The establishment of the mandate system

 12% of Germany’s population.GONE!  13% of Germany’s territory. GONE!  48 % of Germany’s iron ore. GONE!  15% of agricultural production. GONE!  16% of coal.GONE!  Alsace and LorraineGONE!  Polish Corridor created to give Poland access to the sea. – Danzig now a ‘free city’ under the protection of the League of Nations  German ‘empire’ punished – reduced in size and power

New government: WEIMAR REPUBLIC. The stab in the back theory. Published in What is the message of this illustration?

BUT WAS GERMANY WEAKENED BY THE TREATY? Yes/No? Answer: Not completely. Why? The collapse of the Russian Empire, the Ottoman and the Austro-Hungarian empire and the establishment of new smaller and weaker nations to the east of Germany, meant that once Germany recovered she actually would be stronger than before the war!

Western Europe remained the same! The West of Germany was: France Belgium Luxembourg Holland

The East and South of Germany: New states: Poland Czechoslovakia Austria Hungary Yugoslavia Lithuania Latvia Estonia Finland

 Eastern Europe – not politically stable WHY?  New sources of conflict – due to ethnic and cultural differences within the countries – e.g. Northern Czechoslovakia – region called the Sudetenland large population of ethnic Germans  Economically weak – new nation states  Where was the principle of self-determination?  Millions of Germans were in the Polish corridor!  Some conflicts solved by plebiscites – others led to conflicts in the inter-war years.

New nation states had the following challenges.  Political systems not fully developed to embrace democracy that best represented the new states – they lacked tradition and experience  Racial tensions emerged in the political processes  Under developed industries  Inefficient agricultural systems  Trade barriers  Living standards poor  People were disappointed with the results of the treaties

 World War One left a burden on European economies  Shortages of food, and raw materials, debt, inflation  The new borders made it not only difficult to accommodate the different aspirations of the ethnic groups but also to fairly distribute the natural resources  Each new successor state had their own currencies, and established trade barriers  Bolshevik Russia was isolated

 The changes imposed by the new geo-political treaties meant that countries sought treaties and alliances to protect their interests 1) Little Entente Purpose: To protect their borders From Hungary and Italy. France thought it was a great idea! Why? HINT: Would the ‘Little Entente’ keep France protected from future German expansion?

 The changes imposed by the new geo- political treaties meant that countries sought treaties and alliances to protect their interests 2) Treaty of Rapallo 1922 Purpose: Between the USSR and Germany Financial co-operation Secret military agreements – Germany could test its military equipment on Russian Territory Both denied membership of the League of Nations

What is the message of the cartoon? Poincare, seen pushing a German into the hands of “Bolshevism” ‘Into the arms of the enemy’ by David Low Published in a British Newspaper.

Woodrow Wilson was insistent that his Fourteen Points be adhered to and that not former German or Turkish colony or possession should be annexed by another country. The colonies should be administered under the direction of the League of Nations Three categories of Mandates were created.

Category  Most developed states – Syria, Mesopotamia, Palestine, Lebanon and Transjordan = former Ottoman States  States were to be administered by either Britain or France  These states would be ready for independence in the very near future

Category  Less advanced states – no immediate plans for independence  German colonies in Africa – divided between Belgium, Britain and France

Category  Thinly populated economically under developed, isolated  Handed directly to the nations that had conquered them e.g. New Guinea = Australia What did the countries who administered these former colonies have to do?

1. Report to the League every year 2. Mandates Commission – had limited powers Disappointment due to; a) Sykes – Picot Agreement 1916 Between France and Britain to divide the Ottoman possessions between them b) Minimal impact on the people – treated in the same way c) Arabs angry that the independence that they were promised was not forthcoming d) Balfour Declaration = British support of Jews in Palestine = Controversial

A summary of the main points! Read!  geopolitical-and-economic-impact-of-the- treaties-on-europe-the-establishment-and- impact-of-the-mandate-system geopolitical-and-economic-impact-of-the- treaties-on-europe-the-establishment-and- impact-of-the-mandate-system

A positive impact/development that occurred with the introduction of the Mandate system is that: For the first time the victorious nations did not simply annex the territories for themselves. NOW, the League of Nations would hold former imperial powers (like Britain and France) accountable - the League of Nations would supervise to ensure the rights of the people were being respected. FYI…How did Japan do in China??

What was the purpose of the Mandate System? 1) Ensure that slavery did not occur in these territories 2) An open door for trade 3) Not to exploit the people or their resources 4) A vehicle to educate and improve conditions 5) To assist and develop progress towards being independent democratic states