Transcript Making a Peace

Making a Peace
Bringing an End to the
Great War
Changes in Leadership
 Britain
– PM Herbert Asquith resigned in Dec. 1916 and
was replaced by fellow liberal David Lloyd
George, aka the “Welsh Wizard.”
 France
– In Nov. 1917 Georges Clemenceau became
French premier, giving France determined
leadership.
Propaganda
 As the war came
to a stalemate
and the
casualties piled
up, governments
had to find ways
to keep the
support of their
people.
 They turned to
propaganda to
do this.
Propaganda
American Entry
 With the revelation of the
Zimmerman Telegram, the U.S.
declared war on Germany in
April, 1917.
 It took nearly a year for U.S.
forces to be assembled and
arrive in any great numbers in
France under the command of
General John J. “Black Jack”
Pershing.
The Allied Advance
 In March 1918, with peace achieved in the east,
the Germans attempted on final offensive in
France.
 The united command of British, Americans and
French under French Gen. Foch counterattacked
in July.
 A German retreat began, culminating on Aug. 8th
when British tanks broke through at Amiens.
The Armistice
 On Sept 30, Bulgaria signed an armistice.
 Turkey capitulated on Oct. 30th
 Austria surrendered on Nov. 3rd.
 Alone and exhausted, Germany signed
armistice at 5am Nov. 11, 1918 – to go into
effect at 11am that same day, when the
guns of World War I fell silent.
The Paris Peace Conference
 The peace conference began in Jan.
1919.
 Delegates representing 32 nations
attended.
 Meeting dominated by the Big
Four:
–
–
–
–
Woodrow Wilson of the United States
Georges Clemenceau of France
David Lloyd George of the UK
Vittorio Orlando of Italy
(Germany and Russia were not
represented)
The Paris Peace Conference
 Wilson’s “Fourteen Points”
– Peace plan proposed by Wilson
– Called for open diplomacy, open seas, free
trade, arms reduction, national selfdetermination and the creation of the League
of Nations.
– European allies had major reservations for
Wilson’s “peace without victory” plan.
The Paris Peace Conference
 Allies had plans of their own…
– Clemenceau wanted security guarantees and
war reparations to rebuild northern France.
– Lloyd George wanted the continental balance
of power restored so Britain could focus on its
empire.
– Orlando wanted to gain as much territory for
Italy as possible.
The Versailles Treaty
 The peace settlement with Germany.
 The Rhineland
– France wanted the Rhineland to become a
separate buffer state, Wilson objected.
– Instead, the Rhineland was occupied by allied
troops for a period of 15 years.
– The region would also remain permanently
demilitarized.
The Versailles Treaty
 Alsace and Lorraine
– Alsace and Lorraine was returned to control of
France (had been taken by Germany in 1871)
 The Saar
– The coal-rich area was placed under control of
the League of Nations, with the coal going to
France.
– In a plebiscite, people of the Saar voted to
return to German control in 1935.
The Versailles Treaty
 Poland
– Germany lost territory to France, Belgium and
Denmark, but lost the most territory to the new
state of Poland.
– East Prussia was separated from the rest of
Germany by the Polish Corridor, giving
Poland access to the Baltic sea.
The Versailles Treaty
 Disarmament and Reparations
– The German army was restricted to 100,000 men.
– The navy was a coastal defense force.
– Germany had no air force, tanks, or submarines.
 Clause 231
– Germany and its allies were made to accept
responsibility for the war.
 The treaty was signed at the Hall of Mirros on
June 28, 1919.
The Mandate System
 Colonial territories of the Central Powers
fell into the hands of the allies under
mandates.
– Africa – German territories went to France,
Britain and South Africa
– The Pacific – German islands went to Japan,
Australia, and New Zealand.
– Middle East – Ottoman territories of Syria,
and Lebanon went to France, Iraq, Palestine an
Jordan went to Britain.
Italy’s Claims
 Italy’s claims of territories caused conflict
at the Paris Peace Conference.
 Italy desired territories of Austria that
became part of the new Yugoslavia.
 This caused resentment among Italian
nationalists.
The League of Nations
 Wilson’s major push was the creation of a
international body to avoid war.
 The League consisted of a Council,
Assembly and Secretariat headquartered in
Geneva, as well as a World Court in the
Hague.
 The U.S. Senate failed to ratify the treaty
and the U.S. never joined the league.
Self Determination
 One of Wilson’s major principles put into
effect in Eastern Europe.
– Austria-Hungary was divided into states of
Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and
Yugoslavia (joined with Serbia and
Montenegro).
– Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania gained
independence from Russia.
– Poland was created from German, Austrian
and Russian territory (won more in 1920 war)
Effects of the War
 The number of World
War I casualties (military
and civilian) was about
40 million - over 19
million deaths and 21
million wounded. This
includes 9.7 million
military deaths and about
10.0 million civilian
deaths.
Effects of the War
 European idea of progress was shattered,
culture of pessimism would prevail.
 European hegemony was broken,
economic and military power on the
decline.
 The war irrevocably changed European
political scene (Russian Rev., Irish Revolt)
 The war and the failed peace led to
economic depression and the rise of
fascism (Mussolini and Hitler.)