Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-

Laye 

Eleni, Mariam & Yianni 

The Austro-Hungarian Empire played the role of a catalyst in World War I. They declared war on Serbia after their heir, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated in 1914. Germany agreed to

support them and after a series of events, it escalated into World War I, where the Austro-Hungarian Empire was a part of the Triple

Entente, alongside Germany, and Italy. 

Autumn 1918 - The Austro-Hungarian monarchy collapsed.As the war started to turn against the central powers, the people of Austria-

Hungary lost their faith in their allies. Before the armistice was signed declaring the end of the war, radical nationalism led to several areas,

including Austria, pressing for independence in  Austria-Hungary. 

 Austria declared themselves a democratic republic on the 12th November 1918.

The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye was signed on the 10th September 1919 by the allies and the new Republic of Austria. It demanded that:• The Austro-Hungarian Empire was to be dissolved• The independence of Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and the state

of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, was to be recognised. • War reparations were to be paid to the allies. • Considerable amounts of land was lost to Czechoslovakia, Poland,

Romania, Yugoslavia, and Italy. They received Burgenland from Hungary. 

• They were forced to cut off any unions with Germany. Not allowed to compromise their independence. (Their request to be called German Austria was denied.)

• Restricted the armament of Austria -limited to 30,000 

The U.S ratified the treaty due to it’s wishes to not commit itself to the League of Nations.

"In territory outside her frontiers as fixed by the present Treaty Austria renounces so far as she is concerned all rights, titles and privileges whatever in or over territory outside Europe which belonged to the former Austro-Hungarian Monarchy or to its allies, and all rights, titles and privileges whatever their origin which it held as against the Allied and Associated Powers."

"Austria shall pay in the course of the years 1919, 1920, and the first four months of 1921, in such instalments and in such manner (whether in gold, commodities, ships, securities or otherwise) as the Reparation Commission may lay down, a reasonable sum which shall be determined by the Commission. Out of this sum the expenses of the armies of occupation subsequent to the Armistice of 3 November 1918 shall first be met, and such supplies of food and raw materials as may be judged by the Governments of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers essential to enable Austria to meet her obligations for reparation may also, with the approval of the said Governments, be paid for out of the above sum. The balance shall be reckoned towards the liquidation of the amount due for reparation. Austria shall further deposit bonds as prescribed in paragraph 12(c) of Annex II hereto."

Political Outcomes•  The Treaty of St Germaine gave freedom to

countries such as Poland,Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia.

• Some of the land which Austria had occupied, was taken and given to Italy after the war.

• The Dalmation Islands as well as some other land masses from Trentino, South Tyrol, Trieste and Istria, were given to Italy as well.

•  Austria received some land from Hungary• Austria also couldn't join forces with Germany

to become German Austria.

Economic Outcomes•  Inflation devalued the Austrian

currency.•  In 1922 they were granted a

loan from the League of Nations.• The great loss of land also added

to Austria's economic weakness.• Their economic weakness is a

prime reason as to why they later agreed to a political union (anschluss) with Nazi Germany. 

Military outcomes

• The treaty forced Austria to demobilize its troops. 

• They were prohibited from having any air force 

• The Austro-Hungarian navy was split. 

• Their "long-term" military service was limited and they were only allowed to have 30,000 soldiers.  

Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye

"PARIS, Sept. 10.--Another fragment of the great world war was broken off and thrown into the discard of evil things today when Austria, which began it all, signed in the person of the

lone Karl Renner the peace treaty with her twentyseven enemies minus two."

The headlines in an American newspaper, 1919.

Other countries formed in this treaty

Hungary• Hungary is separated in a different treaty, the Treaty of

Saint Trianon.• They split from Austria and they were not allowed to

have any relations with them or Germany. • Population was mixed Austrian-Hungary • For economical information, look at the treaty of Saint

Trianon. • they also got Burgen land from Austria

Czechoslovakia • Border germany, Austria, Hungary and Poland • Land taken from Austria Hungary but

Hitler considers it Germany land therefore decides to take it back leading to world war 2. 

• when Czechoslovakia was formed, around 3 million German speaking "Sudetens" (ethnic Germans) along with other German speaking Austrians. 

• They had issues because people from Germany and Austria where stuck in a new country. Separated from their ethnicity.

• People might have not liked it but there was nothing they could do. 

Assessments of the treaty

• Lloyd George wanted to find out what more he could get out of the treaty, and what would be best for Britain.• Clemenceau wanted to get more of the treaty and make things more strict against Austria• Wilson wanted to give parts of Austria freedom, so the country was split up, and given freedom, to which America could now trade. America was satisfied with the treaty. •  Austria at the loss of the empire is not satisfied with the outcomes of this treaty.

MLA Sources

• "The Treaty Of St. Germain." History Learning Site. Web. 23 Jan. 2012. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/treaty-st-germain.htm>

• "Treaty of Saint-Germain." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 23 Jan. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/517198/Treaty-of-Saint-Germain>.

•   "The Treaty Of St. Germain." History Learning Site. Web. 23 Jan. 2012. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/treaty-st-germain.htm>.

• CHARLES A. SELDEN. Copyright, 1919, by The New York Times Company. Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES. September 11, 1919,