World War I The failed peace

Situation at war’s end Exhaustion of belligerents Collapse of German regime –Threat of revolution Collapse of Austria-Hungary Russia: –Revolution in 1917 –civil war from 1918 Major economic dislocations

Problem: How to a establish stable international order Respond to national aspirations provide security for France Prevent a resurgence of German militarism Compensate victors for damages

Negotiating the peace ( ) Massive conference Total of 32 countries present, but dominant role of the great powers (big 5, then 4) Exclusion of Germany Absence of neutrals Absence of the Soviet Union Multiple negotiations under way simultaneously: –Discussion of principles –Expert committees –Separate treaties

The protagonists and their goals Woodrow Wilson - U.S. – an idealist –Making the world safe for democracy –A new international order– via League of Nations David Lloyd George – Britain –Interest in restoring Britain’s global position Georges Clemenceau – France – a realist –Aging cynic/ French nationalist –Interest in security for France –Reparations Orlando - Italy –Interest in territorial gains Japan – interest in replacing Germany in China

Wilson’s Fourteen Points (January 1918 Open covenants openly arrived at Freedom of the Seas Evacuation of occupied territories National self determination for diverse peoples –Poland –Peoples of Austria-Hungary An international organization to keep the peace (League of Nations)

Treaties: Separate treaties for different areas: –Versailles (Germany) –St. Germain (Austria) –Trianon (Hungary) –Neuilly (Bulgaria) –Sevres (Turkey)

Treaty of Versailles -I Negotiated by Britain, France, US –Imposed on Germany as diktat Limitations on military –Dissolution of general staff –Volunteer army, max. 100,000 –Severe limits on navy –Surrender of merchant fleet 15 year occupation of Rhineland, –Including demilitarized zone, 50 km from River Presumption of German guilt –Provision for reparations (amounts to be determined by separate Commission) for all losses and damages as a result of the war

Treaty of Versailles: Territorial changes (net loss: 15%) Alsace Lorraine back to France Saar under French jurisdiction for 15 years Boundary changes with Denmark, Belgium Cede territory to –Czechoslovakia –Poland –Danzig (Gdansk) as Free City in Polish corridor to sea –Effect: separates East Prussia from the rest of Germany Loss of colonies

Eastern Europe Austria cedes territory to Italy, Poland Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia –union with Germany forbidden Hungary cedes territory to Romania, Serbia Map redrawn into independent countries, ostensibly embodying principle of self-determination: –Poland –Czechoslovakia –Yugoslavia –Hungary –Bulgaria –Romania –Baltic states

Problems with the peace The League of Nations is created but not fully empowered – numerous tasks, mandates to be supervised –Failure of the US to ratify Versailles or join the League –Presumption that democracies would keep the peace Numerous aggrieved parties: –France – feels inadequately protected Anglo-American guarantees, but… US not involved, Britain reluctant France instead becomes guarantor of countries surrounding Germany –Italy –Other minorities: numerous national aspirations not protected Slovaks Hungarians.. Croats Ethnic Germans –Germany…

Germany and the peace Peace regarded as imposed and harsh both by –New regime (Socialists and Catholics) –Supporters of older order Germany is weakened, but not entirely (nor permanently) Rejection of the war guilt clause Reluctance to acknowledge defeat

Successes and failures: League of Nations able to administer some mandates, able to sort out some territories But no permanent mechanism to keep the peace League itself bound up with Versailles – rejected by some Failure to make the world safe for democracy: –Democracy fails in most successor states