Paris Peace Conference after the First World War and its impact Flashcards
When did WW1 end?
11 November 1918
who worked out the conditions for lasting peace after ww1 (the paris peace conference)
the politicians
Paris Peace Conference
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
what did the PPC discuss
- ways of dealing with defeated countries
- redrawing map of Europe
- 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
the Big Three
- US president Woodrow Wilson
- British Prime Minister David Lloyd George
- French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau
aims of Paris Peace Conference / Woodrow Wilson
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
main points of Woodrow Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” + year
1918
SELF DETERMINATION
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
REDUCTION OF ARMS
- No secret treaties
- Freedom of the seas in peace and war
- Free trade between all countries
- Disarmament by all nations
- Adherence to the wishes of people in colonies
- Withdrawal of German forces from Russia
- Independence of Belgium
- The return of Alsace-Loraine to France
- The redrawing of the Italian frontier
- Self-determination for the peoples of Austria-Hungary
- Evacuation of the Central powers from Rumania, Serbia, and Montenegro
- Self-determination for the peoples of the Turkish Emoire
- The independence of Poland
- Formation of the League of Nations to enforce world peace
Motives and attitudes of France towards the defeated countries
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
Motives and attitudes of Britain towards the defeated countries
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
why did the tides turn in favour of Clemenceau when deciding the Treaty or Versailles?
Wilson + Lloyd George urged moderation -> did not wish to leave Germany with desire for revenge
Between Jan + May 1919 tide turned
- attempted assassination of him gained sympathy
- Americans did not share Wilson’s view on American involvement in world affairs -> countrymen prefer to keep US out of EU affairs
- Public opinion in 1919 would not have accepted peace without restriction on German forces
The treaty of Versailles with Germany
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
Germany’s territorial losses from Treaty of Versailles
- Alsace and Lorraine are returned to France
- Saar Coalfield given to France -> 15 years -> people of the Saar could vote on which country they wanted to belong in
- Posen + West Prussia given to Poland
-> Polish corridor -> access to Baltic Sea + cut off East Prussia from Germany - League of Nations -> Danzig made a free city
- City of Memel went to Lithuania (newly created Baltic state)
- North Schleswig given to Denmark
What aspects were Germany punished in
- Territorial losses
- War guilt
- Colonies
- Arms
- Reparation
Germany’s punishment in colonies
All former german colonies in
1. Africa
2. the Pacific
3. occupied territories in China
-» mandates under victorious powers
Germany’s punishment in arms
- the Rhineland was demilitarised + to be occupied by Allied troops for 15 years
- virtually disarmed -> allowed:
- army of 100,000 soldiers
- six small battleships
- few smaller vessels
NO submarines + airplanes
- Germany was forbidden from making an alliance with Austria