Which military alliance included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy before World War I?

• A. Triple Entente
• B. Triple Alliance
• C. Central Powers
• D. Allied Powers

Answer: (B)

The military alliance that included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy before World War I is known as the Triple Alliance. Established in 1882, this alliance was predicated on mutual defense and aimed at countering the influence of France and Russia in Europe. Germany sought to secure its position on the continent by aligning with Austria-Hungary, which faced challenges from nationalist movements, and Italy, which was interested in expanding its territorial influence.

This alliance was crucial in shaping the geopolitical landscape of Europe before the war, as its members promised to support one another in case of an attack by a third nation. As tensions grew leading up to World War I, the nature of alliances became increasingly important, with the Triple Alliance creating a significant counterbalance to the opposing bloc of the Triple Entente, which included France, Russia, and Britain.

In contrast, the other choices refer to different alliances or groups of nations: the Triple Entente reflects the opposing alliance during the war, the Central Powers comprised the main belligerents including Germany and Austria-Hungary but not Italy (which was part of the Triple Alliance initially), and the Allied Powers were a coalition formed during World War I to oppose the Central Powers. Therefore, identifying the correct alliance prior