On the Origins of War

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 5:39 PM

The Close of WWI Ludendorff urges negotiations of peace on basis of 14 Points Recommends representative, liberal government To gain acceptable peace or rally nation against unacceptable one To place blame on political parties rather than military leadership US Gen. Pershing-invade Germany to compel unconditional surrender Colonies under LON Convenant British PM David Lloyd George-German surrender Placed under control of one of main Allies as "mandated denied Allies chance to punish Germany territories" until independent Foch-seek armistice to prevent Germany from resuming Ottoman Empire dismantled war Turkey reduced to Constantinople and Asia Minor Was the view that triumphed Ottoman territories Palestine and Iraq to Brit. Unexpected Defeat Syria and Lebanon to France German people led to believe that victory was nearly at German colonies in Africa divided among GB, FR, AND South hand Africa Russian surrender and early success in new Pacific possessions to Australia, New Zealand, Japan offensive in the west reinforced belief Military reverses concealed Reparations Outcome different from expectations Germ. Was willing to pay for damages to civilian pop and Many believed Germany had not been defeated property Thought to be tricked and betrayed by pacifists, US believed that to be acceptable Jews, and Socialist at home GB & FR wanted Germ. To pay full costs of war/cover Allied Stab in the back war debt to US The Treaty Generally believed that Germ could not afford it Terms drawn up by Big Four FR: either Germ pays or invites FR intervention Germans and Bolshevik Russians not present Reparations to be justified by Clause 231-War Guilt French wanted to weaken Germany and preserve Germ resented charge-insult to injury French political and military "superiority" for security Insult to insult-having no choice but to sign Wilson's "Peace Without Victory abandoned for Undoing the treaty the focus of later Germ leaders dictated peace Criticism of Versailles by Allies Adulation for Wilson faded along with 14 Points FR thought it failed to provide security for FR Tied to security to BR and US help Terms Many US and GB critics complain it didn't rise to ideal principles France gets Alsace-Lorraine originally professed Right to Saar coal mines for 15 years No peace w/out victors Demilitarized Rhineland No end to imperialism Treaty provided that Brit. And US would Violated self-determination guarantee aid to France if attacked by Germ. JM Keynes (GB) a harsh critic/ The Economic Consequences of Peace Disarmament of Germ. "Immoral and Unworkable" 100,000 troops POV that Germ was no more at fault than others is foundation of Major reduction of fleet appeasement No warplanes, subs, tanks, heavy artillery, poison gas Eastern fronteir moved west Loss of land and creation of Polish Corridor

Terms-Continued Austria-Hungary dismantled Republic of Austria and Hungary Czechoslovakia Yugoslavia Russia lost land to independent states of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania+ a portion of Poland Wilson accepts because of faith in League of Nations Not internat'l gov.-sovergeign states in common cause Matters submitted to arbitration Refusal to comply would justify econ or military sanctions Unlikely to be effective without armed forces Germ. And USSR excluded from LON

Interwar Period Page 1