The End of the Great War

Germany Signs Armistace

• 11/11/1911 @ 11 am

• Assured that 14 Points are Basis for Peace

Fourteen Points• Woodrow Wilson’s proposal

for world peace.

End all “secret agreements” between nations.

Freedom of the seas.De-militarization of nations.Called for self-determinationCreation of the League of

NationsNo reparations

League of Nations

• Wilson’s 14th point• Urged the creation of a general association of

nations to protect the independence of both large and small nations.

“The Big Four”• Paris Peace Conference• Woodrow Wilson

– Promoting his 14 Points.– “peace without victory”

• David Lloyd George– British Prime Minister– Wants to punish Germany for

the war.• Georges Clemenceau

– Wants to punish Germany for what it did to France.

• Vitorrio Orlando– President of Italy– Wants to acquire territory.

But…

• Russia and Germany were not invited or allowed to participate.

Secret Treaties• Signed by Allies before US entered war

Great Britain: German colonies.Japan: Pacific colonies.France, Russia, and Italy: expand borders.Germany and Austria-Hungary: war reparations

• Wilson furious!

The Treaty of Versailles

Article 231

The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the [Allies] have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.

Article 198

The armed forces of Germany must not include any military or naval forces.

The Treaty of Versailles

• June, 1919June, 1919

1.1. Germany would accept full responsibility for the Germany would accept full responsibility for the war.war.

2.2. Germany would pay war reparations.Germany would pay war reparations.

3.3. Germany was disarmed.Germany was disarmed.

4.4. Allies took German colonies.Allies took German colonies.

5.5. New nations createdNew nations created• Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Latvia, Estonia,

and Finland.and Finland.

6.6. Creation of the League of Nations.Creation of the League of Nations.• Germany “blackmailed” into signing.Germany “blackmailed” into signing.

The League of Nations• Headquartered in Geneva,

Switzerland.• Each member has 1 vote• Executive Council

– United States, France, Great Britain, Italy, and Japan.

• League Covenant– Try diplomacy before war

• Weaknesses1. “aggressor nations” never defined2. Ignores nationalism—people live

inside unfriendly borders3. No way to solve economic problems

that led to wars.