A Flawed Peace: The End of War
The big Collapse After Russia withdrew from the war, Germany attempted one last offensive on the Western Front Germany’s military was VERY weak CRUSHED
The big Collapse After Germany’s final defeat the Central Powers quickly collapsed 11/11/1918: Germany & France signed an armistice, or an agreement to stop fighting
The Terms of Peace Paris Peace Conference: 32 countries met in Versailles, France Debated the conditions of peace
The Terms of Peace Major decisions made by the BIG FOUR: Wilson (US) Clemenceau (FR) George (GB) Orlando (IT) Woodrow Wilson Georges Clemenceau David Lloyd George Vittorio Orlando
World Peace?
The Fourteen Points The Fourteen Points: Proposed by Woodrow Wilson Outlined a plan for world peace
The Fourteen Points Point ONE through FOUR: NO MORE secret treaties Freedom of the seas Free trade Reduced national militaries
The Fourteen Points Point FIVE: Adjustment of colonial claims with fairness towards colonial people
The Fourteen Points Points SIX through THIRTEEN: Border adjustments Creation of new nations Self-determination: The people may decide on the type of government they wish to have
The Fourteen Points Point FOURTEEN: Proposed a “general association of nations” that would protect “great & small states alike”
The Fourteen Points France & Britain DID NOT like the Fourteen Points Concerned with national security; believed that Germany needed to be punished
The Fourteen Points France, Great Britain & the US engaged in heated arguments in regards to the peace agreement Finally reached an agreement Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles League of Nations Territorial Losses Military Restrictions War Guilt
1) League of Nations International peace organization; based on Wilson’s Fourteenth Point Excluded enemy & neutral nations EXAMPLE: Germany & Russia
2) Territorial Losses & New Nations Germany returned Alsace-Lorraine to France Germany surrendered all of its overseas colonies in Africa & the Pacific
2) Territorial Losses & New Nations Austria-Hungary: Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia
2) Territorial Losses & New Nations Ottoman Empire: Kept Turkey Palestine, Iraq, Jordan came under British control Syria & Lebanon came under French control
2) Territorial Losses & New Nations Russian Territory: Romania, Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
3) Military Restrictions Limited the size of German army Prohibited Germany from buying or manufacturing weapons and/or submarines Forbade Germany to have an Air Force
4) War Guilt Germany was forced to accept sole responsibility for the war Forced to pay $33 billion in war reparations over a 30 year period
A Troubled Treaty The treaty created feelings of bitterness & betrayal among the victors & the defeated
Peace Built on Quicksand DID NOT achieve a lasting peace The United States rejected treaty, especially the League of Nations – wanted to stay out of European affairs! Greatly damaged Germany; MAD!!!