Paris Peace Conference after the First World War and its impact Flashcards

1
Q

When did WW1 end?

A

11 November 1918

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2
Q

who worked out the conditions for lasting peace after ww1 (the paris peace conference)

A

the politicians

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3
Q

Paris Peace Conference

A

victorious countries -> Versailles near Paris in 1919 to draw up peace treaties
-» Treaty of Versailles

defeated countries -> not allowed to take part / put forward their viewpoints
-> major decisions by “Big Three”
1. US president Woodrow Wilson
2. British Prime Minister David Lloyd George
3. French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau
4. Italian Representative Orlando -> influence decisions to certain degree

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4
Q

what did the PPC discuss

A
  1. ways of dealing with defeated countries
  2. redrawing map of Europe
  3. a new international peace organisation to re-establish international order

however
1. both victorious + defeated sides were dissatisfied with peace treaties -» rise of totalitarianism after war
2. newly established international organisation could not keep in check ambition of totalitarian dictators -» WW2

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5
Q

the Big Three

A
  1. US president Woodrow Wilson
  2. British Prime Minister David Lloyd George
  3. French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau
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6
Q

aims of Paris Peace Conference / Woodrow Wilson

A

US president 1913-21 -> Woodrow Wilson
leading figure at PPC -> sincere in desire to
1. create a just settlement
2. safeguard lasting peace
-> no revenge -> light revenge
US entered war 1917 -> fewer casualties
“Fourteen Points” -> guidelines for peace settlement

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7
Q

main points of Woodrow Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” + year

A

1918

SELF DETERMINATION
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
REDUCTION OF ARMS

  1. No secret treaties
  2. Freedom of the seas in peace and war
  3. Free trade between all countries
  4. Disarmament by all nations
  5. Adherence to the wishes of people in colonies
  6. Withdrawal of German forces from Russia
  7. Independence of Belgium
  8. The return of Alsace-Loraine to France
  9. The redrawing of the Italian frontier
  10. Self-determination for the peoples of Austria-Hungary
  11. Evacuation of the Central powers from Rumania, Serbia, and Montenegro
  12. Self-determination for the peoples of the Turkish Emoire
  13. The independence of Poland
  14. Formation of the League of Nations to enforce world peace
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8
Q

Motives and attitudes of France towards the defeated countries

A

Clemenceau of France
-> seen country invaded twice by Germany (Franco-Prussian war + WW1) -> hatred of germany -> determined to take full revenge

aims:
1. weaken Germany so that she could never attack france again
2. gain compensation for all the damage France suffered

reparations -> clear national debts
“the tiger” -> hostile attitude

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9
Q

Motives and attitudes of Britain towards the defeated countries

A

Lloyd George of Britain -> never agreed with Wilson’s principles (14 points)
suffered a great loss of property + life in WW1 -> people want revenge

tried to strike compromise between idealism of Wilson + harsh demands of Clemenceau
Germany -> important customer for British trade -> should not be kept too weak
unwise to impose harsh punishments -> revenge
maintain balance of power in EU
want reparations -> clear national debt

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10
Q

why did the tides turn in favour of Clemenceau when deciding the Treaty or Versailles?

A

Wilson + Lloyd George urged moderation -> did not wish to leave Germany with desire for revenge
Between Jan + May 1919 tide turned

  1. attempted assassination of him gained sympathy
  2. Americans did not share Wilson’s view on American involvement in world affairs -> countrymen prefer to keep US out of EU affairs
  3. Public opinion in 1919 would not have accepted peace without restriction on German forces
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11
Q

The treaty of Versailles with Germany

A

Germany was harshly punished by the Treaty of Versailles
war guilt clause + loss of armed forces -> wound national pride of Germany
-> outraged at their humiliation over the treaty + angry and bitter about terms -> determined to take revenge on the victors -> regain lost territories + pride

discontentment + feelings of pride -> new problems in post-war Europe

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12
Q

Germany’s territorial losses from Treaty of Versailles

A
  1. Alsace and Lorraine are returned to France
  2. Saar Coalfield given to France -> 15 years -> people of the Saar could vote on which country they wanted to belong in
  3. Posen + West Prussia given to Poland
    -> Polish corridor -> access to Baltic Sea + cut off East Prussia from Germany
  4. League of Nations -> Danzig made a free city
  5. City of Memel went to Lithuania (newly created Baltic state)
  6. North Schleswig given to Denmark
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13
Q

What aspects were Germany punished in

A
  1. Territorial losses
  2. War guilt
  3. Colonies
  4. Arms
  5. Reparation
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14
Q

Germany’s punishment in colonies

A

All former german colonies in
1. Africa
2. the Pacific
3. occupied territories in China

-» mandates under victorious powers

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15
Q

Germany’s punishment in arms

A
  1. the Rhineland was demilitarised + to be occupied by Allied troops for 15 years
  2. virtually disarmed -> allowed:
  3. army of 100,000 soldiers
  4. six small battleships
  5. few smaller vessels

NO submarines + airplanes

  1. Germany was forbidden from making an alliance with Austria
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16
Q

Germany’s punishment in reparations

A

6,600 million Euros to the Allies -> compensate them for their losses
-> part of this to be paid in annual instalments
other part in gold + goods (coal, chemicals, cattle)

17
Q

The Treaty of St. Germain with Austria

A

victorious countries -> Treaty of St. Germain with Austria -> split A-H into many pieces

army reduced to 30000 men

Yugoslavia left A-H -> become multi-ethnic nation -> ethnic fighting decades later

terms of treaty:
1. split into two, Austria and Hungary
2. divided ethnically + new states
Czechoslovakia -> Czechs + Slovaks
Yugoslavia -> Slavs, Croats, Slovaks
3. cede Galicia to Poland
Istria + South Tyrol to Italy
4. Austria had to pay part of the war reparations
5. Austria army and navy reduced

18
Q

The treaty of Neuilly

A

control of the balkan territories + Palestine -> far-reaching consequences for international situation in 20th century
major terms:
1. Bulgaria ceed land on western frontier to Yugoslavia
western Thrace to Greece
2. pay 90 million in reparations
3. 20000 men

19
Q

Paris Peace Settlement

A
  1. Treaty of Versailles
  2. Treaty of St. Germain
  3. Treaties with other defeated nations
  4. establishment of League of Nations
  5. territorial arrangement for Italy
20
Q

The treaty of Trianon

A
  1. Hungary ceded Transylvania to Rumania
  2. army reduced to 35000 men
  3. reparations never set -> went bankrupt
21
Q

The treaty of Sevres

A
  1. Ottoman empire broken into many pieces -> in EU only retained a small piece of land around Constantinople
  2. ceded eastern Thrace to Greece
  3. Iraq + Syria -> mandates administered by Britain + France
  4. Egypt + Sudan -> fully independent of Turkey under British protection