Some WWI StatisticsDEVASTATION

– Britain:750,000 killed, 1.5 million wounded– France:1.4 million killed, 2.5 million wounded

– Belgium:50,000 killed– Italy: 600,000 killed

– Russia: 1.7 million killed– USA: 116,000 killed

– Germany: 2 million soldiers killed– Austria-Hungary: 1.2 million killed

– Turkey: 325,000 killed– Bulgaria 100,000 killed

Total deaths equals 8.5 million, 21 million wounded

Some WWI STatistics

• 1 in 8 young men in France died

• 62% of all European men fought at some point in the war.

• Total wounded in WWI: 21 - 30 million

• Total amount spent directly on the war: $180,000,000,000 (billion)

On 8th November 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm abdicates and a democratic republic was established.

- Originally to be tried as a “war criminal”

- He spent his life in exile in the Netherlands

Seeking a Treaty

• The United States emerges as a dominant global power

• President Woodrow Wilson wanted to make World War I “the war to end all wars”

• He went to France to help write the peace treaty.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points

• Suggestions for a fair and equitable peace treaty

• Examples

Freedom of the Seas End secret alliances

Reduction of arms Respect for National Self Determination

Fair adjustment of colonies

A League of Nations

David Lloyd-George [Great Britain]

Vittorio Orlando [Italy]

Georges Clemenceau [France]

Woodrow Wilson [USA]

British Attitude Toward Germany Germany should be punished, but not

so much that the people would turn to Communism (compared to Russia)

British public wanted severe repercussions for Germany

French Attitude Toward GermanyBring Germany to their knees

So they could never start a war again

France faced the most destruction from Germany

United States Attitudes towards Germany

Stunned by the atrocities of WWI. How could a “civilized”

country could create so much devastation?

American public wanted to be isolated from Europe, wanted limited input on the Treaty

Wilson wanted Germany to

be punished but in a way that would lead to reconciliation, not revenge

Germany had to accept total responsibility for starting the First World War.

this was called the War Guilt Clause or Article 231.

Germany had to pay millions in reparations to cover war damages and other Allied losses.

Germany had to hand over some 70,000 square kilometres of land.

This accounted for about 13% of all of her land and six million of her people who lived there.

Germany was to have her colonies taken away from her.

These colonies were to become mandates run by the Allies on behalf of the League of Nations.

The German army was to have no more than 100,000 men and the navy was limited to 15,000 sailors.

There was to be no airforce and no submarines.

The German navy was only allowed six battleships and Germany was forbidden to buy any more weapons and other war material.

An Allied Army was to occupy the Rhineland for a period of fifteen years.

No German troops were to be allowed into the occupation zone.

THE TERMS OF THE TREATY OF

VERSAILLES1919

WAR GUILT CLAUSE

GERMAN NATIONAL TERRITORY

GERMANY’S MILITARY FORCES REDUCED

GERMAN OVERSEAS TERRITORRIESGERMAN OVERSEAS TERRITORRIES

NO UNION WITH AUSTRIANO UNION WITH AUSTRIA

REPARATIONSREPARATIONS

Germany had to accept blame for starting WW1

- Army restricted to 100,000 men.

- No modern weapons such as tanks, military air force.

- Navy could not have battle ships over 10,000 tons and no U-Boats.

- Germany lost national territory which was given to Belgium and Denmark, most went to Poland.

Germany lost Chinese ports, Pacific Islands, and African colonies

RHINELAND TO BE DE-MILITARISED

Germany forced to pay massive fine for war damages - 1,000,000,000 Marks (6.6bn pounds).

The Treaty was designed to cripple Germany militarily, territorially and economically

1914--------------------1919

The Great War was to see the collapse of four continental empires. These were to be replaced by new nation states.

Germany’s Choices

• They could either sign the Treaty

• Or, be invaded by the allies

• Since their armies were completely disbanded, they had to sign it

The League of Nations

• Set up as part of the Treaty of Versailles

• It was envisioned to be a truly INTERNATIONAL organization which would MAINTAIN WORLD PEACE AND SECURITY by ACTING TOGETHER to

PREVENT WAR

• Main Goal was Collective Security

To promote international co-operation, peace and security by accepting an obligation not to go to war

To promote open, just and honorable relations between nations

To lay out a system of international law

To maintain, or help to modify, treaties between nations

Exert influence over:AidLabor IssuesMandatesCollective SecurityHuman RightsMinoritiesHealth Issues

League of NationsStrengths

• Dealing with social issues such as the improvement of living and working conditions worldwide (through ILO)

• Dealing with health issues – targeted the treatment of specific diseases (e.g. leprosy)

• Set up commissions that improved living conditions in poorer countries

Weaknesses of the League of Nations

AttitudesWAS NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY

Membership– USA was not a member– Germany, Austria and Hungary were not allowed to join (resented by

Germany)– Constant shift of membership– The League had very little control over its member states

Mandates– Countries holding colonies in mandate had to help the colonies move to

self-government as soon as possible– Many countries turned against the League of Nations because of this

Difficulties in Resolving Disputes– punishment for disobeying the League was the imposing of SANCTIONS

(not allowing trade to take place)– League had no force of its own

Evaluating the League of Nations

• Successes:– Social issues –

improvement of living and working conditions

– Health issues – improvement in the treatment of diseases such as leprosy

– Solving some territorial disputes and conflicts

• Failures:– Unable to enforce

collective security– Unable to act as an

effective deterrent towards aggressive countries

– Attitudes towards the League

– Lack of strong membership– Failure of the mandate

system– Difficulties in resolving

disputes