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outcomes of the war
USA: joined the war late, lost few soldiers, were far away from battlefield. only losses were from German navy attacking ships.
UK: over 1 million dead, country in huge debt
FRA: highes death toll, both civillian and military, bore huge brunt of war particularly in infrastructure
GER: had not suffered as much as others despite losing. main problem was they were blockaded by the british navy -
the aims and motives of Wilson
wilson was naturally idealistic, wanting to keep new world order based on his 14 points, however the US demands isolationism.
- main aim is creation of LoN to maintain peace
-all countries should disarm and dismantle armies, not just Germany
-believed in self determination of all nations of Europe via plebiscite
-did not want UK and FRA to use GER colonies to expand own empires, instead go under LoN control
-germany should pay reparations, but not to a crippling amount -
the aims and motives of Lloyd George
MUCH MORE COMPLEX AIMS:
-publicly pledged to "squeeze Germany until the pip squeaks" with public demands for revenge and to "hang the kaiser"
-privately much more pragmatic and sought a middle ground by wanting to help Germany rebuild and recover for trade
-agreed with dividing colonies up but not breaking up Germany
-wanted reasonable reparations to pay off war damage but not cripple Germany and risk revolution
-reduce army but not destroy, and reduce threat of Gemany navy -
the aims and motives of Clemenceau
-wanted terms that guaranteed future French security
-demand revenge like French public
-wanted German army dismantled (were still stronger than France)
-massive reparations to cripple German economy and used to rebuild France/pay off its debts
-wanted Rhienland, key border state, to be independent
-Regain Alsace Lorraine, receive the Saar industrial area, share of German colonies and possible break up Germany altogether -
Period: to
The Paris Peace Conference
treaties agreed upon after war to be imposed on defeated countries; Treaty of St Germain, Trianon, Neuilly, Trianon, Sevres, and Versailles. there were 32 countries, but the most influential were the big three:
-Lloyd George, British PM
-Clemencau, French PM
-Woodrow Wilson, US President -
Period: to
peace treaty negotiations
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the terms of the treaty of versailles are decided
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how satisfied was France with Versaille?
LARGELY HAPPY:
-satisfired a number of Clemenceau's specific demands, in particular Alsace-Lorraine and trasnfer some German colonies
-biggest recipient of German reparations
-realitvely secure on eastern border with German army reductions and Rhineland restrictions,
-loss of land, resources reduced German economic/military capacity
BUT
-still felt vulnerable however after failing to have US/UK agree to assist France in face of future German aggression -
how satisfied was the United States with Versaille?
VERY MIXED FEELINGS
-LoN and principles accepted
-pleased that Treaty was not unfairly harsh to Germany, who would remain a reasonable power
-pleased to see self-determination achieved through creation of independent Poland, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia
BUT
-upset that UK and FRA had clearly rewarded themselves with GER's former colonies, despite officially being madnates
-expectations to self determination like Austria and Sudentenland
-only defeated countries disarmed -
how satisfied was Britain with Versaille?
MOSTLY SATISFIED
- got his way of having moderate peace allowing European economy to recover
-successfully managed to temper the demands of Clemenceau, punishments therefore resembled his compromise proposals
-British intrests served by expansion of colonies, empire reached its peak in 1919
-naval restrictions bolstered already strong British position on the sea -
how satisfied was Germany with Versaille?
FELT IT WAS VERY HARSH AND OBJECTED TO THE TREATY
-german leaders surrendered believing it would earn them a lighter treaty
-double punishment to repay reparations and lose vital resources
-argued that treaty was diktat (dictated peace) as they were excluded from negotiations and had no choice but to accept
- felt that War guilt claus was an unfair justification for harshness of treaty as war was not their fault -
political impact of ToV
-the treaty caused political instability at least two high profile attempts by right-wing extremists to overthrow government as well as numerous assassinations
-caused violence because it created so much resentment among public especially nationalists and made gov unpopular
-in weakening GER's armed forces, the Treaty made it more difficult to deal with political violence as well -
The Ruhr Crisis
first major crisis caused by Treaty came in 1923 after failure by Germans to pay second instalment of reparations.
-French/Belgian soldiers went into Ruhr to take payment in form of raw materials and goods
-German gov ordered workers to go on strike so no goods were produced
-french army harshly responded, killing 100 workers
-production in the Ruhr shut down as a result -
hyperinflation in germany
-german govt paid workers during Ruhr strike by printing off money however this created hyperinflation problem
-value of money became virtually worthless which was disaster for many Germans, pensioners, middle class families with savings etc
-with exception of big industrialists who used situation to pay off debts had terrible impact and left bitter memory even after economy recovered -
HOW FAR: the treaty was fair on germany
-germnay were the most agressive country during WWI, it was only fair that their army, navy and air force be targeted
-Alsace Lorraine went back to France after Germany annexed it in 1871
-In March 1918, Germany forced an extremely harsh treaty on Russia when R wanted to leave war. Made Russia repay reparation and took their land
-Germany had given Austria a "Blank Cheque" to start off war as well as commencing the Schiffelen Plan, therefore deserved War Guilt -
HOW FAR: the treaty was too harsh on Germany
-the assasination of Ferdinand was the spark that started the war and this had nothing to do with Germany
-many German citizens felt they were being punished for mistakes of the German government in August 1914 as it was the government that had declared war not the people
-some of the big three only had their personal interests at heart i.e Britain and Navy reduction
-restricting the army made Germany defenceless, vulnerable and made it hard to keep order