Germany had treated Russia harshly in the treaty of Brest- Litovsk (1918). The
allies felt that this was proof of the evil ambitions of the German regime, and it
was probably what would have been done to them if Germany had won.
The Big Three:
Georges Clemenceau:
France had suffered enormous damage to land, industry, people and self
confidence
War had almost affected an entire generation
He saw the treaty as a way to cripple Germany, so it couldnt attack France
again
He was a realist, and was aware that he would have to compromise in some
issues
Hard tough politician, uncompromising
Woodrow Wilson:
An idealist
President of USA
Wanted to build a better and more peaceful world
Wanted to punish Germany but not too harshly
Believed that if treated harshly, Germany would someday rise and want
revenge
Published 14 points League of nations
Believed in self-determination
David Lloyd George:
Middle ground between Clemenceau and Wilson
Wanted Germany to lose its navy and colonies as Britain felt threatened
Wanted Germany and Britain to trade again as it meant trade for them
Disagreements and compromises:
Clemenceau clashed with Woodrow Wilson: USA had not suffered as much
as Germany. Clemenceau resented Wilsons more generous attitude to
Germany. They disagreed about Rhineland and coalfields in the Saar.
He also clashed with Lloyd George: over his desire not to treat Germany too
harshly
Wilson and Lloyd George: with point 2 of the 14 points, allowing all nations
access to the seas. Wilsons view on ruling people was somewhat threatening
to Britain.
The terms of the treaty:
1. War guilt:
This clause was seen by Germans as extremely harsh, as it had to accept the
blame for starting the war
2. Reparations:
Germany had to pay the allies, for the damage caused by the war 6600
million
3. German territories and colonies:
Germanys overseas empire taken away. Former German colonies (mandate)
controlled by League of Nations (Britain and France)
4. Germany not allowed to join together with former ally Austria
5. Germanys armed forces:
Limited to 100,000 men
Conscription banned: soldiers had to be volunteers
Armored vehicles (submarines, aircrafts) banned
Navy could only use 6 battleships
expelling 100,000 protesters from the region. The strike showed that
Germany had no goods to trade, and no money to buy.
Germany solved this problem by printing extra money hyperinflation
Money became worthless, so priced shot up
None of the Big Three were satisfied with the treaty:
Clemenceau wanted a harsher treaty
David Lloyd George believed that another war would happen
Woodrow Wilson was very disappointed, and that if he were a German he
wouldnt have signed it.
Some historians believed that the treaty led to a second world war. But a more
generous treaty would have been completely unacceptable to public opinion in
Britain or France.
Other peace settlements:
Treaty of St Germain (1919): it dealt with Austria, to separate Austria and
Hungary. Austrian territories were divided, and much of its industry had
gone to Czechoslovakia.
Treaty of Neuilly (1919): Bulgaria lost land and its access to the
Mediterranean Sea. Limited armed force, and pay 100 million in
reparations. Many Bulgarians were governed were governed by foreign
powers.
Treaty of Trianon (1920): Dealt with Hungary. Main terms involved the
transfer of territories. Hungary lost a lot of territory and its population.
Industries suffered.
Treaty of Sevres (1920): dealt with Turkey. It lost control of straits running
into the black sea. Lost countries that were in their empire, which became
independent or under French and British protection.
The impact of the treaties on eastern and central Europe:
Czechoslovakia:
o Was the key country in the plans for the security of Europe
o It was created mainly out of the Austrian empire and some land from
Germany
o The allies wanted it to be economically and politically strong, so they
made sure that it had industries from its former empire.
o It included a wide range of nationalities
Poland:
o The allies wanted Poland to act as a potential watch dog on Germany
in the years to come
o They also hoped it would be barrier against communism from Russia
o It had no natural frontiers so it was vulnerable to attack
o 30% of population werent ethnically polish
o It was given a strip of German land polish corridor
Yugoslavia:
o Was formed by merging Serbia with its neighboring countries
o It showed self-determination in action
o Allies hoped that a relatively large and powerful state could be
established in order to stabilize influence in the turbulent Balkans.
o French and British troops were sent to keep order at the polling booths
o Industrial regions voted for Germany
o Rural regions voted for Poland
o So it was divided along these lines
o Both countries accepted the decision
Aaland islands (1921)
o Sweden and Finland both wanted control of the region
o After appealing to the league it was decided that they should go to
Finland
o it was accepted by Sweden without causing any war
Corfu (1923)
o The border between Greece and Albania had to be sorted
o The conference of ambassadors was given the job
o Tellini was appointed to supervise it
o After surveying the Greece side of the frontier area, Tellini and his
team were ambushed and killed
o The Italian leader Mussolini was furious and blamed the Greek
government for the murders
o He demanded that compensation had to be paid to Italy
o And the murderers had to be executed
o But the Greeks had no idea who the murderers were
o Mussolini then bombarded and occupied the Greek island of Corfu
o Killing 15 people
o Greece appealed to the league for help
o The situation seemed like the one which triggered WW1
o It condemned Mussolinis actions
o Suggested that Greece pay compensation, but the money will be held
by the league
o This money would be paid to Italy if the killers were found
o Officially, Mussolini accepted the decision
o But behind the scenes, he persuaded the league to change its ruling
o The Greeks had to apologize and pay compensation directly to Italy
o Mussolini withdrew from Corfu, boasting his triumph
This incident was proof that the League of Nations could be undermined by its
own members.
Geneva protocol
Bulgaria (1925)
o Greek troops invaded Bulgaria, after an incident on the border in
which some Greek troops were killed
o Bulgaria appealed for help
o The league condemned the Greek action
o It ordered Greece to pull out and pay compensation to Bulgaria
o Faced with disapproval, the Greeks obeyed
o They felt that there was one rule for large states and another for
smaller ones
How did the League of Nations work for a better world?
Refugees:
The league did tremendous work in getting refugees and former prisoners of
war, back to their homelands. In the first few years after war, about 400,000
prisoners were returned to their homes by the Leagues agencies. When
refugee crisis hit Turkey in 1922, hundreds of people were housed in refugee
camps, and the league acted quickly to stamp out cholera, smallpox and
dysentery.
Working conditions:
o International labor organization set up
o In order to ban poisonous white lead from paint
o To limit the hours that small children were allowed to work
The league failed in bringing about disarmament. No other country had disarmed
as much as Germany.
The Locarno treaties:
Representatives of France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Poland and
Czechoslovakia met in Locarno in Switzerland.
They emerged with some important agreements:
o Germany accepted the borders with France and Belgium that were
laid out in the ToV.
o Britain and Italy promised to protect France if Germany violated
these borders.
o Germany accepted that Rhineland was a demilitarized zone
o France and Germany agreed to settle and future disputes through the
league of nations
These agreements were greeted with terrific enthusiasm especially in France.
France felt that at last it was being given some guarantee of border security.
This also paved way for Germany to enter the League.it was like a new and better
chapter of international relations.
The Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928):
Greeted as a turning point in History
Terms:
o The parties condemn war as a means of solving international disputes
o And reject it as an instrument of policy
o The settlement or solution of all disputes should only be sought out by
peaceful means
The world was now a safer place
Why did the League fail in the 1930s?
Wall street crash
o USA was the richest country in the world
o Many countries traded with USA and took loans from USA
o Wall street crash caused a long depression
o Causing economic problems throughout the world
o Damaged the trade and industry of all countries
o Affected relations between countries
o Also led to political changes
o Affects industries
o Decreases employment
o Decreases profits
Britain suffered high levels of unemployment. Was not willing
to get involved in international disputes when own economy
was suffering
In Germany unemployment and poverty caused people to elect
the Nazis
In Japan there was a complete collapse of the industry, causing
it to invade Manchuria
Their opportunity:
Japanese army controlled the South Manchurian railway
In September 1931, they claimed that Chinese soldiers had sabotaged the
railway
In retaliation, they overran Manchuria and threw out all Chinese force
They set up a puppet government in Manchuria Manchuko
Which did exactly what the Japanese told it to
Later (1932) Japanese aero planes and gunships bombed Shanghai
China appealed to league: serious test, as Japan was a leading member of the
league
Long frustrating delay
League officials sailed around the world to assess the situation themselves
After 1 year they presented their report
Japan has acted unlawfully: Manchuria should be returned to the Chinese
The British and the French failed to take the situation seriously
They played for time
They were desperate to keep good relations with Mussolini (as he was a
great ally against Hitler)
They signed an agreement in 1935 which formalized a protest against
German rearmament and a commitment to stand united against Germany
Stresa pact
There was public outcry against Italian behavior
A majority of British people supported the use of military force to defend
Abyssinia
But the league never did anything to discourage Mussolini
The league put forward a plan that would give Mussolini some of Abyssinia
Mussolini rejected it
Sanctions or not?
In October 1935 he launched a full-scale invasion of Abyssinia
Despite brave resistance the Abyssinians were no match for the modern
Italian army (with tanks, aero planes, poison gas)
Clear cut case of a large powerful state attacking a smaller man
The league was designed for this and ideally placed to act
It was decided to impose sanctions
Sanctions would work only if they were imposed quickly and decisively
The league imposed and immediate ban on arm sales to Italy, while allowing
them to stay in Abyssinia
It banned all loans to Italy
It banned all imports and exports connected to Italy (rubber, tin, metals)
However the league delayed a decision for two months on banning oil
exports to Italy
It feared that the Americans would not support the Sanctions
If coal exports to Italy was banned, it was found that that 30,000 coal miners
would lose their job
The Suez Canal:
It was owned by the British and the French
It was not closed to Mussolinis supply ships
Closing it would have ended the campaign very quickly
But they were afraid to close the canal as they feared it would lead to a war
with Italy
Secret dealing between the French and the British:
British and French foreign ministers were hatching a plan (Hoare and Laval)
They planned to give Mussolini 2/3 of Abyssinia in return for his calling off
his invasion
Laval proposed to put the plan to Mussolini before showing it to the league
or Haile Selassie
Laval told the British if they did not agree to the plan, then the French will
not support economic sanctions against Italy
But the details were leaked to the French press
It proved quite disastrous for the league
in Britain and France it was seen as a blatant act of treachery
both of them were sacked
the sanctions decisions lost all momentum
it was further delayed
but it was too late
Americans were discussed by the ditherings of the French and the British
and stepped up exports to Italy
Mussolini obtains Abyssinia:
Hitlers plans:
Abolish the treaty of Versailles
Expand German territory
Defeat communism
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
Rearmament:
Austrian soldiers
Weapons
Rich deposits of gold and iron
Abolishing the treaty of Versailles
More lebensraum
The British and the French were not prepared to go to war to defend a flawed
treaty.
Appeasement
Reasons:
Hitler was against communism: many saw Hitler as the buffer to the threat
of spreading communism
The attitude of Britains empire: it was not sure if they would support a war
against Germany
They did not want to repeat the horror of World war one
Britain was not ready for war
Britain and France were suffering from effects of depression, economic
problems, debts and unemployment
Many felt Hitler was right, the treaty of Versailles was unfair
American leaders were determined not to be dragged into another war:
Britain and French could not face Germany without the guarantee of
American support
Problems:
It encouraged Hitler to be aggressive (each gamble he got away with
encouraged him to take a bigger risk)
It allowed Germany to go too strong (Germany was recovering lost ground
and becoming more powerful that Britain and France)
It put too much trust on Hitlers promises (appeasement was based on the
mistaken idea that Hitler was trustworthy
It scared the USSR (appeasement sent the secret message that Britain and
France would not stand in Hitlers way)
It delayed war instead of preventing it
Sudetenland, 1938
Hitlers growing confidence was putting the peace of Europe in danger
The leader of Czechoslovakia (Edward Benes) feared that it would be the
next country on Hitlers list for takeover
He sought guarantees from the British and the French that they would honor
their commitment to defend Czechoslovakia if invaded
The French were bound by a treaty and reluctantly said they would
The British felt bound to support the French
Chamberlain asked Hitler if he had plans to take over, and was reassured by
Hitlers promise
But Hitler did have designs on Czechoslovakia
This new state included a large number of Germans
The Sudetenland also had former subject of the Austrian Hungarian empire
Henlein (leader of the Nazis in Sudetenland) stirred up trouble among the
Germans there
And they demanded to be a part of Germany
Hitler made it clear that he intended to fight Czechoslovakia if necessary
The news put Europe on full war alert
Britain, France and USSR had promised to support Czechoslovakia if it
came to war
Without Sudetenland (with its forts, railways, industries) Czechoslovakia
would be defenseless
The tension rose in Europe
In a last-ditch effort to avert war Chamberlain flew to meet Hitler
Hitler moderated his demands saying that he was interested in only parts of
Sudetenland, and that he wanted a plebiscite
Chamberlain thought it was reasonable and was convinced that if he got
what he wanted he would be satisfied
The French and the British planned to give the parts of Sudetenland he
wanted
But 3 days later, he increased his demands
HE WANTED ALL OF SUDENTENLAND:
Power stations
Good framing land
The Skoda arms works, the biggest in Europe
Protection, bohemian Alps and chain of fortresses.
People there spoke German
Coal and copper mines
:0
He saw the leagues powerlessness in the Abyssinian crisis and the Spanish
civil war
And when they did not resist German rearmament
He knew that some in Britain welcomed a stronger Germany in order to fight
communism
His suspicions grew
He signed a treaty with France which stated to help USSR in case of a
Russian invasion
He doubted if the French would stick to it, especially if they werent able to
stop the Germans marching into Rhineland with was at their own border
The Munich increased his concerns (as he was not consulted about it)
He understood that they were powerless
Worse, they were happy if Hitler took over eastern Europe
He decided to talk to Britain and France about an alliance against Hitler
But Chamberlain was reluctant to commit Britain
Stalin was not convinced that Britain and France would be strong or reliable
enough
He wanted to take over large sections of eastern Europe
Could use Poland as a buffer zone
He wanted to buy time to build up his forces