1. The Peace Treaties Flawed peace or the best possible at the time?

2. Problems How to: Establish stable international order Establish stable international order Respond to national aspirations while not ignoring strategic considerations, claims based on history and promises made by allies Respond to national aspirations while not ignoring strategic considerations, claims based on history and promises made by allies Provide security for France Provide security for France Prevent resurgence of German militarism Prevent resurgence of German militarism Compensate victors for damage suffered Compensate victors for damage suffered

3. Negotiating the peace (1919-20) Massive conference: 32 countries present, 32 countries present, Dominated by great powers: Dominated by great powers: US, UK, France, Italy, Japan US, UK, France, Italy, Japan Exclusion of Germany Exclusion of Germany Absence of neutrals Absence of neutrals Absence of the Soviet Union Absence of the Soviet Union Multiple negotiations underway: Multiple negotiations underway: Discussion of principlesDiscussion of principles Expert committeesExpert committees Separate treaties concludedSeparate treaties concluded

4. The protagonists and their goals Woodrow Wilson (U.S.) -- idealist who wanted to Woodrow Wilson (U.S.) -- idealist who wanted to Make the world safe for democracyMake the world safe for democracy Establish a new international order– via League of NationsEstablish a new international order– via League of Nations David Lloyd George (Great Britain) David Lloyd George (Great Britain) Interest in restoring Britain’s global positionInterest in restoring Britain’s global position Georges Clemenceau( France) -- a realist Georges Clemenceau( France) -- a realist Aging cynic/ French nationalistAging cynic/ French nationalist Interest in security for FranceInterest in security for France ReparationsReparations Orlando - Italy Orlando - Italy Interest in territorial gainsInterest in territorial gains Japan – interest in replacing Germany in China Japan – interest in replacing Germany in China

5. Wilson’s Fourteen Points (January 1918) Open covenants openly arrived at Open covenants openly arrived at Freedom of the seas Freedom of the seas Elimination of trade barriers Elimination of trade barriers Arms reduction Arms reduction Evacuation of occupied territories Evacuation of occupied territories National self determination for diverse peoples: National self determination for diverse peoples: Return Alsace Lorraine to FranceReturn Alsace Lorraine to France Re-establish PolandRe-establish Poland Self-determination for nationalities within Austria-Hungary, Ottoman empireSelf-determination for nationalities within Austria-Hungary, Ottoman empire An international organization to keep the peace (League of Nations) An international organization to keep the peace (League of Nations)

6. Treaty of Versailles -I Negotiated by Britain, France, US Negotiated by Britain, France, US Imposed on Germany as diktatImposed on Germany as diktat Limitations on military Limitations on military Dissolution of general staffDissolution of general staff Volunteer army, max. 100,000, no tanks, armoured vehicles…Volunteer army, max. 100,000, no tanks, armoured vehicles… Severe limits on navy: max 6 battleships, 20 smaller ships, no submarinesSevere limits on navy: max 6 battleships, 20 smaller ships, no submarines Surrender of merchant fleetSurrender of merchant fleet Rhineland to be occupied for 15 years Rhineland to be occupied for 15 years Including demilitarized zone, 50 km from the riverIncluding demilitarized zone, 50 km from the river Presumption of German guilt Presumption of German guilt Reparations (amounts to be determined by separate Commission) to be paid for all losses and damages as a result of the warReparations (amounts to be determined by separate Commission) to be paid for all losses and damages as a result of the war

7. Treaty of Versailles - II Territorial changes (net loss: 15%) Alsace Lorraine given back to France Alsace Lorraine given back to France Saar under French jurisdiction for 15 years Saar under French jurisdiction for 15 years Boundary changes with Denmark, Belgium Boundary changes with Denmark, Belgium Cede territory to map Cede territory to mapmap CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia PolandPoland Danzig (Gdansk) as Free City in Polish corridor to seaDanzig (Gdansk) as Free City in Polish corridor to sea separates East Prussia from the rest of Germanyseparates East Prussia from the rest of Germany Loss of colonies (administered as mandates under League of Nations) Loss of colonies (administered as mandates under League of Nations)

8. Austria Treaty of St. Germain http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/maptext_n2/ww_1.html http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/maptext_n2/ww_1.html Cedes territory to Italy, Poland Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia map Cedes territory to Italy, Poland Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia map map Union with Germany forbidden Union with Germany forbidden Reparations demanded Reparations demanded Limits on armed forces Limits on armed forces Austria left as a truncated republic, divided between Socialists & Catholics Austria left as a truncated republic, divided between Socialists & Catholics Substantial German populations remain within Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland)Substantial German populations remain within Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland)

9. Hungary Treaty of Trianon Cedes territory to Romania, Serbia Cedes territory to Romania, Serbia In process loses map In process loses map map 2/3 of pre-WW I territory2/3 of pre-WW I territory 1/3 of its former population incorporated into neighbouring states1/3 of its former population incorporated into neighbouring states http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/maptext_n2/ww_1.html

10. Successor states Independent countries created, ostensibly embodying principle of self-determination map Independent countries created, ostensibly embodying principle of self-determination mapmap PolandPoland CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia YugoslaviaYugoslavia RomaniaRomania Baltic statesBaltic states http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/maptext_n2/ww_1.html

11. Turkey Loses territory under Treaty of Sevres Loses territory under Treaty of Sevres Rejects, fights back under Ataturk Rejects, fights back under Ataturk Defeats Greek invasion of SmyrnaDefeats Greek invasion of Smyrna Treaty revised in light of changing geo-political situation Treaty revised in light of changing geo-political situation Populations exchanged Populations exchanged Ataturk & others build a secular homogeneous state – Ataturk & others build a secular homogeneous state – Accusations of genocide & ‘ethnic cleansing’Accusations of genocide & ‘ethnic cleansing’ Armenia Armenia Kurds Kurds

12. Problems with the peace The League of Nations created, given tasks but not fully empowered The League of Nations created, given tasks but not fully empowered Lacks means to carry out tasksLacks means to carry out tasks Presumption that democracies would keep the peace Presumption that democracies would keep the peace US fails to ratify Versailles or join the League US fails to ratify Versailles or join the League Colonies and possessions parcelled out as mandates with arbitrary boundaries (e.g. Iraq) Colonies and possessions parcelled out as mandates with arbitrary boundaries (e.g. Iraq)

13. Aggrieved parties: France feels inadequately protected France feels inadequately protected Anglo-American guarantees, but…Anglo-American guarantees, but… US not involved, Britain reluctantUS not involved, Britain reluctant France instead becomes guarantor of countries surrounding GermanyFrance instead becomes guarantor of countries surrounding Germany Italy Italy fails to gain objectivesfails to gain objectives feels hard done byfeels hard done by

14. Minorities Self-determination for some Self-determination for some Plebiscites to determine placement of some disputed areas: e.g. Schleswig Holstein Plebiscites to determine placement of some disputed areas: e.g. Schleswig Holstein But other minorities’ aspirations neither protected nor recognized But other minorities’ aspirations neither protected nor recognized SlovaksSlovaks CroatsCroats Ethnic Germans outside Germany (including Austria)Ethnic Germans outside Germany (including Austria) HungariansHungarians KurdsKurds

15. States created or recreated Few are able to build or sustain liberal democracy Among successor states, only Czechoslovakia sustains democracy throughout the period Among successor states, only Czechoslovakia sustains democracy throughout the period However, Slovaks anything but happyHowever, Slovaks anything but happy Austria – deeply divided Austria – deeply divided Hungary Hungary Revolution quelled, ends up with authoritarian regime (Horthy regency)Revolution quelled, ends up with authoritarian regime (Horthy regency) Italy Italy Poland Poland

16. Germany Peace seen as imposed & harsh both by Peace seen as imposed & harsh both by New regime (Socialists and Catholics)New regime (Socialists and Catholics) Supporters of older orderSupporters of older order Germany weakened, but Germany weakened, but neither entirelyneither entirely nor permanentlynor permanently Reject war guilt clause Reject war guilt clause Reluctant to acknowledge defeat Reluctant to acknowledge defeat

17. Bottom line: Did the peace treaties Did the peace treaties Provide security?Provide security? Make the world safe for democracy?Make the world safe for democracy? Was it The best possible solution at the time? The best possible solution at the time?or A flawed peace? A flawed peace?