after the Franco - Russian Alliance of 1894 ) . Germany 's Otto von Bismarck saw the alliance as a way to prevent the isolation of Germany and to preserve peace , as Russia would not wage war against both empires . </P>
who did germany have an alliance with in ww1
who did germany have an alliance with in ww1
Austria - Hungary
Austria - Hungary