Post world war i

First World War Peace Settlements

Part 1: The Treaty of Versailles

With the failure of the Ludendorf Offensive, and with the exhausted state of Germany, the German generals

recognized that it was time to sue for peace with the Allies. The Kaiser was forced to abdicate on the 8th November

and a new democratic republic was established.

But how would the Allies deal with a defeated

Germany?

On 8th November 1918, Imperial Germany came to an end when a democratic republic was established. Though it was intended to have Wilhelm tried as a ‘war criminal’ he was eventually allowed to spend the rest of his life in exile in the Netherlands. He died in 1941.

The Aftermath of WWI• Soon after WWI

ended in Nov. 1918, President Wilson left for Paris to attend the peace conference

• There, he met with other “Big Four” leaders to talk peace

David Lloyd-George [Great Britain]

Vittorio Orlando [Italy]

Georges Clemenceau [France]

Woodrow Wilson [USA]

Paris Peace Conference• Held at Versailles & lasted

over 6 months• Opened 18 January 1919—

anniversary of unification of Germany in 1871

• Over 10,000 people attending from 32 countries

• Process streamlined to being run by Big Four nations

• One result was English replaced French as language of diplomacy

Problems for the Winners

Main Leaders at the Conference• France—Georges Clemenceau:

– Wished for harsh treatment of Germany & was the hardliner

– Wanted to ensure French security

• UK—David Lloyd George:– Wanted to force Germany to pay

reparations for war damages– More interested in protecting British

interests (esp. colonies)

• US—Woodrow Wilson: – Saw WWI as “war to end all wars”

& “make world safe for democracy”– Wanted Germany to be treated fairly

and self-determination for all nations

Wilson’s Fourteen Points

• Wilson, however, had an idealistic view of foreign relations, summed up in his “Fourteen Points”

• These were based on Wilson’s idea that WWI would be “the war to end all wars” by basing the peace treaty on international justice

The Fourteen Points1. Open diplomacy6-13. Specific provisions

2. Freedom of seas relating to disputes

3. Lower tariffs between countries

4. Arms reductions in Europe

5. Decolonization 14. “A general association

of nations”—a.k.a

a League of Nations

The Treaty of Versailles• The other 3 leaders won the

argument with Wilson• The Treaty called for:

– punishment of Germany with huge reparations

– breaking up Austria-Hungary into small nations

– breaking up the Ottoman Empire into mandates

– Few of Wilson’s 14 Points met

Reparations:France wanted $200 BillionBritain wanted $120 BillionU.S. wanted $22 Billion

1921: 6.6 Billion Pounds in gold marks

German Losses at Versailles

1914--------------------1919

Territorial Changes

THE TERMS OF THE TREATY OF

VERSAILLES1919

WAR GUILT CLAUSE

GERMAN NATIONAL TERRITORY

GERMANY’S MILITARY FORCES REDUCED

GERMAN OVERSEAS TERRITORRIES

NO UNION WITH AUSTRIA

REPARATIONS

Germany had to accept blame for starting WW1

- Army restricted to 100,000 men.

- No modern weapons such as tanks, military air force.

- Navy could not have battle ships over 10,000 tons and no U-Boats.

- Germany lost national territory which was given to Belgium and Denmark, most went to Poland.

Germany lost Chinese ports [Amoy and Tsingtao], Pacific Islands, and African colonies [Tanganika and German SW Africa].

RHINELAND TO BE DE-MILITARISED

Germany forced to pay massive fine for war damages - 1,000,000,000 Marks (6.6bn pounds).

The Treaty was designed to cripple Germany militarily, territorially and economically

ARTICLE 231 (of Treaty of Versailles) “The Allied and Associated Governments affirm

and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and

damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been

subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her

allies.”

Impact on Germany• Since end of the War Germany was in turmoil• New gov’t met in Weimar and set up a liberal gov’t• May 1919—Treaty presented to Germans to sign• Threatened with continued blockade if refused to sign• 28 June 1919—Germany signed the treaty

Assessing the Treaty• Wrong to blame only

Germany—created resentment and instability

• Punished the people instead of just the leaders

• Military leaders left in power—remained a political force in Germany

• Germans felt that they had been manipulated by 14 Pts

• German economy would be damaged by reparations—impact on other countries

Other Treaties 1919-1923• Treaty of St

Germain (1919)—Austria

• Treaty of Neuilly (1919)—Bulgaria

• Treaty of Trianon (1920)—Hungary

• Treaty of Sevres (1920)—Turkey

• Treaty of Lausanne (1923)—Turkey