Conflict and Tension Flashcards
When did Germany request an armistice
October 1918
Why did Germany request an armistice
- they were beaten and retreating
- Germany was political chaos
- sailors losing morale - German navy sailors mutinied on November 3rd triggering revolts
What did Germany want an armistice based on
Wilson’s 14 points
Woodrow Wilson main points
- LON set up
- Self determination
- No secret treaties
- Colonies has say in their future
- Disarmament
Why did Allies accept armistice
- countries like Belgium/France devastated by fighting
- spent much money on war
- would have been costly to reject armistice and force German army back to central Germany
When was the armistice signed
11th November 1918
Armistice terms
- German troops to evacuate France + Belgium within 2 weeks
- naval blockade to remain in place on Germany
- Germany to accept blame and pay reparations
- Germany to evacuate Rhineland
Life after war before peace conference
- people suffered after war
- food shortages months after
- people pressuring for Germany to pay
Paris Peace Conference
- began January 1919
- pressure from people to make Germany pay
- conference lasted 6 months
- 32 countries
Which countries weren’t invited to the Paris peace conference
- Germany
- Austria-Hungary
George Clemenceau TOV Aims
- wanted be very harsh on Germany
- wanted to make Germany pay and never be a threat by weakening defences
- wanted Alsace-Lorraine back
- wanted empire back
- motivated by France being most seriously damaged and on border with it
- didn’t support Wilson’s points - wanted to keep treaties + keep naval blockade on Germany
Lloyd George TOV Aims
- punish Germany to please public (just won election) but not be too harsh (may lead to another war)
- strengthen British trade
- reduce German empire/navy
- maintain strong trade with Germany
- disagreed with Wilson’s points - self-determination would be threat to empire, wanted to keep German blockade, wanted to make private deals with nations
How many terms in TOV
440
How many TOV terms about LON
First 26
TOV Territorial Terms
- Lost 10% of land and 12.5% of population
- Alsace-Lorraine returned to France
- 11 overseas colonies given as mandate to LON and controlled by Britain and France
- Polish corridor split Germany + cut off East Prussia
- Danzig made free to be controlled by LON
- Anschuluss between Germany + Austria forbidden
- Poland made independent with free sea access
- West Prussia and Posen to Poland
TOV Economic Terms
- article 232- £6.6 million in reparations to France
- Saar put under control of LON for 15 years - important industrial area for Germany
TOV Military Terms
- army limited to 100,000 men without conscription
- Rhineland (bordered France) demilitarised
- navy limited to 15,000 men and 6 old battleships
- not allowed tanks, submarines, or air force
TOV Blame Terms
- article 231- War guilt clause, Germany took full responsibility for WW1
- LON Created and Germany not allowed to Join
Signing of TOV
- June 28th 1919
- President Ebert originally refused, generals warned Germany couldn’t face another war
Which leader was soon voted out after signing TOV
George Clemenceau
Why couldn’t USA join LON
- US Senate didn’t ratify TOV
- adopted isolationist policy
Diktat
Imposed without choice
German reaction to TOV
- felt vulnerable and due to army limits
- complained about disarmament double standard
- feared high payments would cripple them, suffered hyperinflation, loss of industrial areas led to higher tax
- loss of colonies hurt pride, worried about loss of land on border, many Germans lived outside Germany, had to become new nationality
- didn’t feel Germany completely lost war, still considered troops heroes
- protesting outside the Reichstag in 1919
British TOV reaction
- concerned about economic stability following treaty, reparations hurt trade with Germany
- Britain was hesitant to join the LON but did
- some wanted treaty to be harsher
- pleased with expanding empire, naval superiority
- worried Germany might become disillusioned, causing communist revolution