WWI & Aftermath

Eastern Front Russia loses 15% of territory “peace, land, bread” Czar Nicholas II is killed Russia loses 40% of population By 1921, communists took control of Russia New Soviet power

Armenian Massacre “Young Turk” government of the Ottoman Empire Important because it leads to the destruction of the Ottoman empire Worldwide opposition Americans oppose most of all

Paris Peace Conference Allies run the Paris Peace conference 27 nations represented Big 4—America, France, England, Italy 1919—final agreement Empires disappear “self-determination” for nationalities

Territory Changes Croats and Slovens join with Serbia to form Yugoslavia Austria Hungary Czechoslovakia

Britain/Palestine/Jews Britain gains territory in Middle East Promises to Palestine a “home” for the Jews

Treaty of Versailles League of Nations—formed American isolationism Tie-in between loss of territory and loss of power Countries who gained territory gained power No army (big deal with arms race)

Peace Unsatisfactory Too harsh Terms failed to bring bring Russia and US into settlement Reparations too much

Conditions create totalitarians

Summary Immediate effects of WWI Long-term Effects Russian revolution and communism Creation of new states in Eastern Europe Reparations League of Nations Long-term Effects Economic disaster Rise of facism and totalitarian regimes World War II

World Jewry Soviet Jewry—1917: Bolshevik Revolution, Stalin, working Jewish class organized, Yiddish. British and French Jewry—extreme right blamed Jews for economic crisis, Popular Front government leader blames foreign Jews America—quota for Jewish immigration, protocols for Jewish businesses, blame for Jews who are controlling financial system

communism Stalin leads the communist movement in Russia—1917 (fully in place by 1921) Totalitarianism of the left Private property taken by state

facism Doctrine that relies on dictatorial rule and totalitarian regime Censorship No freedom of expression Mussolini in Italy—Black Shirts Oppose the “socialist threat” with force Followers of facism who experience great satisfaction from belonging to whole (community)

Rise of mass politics Conservatives founded right-wing antisemitic political parties Pan-German

Contributing Factors to Hitler’s Rise Weimar Republic (1918-1932) Democracy fails in Germany Seen as weak and ineffective Communist uprisings break out in German cities Fear that Social Democrats would take over the industry and break up large estates Nationalists/militarists want to build the army (Treaty of Versailles prohibits)

Weimar Republic Allies who are unwilling to make peace with imperial gov’t No democratic attitude November 1918—Britain declared a liberal provisional German republic ARTICLE 48—Constitution President can exercise emergency powers in times of political crisis: permitted the president to suspend the consititution Inexperienced, associated with terrible military defeat, unpopular, faced many economic hardships

Paramilitary Organizations The Free Corps (Freikorps) Armed organization of the right wing political group Nazi Party’s army (Stormtroopers) Fighting communism coming into Germany

Consequences of Treaty of Versailles Article 231—”Guilt Clause” Says Germany was guilty (responsible) for starting the war along with Austria Added shame and humiliation and took at their national pride Reparations Military size restriction 100k men who are “willing to defend” No air force Limits Navy to 15,000 men

Jews in Weimar Germany Jews have been emancipated with full citizenship for about 100 years About 13% of the German population were Jews 1/5 of the population of that 13% were refugees 3.5% of the German population were large business owning Jews German-Workers’ Party—releases anti-Jewish platform (Hitler joins in 1919)

Weimar Blamed Unpopular war treaties were blamed on the Weimar Republic Had been created in response to Woodrow Wilson’s announcement that he would deal only with a gov’t elected by the German people Republic viewed as a traitorous gov’t because it signed the Treaty of Versailles (humiliating)

Contributing to Hitler’s Rise Economic Crisis (1922- 23) War costs and debts Printed paper money to pay bills to France Inflation that ruined German economy Price of an egg rose 30millionX in just 10 years

Inflation

Weakness of Multi-Party System No one party held a majority of seats in Reichstag Republic was governed by a coalition of several parties Unstable coalition because of ideological differences

Supporting Republic: Opposing Republic: Social Democrats Catholic Centrists German Democrats Communists Nationalists Socialist-Nationalists (NAZI)

Failed Putsch Hitler’s party benefited by the economic collapse Hitler led a massive putsch, or coup, in Munich to overthrow the Bavarian government German General Ludendorff joined and denounced the Jews for their “deadly superstition of Jehovah” Attacked 3,000 in a beer hall in Munich Quickly defeated Light Punishment (Hitler writes Mein Kampf)

Art & Pessimism WWI had begun in Germany with the belief that it would be a quick victory After defeat, there was a stark period of disillusionment and despair Characterized by hopelessness, urge to escape the stark reality—craving for entertainment Arts and literature mirrored the turmoil of the generation

Arts & Literature All Quiet on the Western Front The Magic Mountain Dadaism—exhibited the concept that life and art have no meaning