Chapter 14 - Europe After WWI Flashcards
1
Q
Briefly describe WWI (the Great War)
A
- Caused by intense rivalries between European powers, competed for trade/influence overseas
- Military tensions between Germany/Austria-Hungary + Britain/France/Russia led to formation of 2 armed camps
- By 1914 political situation v. tense, on 28th June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand + wife shot dead in Sarajevo, Bosnia - lit spark for greatest war world had ever seen (4 years, 14mil)
- Warring groups were Allies (B + empire, F, R, Italy from 1915, US from 1917) + Central Powers (Germany, A-H, Bulgaria, Turkey)
- Fought mainly along two fronts, Western Front (Belgian coast through France to Swiss border) + Eastern (Baltic to Black Sea)
- Stalemate by end of 1914, but continued on for 4 more bloody years - arrival of 1mil+ US troops on Western by middle of 1918 was major turning point + broke stalemate
- Defeated Germany signed armistice (ceasefire) on 11 Nov 1918
2
Q
Who dominated the peace talks? (Name them)
A
The big 3
- President Woodrow Wilson (US)
- PM Lloyd George (UK)
- PM George Clemenceau (France)
3
Q
What did Wilson want?
A
- A just peace - believed Treaty built on revenge wouldn’t work
- Put forward 14-point peace plan for Europe, suggesting:
- nations should have small army for defence only
- nations should avoid making secret treaties with each other
- people of one race + language should be free to set up own government (self-determination)
- League of Nations should be established to keep the world at peace
4
Q
What did Clemenceau, and France in general, want?
A
- Clemenceau + France remembered Germany’s defeat of France in 1971, determined to ensure they’d never be strong enough to attack France again
- Under huge pressure from French public to deliver harsh Treaty
5
Q
What did Lloyd George, and Britain in general, want?
A
- British public + press demanded revenge (like French)
- Lloyd George didn’t fully agree with this, but realised government would fall if Treaty wasn’t considered tough enough
6
Q
Why were most of Wilson’s 14 points for peace ignored splurging the peace negotiations?
A
Britain + France
7
Q
What was the Treaty of Versailles?
When was it signed?
How was Germany treated?
A
- Treaty signed between Germany + victorious powers after WWI in Hall of Mirrors, Versailles
- Signed on 28th June 1919 (5 years)
- Germany treated harshly
8
Q
List 5 conditions for Germany of the Treaty of Versailles
A
- Leaders had to sign ‘war guilt’ clause admitting responsibility for starting war
- Had to pay reparations to make good damage caused by war (later set at £6600mil)
- Provinces of Alsace-Lorraine returned to France (lost to Germany in 1871)
- Lost stretch of land in east to allow recreated state of Poland to have coastline - Alison lost some land to Denmark + Belgium
- as result, 1/10 of former population now in foreign countries - Army to be reduced to 100,000, Rhineland (border area between Germany, Belgium + France) became demilitarised zone (troops forbidden from being stationed there)
9
Q
Give 5 faults of the Treaty of Versailles
A
- Defeated countries weren’t allowed attend talks - Hitler would later claim it was dictated peace rather than treaty + Germany didn’t need to accept terms
- Russia not invited to talks, even through had fought on Allied side for 3+ years (pulled out in 1917 bc home revolution)
- Germans resented ‘war guilt’ clause - felt it was unfair to blame Germany alone for outbreak of war in 1914
- also no way German government could afford reparations demanded - Many newly created countries (Czechoslovakia, Poland) contained people of different races, religions + language –> tensions between citizens
- Italy had entered war on allied side in 1915 under terms of Treaty of London, promised gains when war was over - but received few new lands in T.o.V. compared to what promised, so many felt cheated
10
Q
What major flaws meant the League of Nations didn’t do its intended job?
A
- US government refused to join (didn’t want to be drawn into any further European conflicts)
- At first only victorious powers allowed to join, so others felt under no obligation to accept rulings
- Had some success but ultimately failed to prevent outbreak of WWII
11
Q
What is communism/socialism?
A
A system of government which believes all the wealth of a country should be in the hands of the government for the good of all its people
(State controls all land + industry rather than private owners)
12
Q
How did communism emerge in Russia?
Who took over from the original leader, and what did he do?
What were the advantages + disadvantages of his leadership?
A
- First communism government established in 1917 after royal family overthrown - Vladimir Lenin was leader
- Following death in 1924, Josef Stalin took over w/ more extreme communist leadership
- By 1927 had taken full control of Soviet Union, from then until death in 1953 ruled w/ iron fist - killed anyone that stood in way
- Russians lived in fear of his secret police (NKVD, later KGB) + millions sent to deaths in gulags (prison camps!
- Millions more starved to death in 1930s when Stalin forced unwilling peasants to hand over farms to government control
- But industrial policy turned it into one of worlds greatest industrial + military powers
- Brutal nature of regime sent wave of fear across Europe, many political leaders terrified he’d attempt to spread comm. elsewhere
13
Q
Describe fascism; its beliefs etc.
What was it?
A
- Political movement that emerged in Europe between wars
- Believed in strong government headed by dictator
- Encouraged national pride + ordinary people to put interest of State before own personal freedom
- Believed in private business + ownership of land + industries
- Some fascist leaders racist, believed own nation + people superior
14
Q
Why did fascism become popular in Europe during the years 1919-1939?
A
- Some countries (Germany, Italy) dissatisfied with T.o.V.
- Much unemployment + inflation (rise in prices) in Europe at this time
- Many land + factory owners scared of communism
- many democratic governments unable to offer quick solutions to problems, gradually people began to place support in fascist leaders - promised to solve all ills + restore national pride
- democracy only survive in countries like Britain + France where had been well established before WWI
