Peace Treaties Flashcards
1
Q
Britain - What demands were satisfied at Versaille?
A
- Succesfully persuaded Clemenceau to moderate his approach to Germany.
- Extended the British Empire
- Germany would be able to contribute to the future prosperity of Europe which reassured those who feared the spread of Communism.
2
Q
France - What demands were satisfied at Versaille?
A
- Demilitarisation of the Rhineland
- Germany’s economic and militaristic power was reduced
- Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France
- France gained some German overseas territories
3
Q
What concessions did Britain have to make at Versaille?
A
- Lloyd-George did not approve of the decision to place German speaking people under the rule of other countries as it contradicted the idea of self-determinism.
4
Q
What concessions did France make at Versailles - to prevent it from becoming Europe’s dominant power?
A
- Rhineland becoming an independent state.
- Danzig being given to Poland
- France claiming the Saar Basin
- Clemancea’s idea of breaking up Germany into a collection of smaller states
France also wanted an Anglo-American Treaty to aid France if Germany became aggressive again. America withdrew into isolation and Britain wouldn’t act without America.
5
Q
America - What demands were satisfied at Versaille?
A
- Each peace treaty referred to a ‘League of Nations’
- Partial satisfaction that it was required that defeated nations must disarm
- the Rhineland remained German to facilitate the return of economic strength.
6
Q
What concessions did America make at Versailles - to prevent it from becoming Europe’s dominant power?
A
- Wilson thought the T of V was too harsh
- Free navigation of the seas was abandoned at Britain’s insistence
- Self-determination didn’t apply to Germans in the Sudetenland and parts of Poland.
- US Congress failed to approve the L of N and the treaties
- Britain, France and Japan gained German overseas territory
7
Q
Impact of the T of V on Germany
A
- The fragile Weimar Republic was forced to sign the T of V making it hated and unpopular
- An attempted revolt by the Freikorps under Kapp Putsch failed but left Germany in chaos (13 March 1920)
- When reparations were announced, Germany claimed it couldn’t pay.
- Payment was made in 1921 but not in 1922. So French and Belgium troops occupied the Ruhr and pillaged the steel to compensate for the lack of reparations.
- Peaceful strike followed as armed soldiers were under prohibited
- This reduced the amount that could be taken from the Ruhr
- Hyperinflation then followed to pay the reparations.
8
Q
Treaty of St Germain
A
With AUSTRIA, 10 September 1919
- Austria had to accept the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
- Army restricted to 30,000
- Austria had to recognised all independent states
- Territory was transferred to Czechoslovakia, Poland, Yugoslavia, Italy and Romania.
- Anschluss forbidden with Germany.
- Austria was now landlocked with hostile states
- Italy wanted more land from Austria
- Austria suffered economic problems
- 3 million Sudeten Germans placed under Czech rule.
9
Q
Treaty of Trianon
A
With HUNGARY, 4 June 1920
- Austria had to accept the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
- Territory from former Empire transferred to Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Romania
- Hungary now a landlocked nation
- Lost 70% of its territory so fewer raw materials
- 1/3 of population due to self-determinism (3 million Hungarians)
10
Q
Treaty of Neuilly
A
With BULGARIA, 27 November 1919
- Bulgaria had to recognise the independence of Yugoslavia
- Lost territory to Greece, Yugoslavia and Romania
- Regarded the Treaty as a national catastrophe despite being treated less harshly than other Axis powers for playing a small part in the war.
- £100 million reparations
- Armed forces limited to 20,000
11
Q
Treaty of Sèvres
A
With TURKEY, 10 August 1920
- Recognised the independence of Armenia and Herjaz
- Lost provinces to Britain (Palestine, Iraq, Transjordan) and France (Syria)
- Lost territory to Greece and Italy
- Dardanelles Strait became an international waterway
12
Q
Treaty of Lausanne
A
With Turkey, 24 July 1923
- Loss of Smyrna to Greece caused outrage as self determination was ignored.
- This sparked a national movement forcing Greeks out of Smyrna
- Treaty was renegotiated with all previous terms cancelled except for overseas provinces
- Most European territory returned and reparations and armament restrictions removed.
13
Q
Terms of the Treaty of Versaille
A
- Announced 7 May 1919
- Lost 10% of territory (Alsace Lorraine, Polish Corridor, Rhineland, Sudetenland, Upper Silesia, West Prussia)
- All overseas colonies (Togoland, Cameroon, German East Africa and German South West Africa)
- £6600 million reparations fee
- Army limited to 100,000 men, conscription banned, no armoured vehicles, submarines or aircraft, just 6 battleships.
14
Q
Czechoslovakia
A
- Mostly derived from the old Austrian Empire
- Allies wanted it to be politically and economically strong so had a large industrial area
- Included a wide range of nationalities.
15
Q
Poland
A
- Allies wanted Poland to be a future watchdog on Germany
and a barrier to Communism - Poland had no natural frontiers which made it vulnerable to attack
- 30% of the population were not ethnically Polish
- Given the Polish Corridor which meant access to the sea and international trade; bitterly resented by Germany.
