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
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
When was the armistice signed
11th November 1918
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
Paris Peace Conference
- Began January 1919
- People suffered after war
- Food shortages months after
- 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
TOV Blame Terms
- article 231- War guilt clause, Germany took full responsibility for WW1
- LON Created and Germany not allowed to Join
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 Territorial Terms
- Lost 10% of land and 12.5% of population
- Danzig made free to be controlled by LON
- Alsace-Lorraine returned to France
- Poland made independent with free sea access
- Germany split by Polish corridor
- 11 overseas colonies given as mandate to LON and controlled by Britain and France
- 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
Lloyd George TOV Aims
- punish Germany to please public but not be too harsh (may lead to another war)
- strengthen British trade, reduce German empire/navy
- maintain strong trade with Germany
Woodrow Wilson TOV Aims
- fair peace, 14 points
- wanted nations to disarm, self determination
- LON set up, avoid war, democracy around the world
George Clemenceau TOV Aims
- wanted be very harsh on Germany
- motivated by France being most seriously damaged
- wanted to make Germany pay and never be a threat, on same border, weaken defences
German President Ebert signing TOV
- June 28th 1919
- originally refused, generals warned Germany couldn’t face another war
- public horrified
German reaction to TOV
- People 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, cause communist revolution
French TOV reaction
- pleased with Alsace Lorraine and military reductions, felt secure
- some dissatisfied Germany wasn’t weak enough
- some still concerned for national recovery
- Clemaenceau wanted higher reparations, paid forever
USA TOV reaction
- People wanted to remain isolationist, didn’t join LON, thought it would control their military and force them into wars
- Wilson unhappy with treaty- too harsh
- Wilson faced domestic disapproval
- Wasn’t happy with Germany strengthening their empires (believed in self determination)
- created their own peace treaty with Germany on August 1921
St. Germain treaty
1919 - Austria
- separated Austria from Hungary
- took away land - Bosnia
- made Austria limit it’s army
- created new countries
Neuilly treaty
Bulgaria - 1919
- took away land
- denied access to sea
- made Bulgaria reduce its army
Sèvres treaty
Turkey - 1920
- lost land - parts of Turkey became mandates s.g. Syria
- lost control of Black Sea
Trianon treaty
Hungary - 1920
- took away land e.g. Croatia
- made Hungary reduce it’s army
- created new countries
Aims of LON
Maintain peace
- disarmament
- arbitration
- collective security
Encourage cooperation
- solve social and economic problems
- improve working and living conditions
LON Assembly
- met once a year - first Monday of September
- each countries delegate had 1 vote, must be unanimous
LON Council
- 4 permanent members
- Britain, France, Japan, Italy
- met at least 4 times a year
- could veto any motion from the assembly
LON secretariat
Carried out work of the league - e.g. civil service
LON international labour organisation
- made of government officials from different countries
- discussed and suggested ways to improve working conditions
LON permanent court of international justice
- 15 judges
- settles international disputes
LON special commissions
- worked on humanitarian issues
- e.g. health organisation, women’s rights, refugees
Countries not members of LON
USA- wanted to remain isolationist and stay out of other countries affairs
Germany- was not allowed to join as a blame term of TOV
USSR- communism wasn’t trusted
LON covenant
Set of moral guidelines to help keep the peace