The Great War EndsHow it ends, and who got what

Consider the following:

To ensure that war does not break out again, which of the following should be a priority after the war has ended?

Punish the losers of the war.Address the issues that caused the war.

The Beginning of the End: Russia Withdraws•Russia unable to get supplies from rest of Allies

•March 1917, civil unrest due to food shortages forces Czar Nicholas II to step down

•New provisional (temporary) gov’t continue involvement in war

•Nov. 1917, Vladimir Lenin leads Communist revolution

•Mar. 1918, Russia signs Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany, ending war on Eastern Front

The Central Powers Crumble

1917, Austria secretly tries to negotiate peace with Allies, falls through and Germany finds out

Germans mount new offensive Mar. 1918, push to within 40 mi. of Paris

American troops arrive, push Germans back at 2nd Battle of the Marne

Bulgaria surrenders Sept. 29, Ottomans on Oct. 30

Austria-Hungary splits in 2, both sign armistices (truces) on Nov. 3

Nov. 9, Wilhelm II flees to Netherlands

On the 11th day of the 11th month, at the 11th hour…•With Wilhelm II hiding in the Netherlands, Germany declared a republic

•Germans agree to sign armistice if US Pres. Woodrow Wilson’s “14 Points” are included

•Reps from new German gov’t meet Marshal of France Ferdinand Foch on train near Paris and sign armistice to end the war

•Last casualty was German, a Lieutenant Tomas, shot just after 11 AM by an American

Wilson’s 14 Point for Peace

1. No secret alliances

2. Freedom of seas at all times

3. Reduce trade barriers (free trade)

4. General reduction of armaments

5. Adjustment of colonial claims for inhabitants and powers

6. Evacuation of Russian territory and welcome new gov’t

7. Restoration of Belgian territories in Germany

8. Evacuation of French territories (Alsace-Lorraine)

9. Readjustment of Italy’s borders

10. Independence of some national groups in A-H

11. Restore Balkan nations, sea access for Serbia

12. Protect minorities in Turkey, free passage through Bosporus Strait

13. Polish independence, access to sea

14. League of Nations

Paris Peace Conference

Opened Jan. 18, 1919

While reps present from 32 countries and nationalities present, major decisions hammered out by BIG FOUR: Woodrow Wilson (US), Georges Clemenceau (France), David Lloyd George (UK), Vittorio Orlando (Italy)

Russia, Germany and its Central Powers allies not represented

Paris Peace Conference

Pre-conference goals:

US: implement 14 Points, League of Nations

France: revenge, security

UK: balance of power

Italy: territorial gains

Differences in goals led to much debating, but compromise was reached

Treaty of Versailles

Signed June 28, 1919 (June 28th?)

Germany forced to ordered to pay Allies 269,000,000,000 gold marks (about 100,000 tons of gold)

Article 231 (“War Guilt” clause): Germany solely responsible for war

Alsace-Lorraine returned to France

Germany loses all overseas colonies in Africa and Pacific

Ottoman Empire loses much of its territory

Treaty of Versailles

Germany a) forbidden to build/buy submarines or have air force, b) prohibited from importing/manufacturing weapons or war materials, c) size of army limited

League of Nations created to settle international disputes (US won’t join)

The Mandate SystemArab leaders were promised independence from Ottoman Empire if they sent troops to fight against Central Powers

To work toward independence, mandate system set up.

European countries would help get them on their feet so they could be independent.

Instead, France and Great Britain divided up Ottoman territories between themselves

Britain and France took over German colonies in Africa as “mandates”

Australia and Japan given mandates over German colonies in the Pacific

Results?

Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia feel cheated by terms of final peace

US doesn’t join League of Nations, turns to isolationism/neutrality

Dissatisfaction with ToV combined with worldwide depression in 1930s World War II

Germany never forgets what the Treaty forced on them…

Last payment made in OCTOBER 2010 !!!

In all, Germany paid $661 billion

Results?Four great empires break apart

German Empire dissolvedAlsace-Lorraine given to France

Poland recreated

Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolvedSplits into numerous smaller countries

Hapsburg dynasty that had ruled it for hundreds of years no longer in power anywhere

Russian Empire crumblesRomanovs ruled for 350 years, pushed out in 1917

Czar Nicholas II and family executed by Bolsheviks

Ottoman Empire finishedMany territories become mandates

Remnants become Turkey under nationalist leadership of Mustafa Kemal (“Ataturk”) and the Young Turks

Results: The Map of Europe Changes!