Post World War I and the Treaty of Versailles The Road to the WWII

Allies, Central, and Neutral Powers during WWI 1914-1918

Post Great War At the Paris Peace Conference, the nations of Britain, France, and the United States made most of the decisions. Why was Germany not there? Why wasn’t Russia there? Why wasn’t Italy there? Germany was the main loser of the war and their fate was currently being decided. Peace was declared based on German politicians signing a ceasefire, (Armistace) 11/11/18 (Disgruntled soldiers call this “Stabbed in the back theory” (Hitler) and refused to admit German defeat of WWI.) Russia wasn’t there because they were fighting a Civil War (Russian Revolution of 1917.) Italy switched sides during the war so their role was diminished.

The Treaty of Versailles President Woodrow Wilson wanted to create a League of Nations, which would be an international peace keeping organization.* Treaty of Versailles- Germany would receive full blame and 1. Pay war reparations (100,000 tons of pure gold.) This was paid in Marks, which was produced leading to hyperinflation=$33.00 for a Hershey bar. 2. Military greatly reduced. No Navy. 3. Territories of Alsace and Lorraine returned to France. 4. Sections of Eastern Germany became part of a new Polish State. 5. German land on both sides of the Rhine was turned into a demilitarized zone to prevent future aggression toward France. The German government accepted peace because it had no choice. The German people would hold this grudge and anger for years. The United States would not join because there was Senate opposition so they never ratified the Versailles Treaty.

Treaty of Versailles

Results Germany very unhappy with their new democracy.* Many German soldiers, particularly a young Corporal name Adolf Hitler, became involved in underground extremist political clubs. (more on this later.) Also the weakness of the League of Nations, particularly because the United States did not join due to it’s isolationist beliefs, led to further instability in the 1920s and the beginnings of Germany’s violation of the Versailles Treaty. (more on this later.) Please complete the map for a quiz grade. *Weimar Republic *President Hindenburg

Europe after the Treaty of Versailles.