World War I (1914-1918)

World War I ended on the 11th of november 1918. The Germans agreement to an armistice was based on a draft
resolution by Wilson (President of the US). Wilsons resolution is referred to as the 14 points.
The war resulted in; New systems (Germany went from an empire to a a republican system) The separation of Austria and
Hungary, the Turkish government signing for an armistice, Self-determination and the creation of a unied slav state by
Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. The peacemakers also had to include in the peace treaty the expectations of the victorious
nations as a result of 4 years of propaganda. As well as security stability and compensation.

The Versailles Conference started on January 18th 1919.
The leading man in the conference were;


US President Woodrow Wilson French Premier Georges Clemenceau British Prime Minister David Lloyd George



Wilsons 14 points aimed to eliminate what he thought was the cause for the
outbreak of World War I, it suggested the following;

A new political and international world order
- It would be an open diplomacy
World disarmament
Economic Integration
A League of Nation that was to guarantee Peace

The 14 points were based on
Territorial adjustments (meant to solve the collapse of the collapse of the
German, Turkey and Austria-Hungarys empires
The recognition of Self- Determination

The reactions to the 14 points
Proposals for free trade, end of imperialism, open diplomacy and the creation
a of League of Nation clashed with the realist approach of those who wanted
to ensure countries would be ready in case of another war. As a result, the 14
points were met with reservation from Britain and France





French Aims British Aims Italian Aims
What Protect France from future
German Aggression
Avoid German feeling of
revenge
Respond to Nations
Propaganda
Gain territory in order to
recover economy and help
the shaky political system
Blowing Bubbles
Cartoon published in Literary
Digest, September,1920
Why French territory has been
one of the major battleelds
and France did not believe it
could defend its frontiers
from Germany due to their
economy
British economy was at
stake since Germany was
an important market from
Britain + British
populations expectations

- Economical problems due
to war
- Political problems and
social unrest at home
How Prevent German recovery:
- reparations
- redrawing European
frontiers
Alsace Lorraine and the
annexations of the region of the
Saar
a. Provide Coal & felt
historically aspired to control the
region
- limiting German armed
forces
- excluding Germany from
the League of nations
- restoration of an
independent Belgium
Protect from German invasion
- independence of Poland
and Czechoslovakia
Protection and isolation of
Germany
- ensure neither France of
Germany was dominating
the continent
- Protect British economy
a. fast German recovery
Propaganda!
- the use of British
propaganda during the
war Hang the Kaiser-
had gotten Lloyd in power
so he had to respond to
peoples expectations
(hard punishment for
Germany)

- Also worried of the
Bolshevism movement in
Russia because it could
benet Germany
- Mention the Treaty of
London in 1915, in which
Italy was promised land
a. The land promised (Dalmatian
coast on the Adriatic Sea,
Trieste and South Tyrol + a
protectorate over Albania) was
not achieved
b. As a result, Italy asked for
other territorial gains not
included in the Treaty of
London (Port of Fiume)

[It was hard meeting Italys
demand because they went
against the idea of self-
determination]
Name Drop MacMillan punish pay &
prevention
Lloyds Fontainebleau
Memorandum.
the document exposed the view that unless Germany saw the treaty as fair, treaty could not sustain peace
Won the war- lost the
peace
French Aims British Aims Italian Aims

The terms of the Paris Peace Treaties 1919- 20: Versailles, St. Germain, Trianon, Neuilly, Sevres/ Lausanne 1923

Note to self: Fundamental decisions at the conference were taken by the Big Three- not Four since Italy like a
secondary role. The countries that had lost the war and Russia (Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary and Turkey) did not
attend the conference. Wilsons 14 points/ Treaty of Versailles was used as a draft in all the treaties signed

Treaty if St. Germain with Austria (1919)
Treaty of Trianon with Hungary (1920)
Treaty of Neuilly with Bulgaria (1919)
Treaty of Sevres with Turkey (1920) Later the Treaty of Lausanne (1923)

All four defeated countries needed to;
I. Disarm
II. Pay reparations
III. Lose territory
Following self-determination, new nations were set up
The Treaty of Versailles
Wilsons 14 points was accepted as a draft as the peace treaty in
1918. However the conicting aims for the nation proved to be an
obstacle for the countries. The areas discussed during the Versailles
conference were;

- Responsibility for the outbreak of the war

Ha-aa-ha as if theyd say its anyone else but Germany! Lol
well as we all know, as the result of propaganda for four years
straight even if the leaders of nation believed Germany was not to
blame for the war they basically had to say it was true since they
needed to respond to the expectations of their own public. Yeahh
Lloyd i see you.
Finding out who was responsible for the war was directly linked to who was to pay reparations. The Commission on the
Responsibility of the Authors of War and on Enforcement of Penalties (representatives from Britain, France, Italy, Japan ,
Belgium, Greece, Poland, Romania and Serbia) were in charge of deciding who was to blame for the war.



- Reparations
Name Drop: Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles (War Guilt Clause)
The Allied and Associated Governments afrm 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.
Signicance:
Provided legal arguments to make Germany pay for World War I
In addition article 232 of the peace treaty called on Germany to compensate the allies for all damage done to civilian
population and the Allied and Associated Powers and compensations for the violation of the Treaty of London.

The issue was that countries looked at reparations for a different purpose
These conicts were the reasons why the nal gure of how much Germany was to pay was not up until 1921- The
countries different views are shown in British economist John M. Keyness The Economic Consequences of Peace



France Britain US
- Prioritized security
- Worried about German recovery and
militarization
- Compensations were seen as an
economic burden who would prevent
Germany to be a threat
- Lloyd hoped for a Balance of power
in Europe between the French and
the Germans that would result in a
balance of trade thus benecial for
Britain.
- British Citizens hoped the
reparations would reduce Britains
nancial burden
- Shared similar views to Britain


- Territorial changes
The collapse of empires gave the peacemakers the opportunity to create new states under the concept on self-
determination. Self determination was limited though because new nations needed to have economic resources.


























Overview
On Territorial Changes Map
Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France
Although France wanted the Rhineland, the treaty made the area a demilitarized zone instead in which Germany
was not allowed deploy military forces
France wanted the Saarland as a compensation but instead the Saar after a plebiscite was put under the
administration of the League of Nations
The creation of Poland (Wilson fourteen points, self-determination)
The major German Port of Danzig became a free city (under LON)
Territory given to Belgium
German Territory became Danish
All territory received by Germany to Russia under the Treaty of
(Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) was made independent states ; (Wilson fourteen points, self-determination)
Germany was forbidden to unite with Austria, a move called Anschulss
Germany lost overseas colonies which became mandates of the LON.
Germany also lost the right to trade with countries such as China and Egypt











- Disarmament


People believed one of the wars outbreak was arms race, thus the Treaty of Versailles addressed disarmament.
Obliged Germany to disarm to the lowest point compatible with internal security
Germany wartime weapons were destroyed
Germany was forbidden to have submarines, an air force, armoured cars and tanks
It was allowed to have 6 battleships and 100, 000 men for internal security
Allied occupation in the Rhine was there for 15 years
Germany was not allowed to send troops in respect to their 50 km exclusion zone
German conscription was banned





















The German reaction to Versailles

- Shocked
- Denounced the treaty as a betrayal of the 14 points
and a diktat to German nations
- asked to give a blank cheque - War Guilt Clause
(Article 231)
- Demanded a revision of the treaty
- No one in Germany wanted to pay the price of the
treaty
- Political turmoil
French reaction to Versailles
- Did not think the treaty will assure long term security

Britain viewed the treaty as too harsh
Americans refused to ratify the treaty and join the LON
Italy thought nations had been betrayed












St. Germain (1919) Neuilly (1919) Trianon (1920) Sevres (1920) Lausanne (1923)
- Austria
- loss of territories
- recognition of
Czechoslovakia as
an independent
republic
- Creation of
Yugoslavia
- Forbidden to unite
with any countries
unless they had the
authorization of the
LON
- Austrians were put
under the Italian rule
(against self-
determination)
- Reparations
- Bulgaria had joined
the WWI in support to
central powers
- As a result of their
loss, they lost
access to the
Aegean Sea as
Macedonia was
returned to Greece
- Recognized
Yugoslavia and
territorial boundaries
- Reparations

- Hungary
- The disintegration f
the Austro-
Hungarian Empire
- Reparation and
limitations on their
armed forces
- three million
Magyars had been
put under foreign
rule
- Ottoman Empire
- New territorial
boundaries based
on self
determination
- Terms of Sevres
were revised after
the Greco-Turkish
war
- As a result, the
Treaty of Lausanne
was drafted
- Territory returned to
Turkey such as
Constantinople,
Smyrna)
- Turkish authority on
the Bosporus and
Dardanelles Straits
was recognized
although it stayed
demilitarized
The Treaty of Versailles on Germany (28 June 1919)


















Enforcement of the provisions of the treaties: US isolationism- the retreat from the Anglo-American Guarantee;
disarmament- Washington, London, Geneva Conferences

Background

The Paris Conference imposed severe clauses on Germany and its allies. Countries refused to disarm because
of fear for their own security. The US refusal to ratify the treaty and to be part of the League of Nation
increased that sense of insecurity. There were rise of nationalistic parties in Italy, Germany and Japan
combined with the economic depression




World War I
brought the collapse of the
German Empire in 1918. The
Weimar Republic was proclaims.
Those responsible for singing the
treaty were referred to as the
November Criminals. This led to
political uprisings and
economical problems in
Germany
Impact
Germany lost
approximately 12 % of its
people and 13 % of territory.
15 % of agricultural production
and 16 % of coal.
Deep resentment of Versailles-
-Loss of territory
-The Anschluss
-War Guilt Clause
How
is it that
Germany
gained from
the creation of
smaller states
on its
borders ?
see page
41.


Review with
Sir.




































US
isolationism
and the retreat
from the Anglo-
American Guarantee

I. USA was the largest
creditor
II. Wilson saw the end of the war a
way to redene international
relations
III. Some thought the USA should contribute to
international peace by becoming a role model
IV. Others thought the USA should be part of the
Covenant League of Nations to prevent automatic
involvement in European Affairs
V. The Us did not become a member of the League of Nation

The Big Three compromised on the German demilitarization of the
Rhineland for a period of 15 years.
- Territory remained under the sovereignty of Germany.
- No troops could be stationed in it unless it was monitored by Allied troops
- The USA & Britain offered France a military guarantee later known as the Anglo-
American Guarantee signed with the Versailles treaty.
- The fact neither the Versailles Treaty and the associated documents were not signed by the
US made them non mandatory for Britain.
The Impact... more like the reasons
Little evidence the public was for the commitment to military alliances.
Britain feared it would be dragged because of France in a conict in the continent against
Germany.


Disarmament: Washington, London, Geneva conferences

The peace treaties imposed disarmaments on defeated nations and hoped the League would impose disarmament son an
international level. Several disarmaments took place as a result to try to reach that aim


1. The Washington Naval Agreements (1921-22)
Despite Isolation, The washington conference of 1921-1922 was held in the USA. It addressed two issues; naval
disarmament (avoid expensive naval race among powers) and developments in the Far East.
Delegations
USA
Britain - 1:1 ratio agreement with the US in order to focus on other matters such as gov. investments and expenditure
France
Japan - had made progress in navy however further investments would harm its economy
Italy
Belgium
Netherlands
Portugal China

The Washington Naval Conference produced several agreements

I. The Four power Agreement USA, Britain, France, Japan-
guarantee their territorial rights in the Pacic (defend incase rights
were threatened).
II. The Five Power Agreement limit naval forces by establishing
ratio. USA: Britain: Japan could have a ratio of 5:5:3 and Italy and
France could have half the size of Japanese navy. The nations
also agreed not to build battleships for 10 years & destroy ships
above the ratio.
III. The Nine Power Agreement (all countries in the WC) recognized
the territorial integrity of China, Japan had to give back the
Shantung Peninsula, nancial help as well as Open Door Policy .

London Conference and Treaty for the Limitation and Reduction of Naval Armament
(1930)


I. Aimed to take further steps in naval disarmaments by including submarines and
warships.
II. All nations were suffering from the great depression thus did not want to invest
into a naval race.
III. The treaty limited the ration of Britain, USA and Japan .
IV. It did not reduce the likelihood of war as it allowed naval escalation and
aggression from a country that did not sign the treaty.

The Geneva Disarmament Conference (1932-1934)

I. Aimed at addressing not only naval disarmament but arms reduction as a whole.
II. It was seen as Idealistic.
III. Countries feared their security.
IV. Negotiations on this issue led to friction and little was accomplished.
V. The conference failed to produce disarmament largely because the views of the participant nations on most of these
issues were incompatible.














The League Of Nations; effects of the absence of the major powers; the principle of collective security and early
attempts at the peacekeeping (1920-25)

The League of Nations was formed during the Paris conference. It aimed to promote international cooperation and to
achieve international peace and security. The security promoted by the League of Nations is referred to as collective
security. The covenant of the League of Nations was like the security council in the US.

1. The absence of the USA (62)
2. The absence of Russia (63)


























Japan 1828 - 1933
- Isolated until 1853
- 1868 Meji Restoration
- Industrialize - Imperialist Power
- Expansionist, aggressive nationalism
- Military leaders - positions of power/
inuence
- (1094-95) Sino Japanese War - they
get Taiwan, land
- (1902) Anglo- Japanese Alliance
- (1904/5) Russo- Japanese War
- (1910) Annexed Korea
- WWI (1914-18)- Japan gaining
inuence + territory - China 21
demands German colonies
Japan was unhappy with the
Treaty of Versailles because there
was no racial equality + no territorial
gains
- (1921-22) Washington Naval
Conference
5:5:3:1.67:1.67
4 Power Treaty
9 Power Pact
Territorial integrity of China
Open doors
fait accompli


Denitions

Armistice: an agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop ghting for a certain time

Self- determination: the aspiration of racial groups sharing territory, language or religion to form their own national state

Diplomacy: negotiation(s), discussion(s), talks, dialogue; international relations, foreign affairs.Economic

realist approach: tending to or expressing an awareness of things as they really are

Bolshevism movement: The Bolshevism promoted a form of communism based on Karl Marx (overthrow of capitalism)

Social Unrest: rioting and general chaos. Broadly put it means when the normal order is disrupted

Compensations: something, typically money, awarded to someone as a recompense for loss, injury, or suffering

Indemnity: security or protection against a loss or other nancial burden

Plebiscite: a vote by which people of an entire country of district express an opinion for or against a proposal

Best-Litovsk: a treaty signed between Germany and Russia in 1918. In which Russia had to pay for A LOT (loss of many
territories) for ending the latters participation in the war.

Anschulss: Anschluss is a German word meaning "joining together

Mandates: an ofcial order or commission to do something

Conscription: compulsory enlistment in the armed forces

Diktat: an order or decree imposed by someone in power without popular consent

Creditor: entity or organization to whom money is owed by a debtor

Open Door Policy: giving the opportunity for commercial relations with a country to all nations on equal terms

Constriction: to raise an army for your citizens