Survey: an overview of the peace treaties that ended WW1 and their consequences

Question 1

What were major treaties signed at the Paris peace conference and their consequences? (other than treaty of Versailles)

Answer 1

1. St Germain - Signed by Austria on the 10th of September

consequences include:

the Austrian army was limited to 30,000 men and no navy.

Austria had to give land to Poland, Italy, Czechoslovakia.

The Austro- Hungarian Empire was dismantled

2. Neuilly - Signed by Bulgaria on the 27th November 1919

consequences include:

Army limited to 20,000 men and lost aircraft/navy fleet.

Bulgaria required to give land to Yugoslavia, Greece, and Romania.

Bulgaria was required to pay 100 million in reparations, but reduced in 1923 can cancelled in 1932

3. Trianon - Signed by Hungary on the 4th of June 1920

consequences include:

Army limited to 35,000 men and limitations on weaponry

Had to give up 2/3 of land and 70% of Hungary pre-war population. Had to give up resources such as timber, coal, and iron industries which was devastating for the economy

4. Sevres - Signed by Turkey on the 10th August 1920

consequences include:

Army limited to 50,000 men and only 13 navy ships

Allies took control of finances, including the otto-man bank

Formalised the break up of the otto-man empire. Territory was given to Greece and Britain

Question 2

What was the treaty of Versailles?

Answer 2

the peace settlement that formally ended WW1. It was signed in June 28th 1919 (32 countries in attendance) between the victorious allies and defeated central powers (Germany wasn’t invited). The treaty was signed at the versailles Palace near Paris by the ‘big three’ allied powers:

Question 3

Who were the big three?

Answer 3

1. Woodrow Wilson (USA)
2. Clemenceau (France)
3. Lloyd George (UK)

Question 4

What were Clemenceau views?

Answer 4

Wanted revenge
No league of Nations
Disarmament of Germany army to ensure they would never attack France
1,400,00 soldiers killed
Germany should be destroyed - in order to never start another war
Seen France destroyed
Fought on French territory

(essentially he wanted the harsher conditions for Germany: France suffered greatly)

Question 5

What were Lloyd George views?

Answer 5

In the middle
Wanted to trade resources with Germany
750,000 soldiers killed
Public image was important
Can’t be soft on Germany due to public perception for the upcoming election
Civilians echoed “ hang the kaiser” and “make germany pay”
Concerned with communism and feared the spread to Western Europe
Didn’t want to lenient but knew germans disillusionment with government could turn into communist revolution

Question 6

What were Woodrow Wilsons views?

Answer 6

Opposed to harsh German punishment
Involved in war late
116,000 soldiers killed
Shocked by the savagery
Unfamiliar with European relations
Viewed as European inferiority
American policy to adopt isolation
America minimal involvement in post war Europe
German punishment should lead to European reconciliation
Based on his “14 points” most importantly
No more secret treaties
Countries reduce weapon/armed forces
National self determination
All countries belong to league of nations

Question 7

What were the financial, territorial, and military consequences of the treaty of versailles?

Answer 7

Financial:

Germany had reparations of 132 billion gold marks
Not allowed to join league of nations
Accepts responsibility for loss and damage
The loss and confiscation of vital industrial territory was also designed to be a severe blow to any future attempts by Germany to rebuild her economy.
Coal from the Saar and Upper Silesia in particular was a vital economic loss. Combined with the financial penalties linked to reparations, it seemed clear to Germany that the Allies wanted nothing else but to bankrupt her.
Germany was also forbidden to unite with Austria to form one superstate, in an attempt to keep her economic potential to a minimum.

Territorial:

The following land was taken away from Germany
Alsace-Lorraine (given to France)
Eupen and Malmedy (given to Belgium)
Northern Schleswig (given to Denmark)
Hultschin (given to Czechoslovakia)
West Prussia, Posen and Upper Silesia (given to Poland)
The Saar, Danzig and Memel were put under the control of the League of Nations and the people of these regions would be allowed to vote to stay in Germany or not in a future referendum.
The League of Nations also took control of Germany’s overseas colonies.
Germany had to return to Russia land taken in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Some of this land was made into new states (countries): Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. Poland also received some of this land.
Overall Germany lost 13% of its land

Military:

Rhineland demilitarised with no german soldiers allowed 50 km east of the rhine river for 15 years
No air force
Germany army restricted to 100,000 men
Navy only had 6 battle ships with no sub marines

Question 8

What was Germany’s reaction to the treaty?

Answer 8

Germany had to admit full responsibility for starting the war. This was Clause 231 - the infamous “War Guilt Clause”.

On June 28th, at the Hall of Mirrors, there was no room for negotiation; Germany’s objections were disregarded, and two German representatives were compelled to sign the treaty.

However, it left a mood of anger throughout Germany as it was felt that as a nation Germany had been unfairly treated. Above all else, Germany hated the clause blaming her for the cause of the war and the resultant financial penalties the treaty was bound to impose on Germany. The German representatives who signed it (though effectively they had no choice) became known as the “November Criminals”. Many German citizens felt that they were being punished for the mistakes of the German government in August 1914 as it was the government that had declared war, not the people.