Which nations formed the Triple Alliance before World War I?

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

Answer: (A)

Before World War I, powers formed blocs to deter rivals. The Triple Alliance was a formal military agreement signed in 1882 between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. They pledged to support one another if attacked by France or Russia, creating a counterweight to their rivals and shaping the pre-war balance of power. This group is distinct from the Allied Powers (Britain, France, Russia, and later others) and from the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire) that fought in the war; the Quadruple Alliance refers to a different, later arrangement. The nations involved were Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.