German Capitulation War Weary Warriors, Wounded and Weak, Surrender

Armistice and Peace As a condition of an armistice, Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated on November 9, 1918 –Army and Navy had, to varying degrees mutinied or disintegrated –Social Democrats declared a republic to prevent soviet style government –ARMISTICE November 11, 1918

Armistice November 11, 1918 –11 th hour of 11 th day of 11 th month –Railroad car in Compiegne, France They were tough and uncompromising. The German army would give up all the territory it had occupied and this would include Alsace and Lorraine. Furthermore the Allies would occupy the west of Germany up to the left bank of the Rhine. Other articles accounted for their submarine and High Seas fleets, and the provision of reparations for France and Belgium. At 05:05 hours on 11 November 1918 Erzberger signed the document on behalf of the German Government. Signals were immediately sent out to the Allied commands: The Armistice was to take effect at 11 o'clock, on the 11th day, of the 11th month. It was a cold wet and miserable day

Treaty of Versailles 1919

Versailles … Hall of Mirrors

The BIG FOUR Woodrow Wilson USA David Lloyd George Great Britain Georges Clemenceau France Vittorio Orlando Italy

German Territorial Losses

Reparations Reparations are money paid by the losers to winners after a war (for damages) Germany was ordered to pay $33 billion This was insisted upon by France and Britain No way they could pay

Disarmament Germany was disarmed (declawed) made completely defenseless Army capped at 100,000 Navy limited to 6 battleships and 13,500 men NO airplanes, NO submarines, NO artillery

WAR GUILT This was arguably the most destructive element of the treaty Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles stated that “Germany was solely guilty of having started the war.” This placed all the blame on them for EVERYTHING Germans HATED this

Allied Reaction to Treaty Italy – Angry that they were denied land as promised in the Treaty of London (1915) France – Angry that Germany was not humiliated and punished more Japan – Angry that they were not treated as a great power even though they got Germany’s Pacific colonies USA – Angry that Wilson tried to pull the country into world affairs against its will

Great Britain Britain – Generally happy –Germany weakened as a naval competitor –Germany weakened as an economic competitor –Germany still viable enough to help limit France –Britain got many of German colonial possessions in Africa

New Countries in EUROPE 1.Finland 2.Estonia 3.Lithuania 4.Latvia 5.Poland 6.Czechoslovakia 7.Hungary 8.Austria 9.Yugoslavia

Other Points of Contention Rhineland –Demilitarized –NO Germany military along border with France Polish Corridor –Splits Germany –Gives away Germany’s largest port city

Versailles

Germany

Back in the USA Even though he was disappointed with the Treaty of Versailles, Woodrow Wilson came home wanting it ratified by the Senate The United States Senate must RATIFY (approve) any treaty by a 2/3 majority

American Isolationism 5 Isolationists like Senator Lodge, refused to allow the US to sign the Versailles Treaty. 5 Senate offered amendments BUT Wilson refused 5 Senate REJECTED the Treaty of Versailles 5 USA NEVER ratifies it 5 USA NEVER in League of Nations 5 We say NO Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr. [R-MA]

Wilson’s Collapse In a defiant effort to get the Senate to reconsider, Wilson went across the country trying to get the people on his side He became exhausted, collapsed, suffered a stroke He was an invalid the rest of his term

1920 Election (D) James Cox Wanted Senate to reconsider treaty He agreed with Wilson A vote for James Cox was saying “yes” to Treaty and League of Nations (R) Warren Harding Isolationist Rejected League and Treaty “Return to Normalcy”

Results of 1920 Election HARDING WINS!!! Voters reject League and reject internationalism We want to go back to isolationism Warren Harding … “return to normalcy”