The treaty of Versailles

Résumé du document

World War I (1914-1918) left the European continent completely devastated (especially France and Belgium). Human and material losses were massive. Indeed, about 10 million lives had been lost during the war. In order to prevent this nightmare from happens again, the victorious powers (the "Big Four") represented by David Lloyd George for Great Britain, Woodrow Wilson for the USA, Georges Clemenceau for France and Vittorio Orlando for Italy (who played a smaller role) decided to meet for a peace conference in Paris. Their aim was to settle a new world order. First of all, they had to redraw the map of Europe (Keylor 1996 p74): delimitate the frontiers (new Europe) and divide the large gaps created by the collapse of Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. Then, they wanted to ensure peace in the world. To do so, the "Big Four" agreed to entirely control and weaken Germany (especially militarily) and to introduce the League of Nations (Wilson's greatest success). Hence, the notion of collective security emerged: if one country was attacked, the other ones would guarantee protection against the persecutor.

Extraits

[...] The treaty of Versailles Table of contents 1. INTRODUCTION CONTEXT: TERMS: EFFECTS OF THE TREATY : GERMANY'S REACTION : CONCLUSION BIBILOGRAPHY: 6 Introduction World War I (1914-1918) left the European continent completely devastated (especially France and Belgium). Human and material losses were massive. Indeed, about 10 million lives had been killed during the war. In order this nightmare never happens again, the victorious powers (the Big Four composed of David Lloyd George for Great Britain, Woodrow Wilson for the USA, and Georges Clemenceau for France and Vittorio Orlando for Italy (who played a smaller role) decided to meet for a peace conference in Paris. [...]

[...] They were basically asked to sign the document, once finished, and were not given a chance to change it. Added to that, they were not allowed to join the League of Nations. Therefore, the German people considered the Treaty as a perfect and at first, refused to sign it. (Hiden 1984 p10). However, the great powers threatened her by saying that otherwise, the negotiations would end, and that they would invade the Reich (Bessel 1993 p25). This led to a huge polemic: in fact, the Germans could not accept the idea that they had lost the war. [...]

[...] (Versailles, Treaty of). [Online]. Available from: http://www.bartleby.com/65/ve/VersaillTr.html [accessed 25 March 2006]. Colby. (The First World War). [Online]. Available from: http://www.colby.edu/personal/r/rmscheck/GermanyC1.html [accessed 28 March 2006]. Colby. (The Weimar Republic). [Online]. Available from: http://www.colby.edu/personal/r/rmscheck/GermanyD1.html [accessed 03 April 2006]. [...]

[...] Terms Territorial clauses: (i.e.: readjusting the frontier) Germany lost 13% of its territory and was deprived of 6 million of her population (Hiden 1984 p14) areas of Moresnet, and Eupen-Malmédy were ceded to Belgium Alsace Lorraine, to the French (which acquired nearly 2 million subjects and 3 quarters of the German iron production) Hultschin, to Czechoslovakia Northern Schleswig, to Denmark after a plebiscite Upper Silesia (with considerable number of German people and mineral resources), West Prussia and Posen, to the new Polish State (Carr 1991 p254) A Polish corridor was set up, to separate Poland from Germany All her colonies were confiscated, disguised as mandated territories and distributed to Japan, Great Britain, the Dominions and France. Return the lands of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty to Russia. [...]

[...] First World War- The war to end all wars. (Treaty of Versailles June 1919). [Online]. Available from: http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/versailles.htm [accessed 20 March 2006]. McMaster- Welcome to the faculty of social science. (The Economic Consequences of the Peace). [Online]. Available from: http://socserv2.socsci.mcmaster.ca/~econ/ugcm/3ll3/keynes/peace.htm [accessed 07 April 2006]. Wikipédia- The Free Encyclopedia. (Treaty of Versailles). [Online]. [...]