WW1 TREATIES Flashcards
TREATY OF VERSAILLES
- Germany upset = sense of hostility = stab in the back
- The punitive Treaty was designed to cripple Germany militarily, territorially and economically
- Army restricted to 100,000 men.
- No modern weapons such as tanks, air force or heavy artillery
- Navy could not have battleships over 10,000 tonnes and no U-Boats (submarines).
- Naval base destroyed
- Germany lost national territory which was given to Belgium and Denmark, most went to Poland. Alsace Lorraine returned to France. Union of Germany and Austria (Anschluss) forbidden. Czechoslovakia was created.
- Rhineland demilitarised.
NEW MAP OF EUROPE
The collapse of traditional empires, such as Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire
Many new modern national boundaries were established
Hastily created constitutions: lack of thought or planning
This resulted in the rise of nationalist groups who promoted extreme patriotism
Creation of democratic nations that had never had voting rights before
New countries
- Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Turkey.
- These countries were meant to create a buffer zone to prevent future conflicts
Minorities ultimately paid the price for WWII
Peace conferences
- Too focused on making Germany pay rather than ‘peace’
- France = in Treaty negotiations, succeeded in ensuring that Germany was basically stripped of all weapons, military, had to make reparations, buffer zone (Rhineland) between France and Germany
- Germany and Russia were excluded from the Peace Conference
Italy = although invited, had a small say in things. Left deeply dissatisfied. Ended Orlando’s political career and pathed the way for right-wing dictatorship under Mussolini.
USA = neither Britain nor Fr were willing to support the 14 Point Plan on which German surrender was based.
As a result, USA refused to endorse American membership of the L of N and adopted an isolationist policy.
Japan = wanted a racial discrimination clause – did not get it. Not happy
