The End of the War
Collapsing Fronts
The corrosive effects of years of bloodletting showed. The Central Powers suffered from food shortages as a result of the British blockade, and increasing numbers of people took the streets to demonstrate against declining food rations. Food riots were complemented by strikes as prewar social conflicts. Equally dangerous was the breakdown of military discipline. Against the background of civilian disillusionment and deteriorating economic conditions, Germany took the risk of throwing its remaining might at the western front. The gamble failed and the Allies broke through the front and pushed the Germans back. Meanwhile, Bulgaria capitulated to the invading Allies on September 30, the Ottomans concluded an armistice on October 30,Austria Hungary surrendered on November 4, and Germany accepted an armistice on November 11, 1918.
The Paris Peace Conference
The Paris Peace Conference was an international meeting convened in January 1919 at Versailles just outside Paris. The purpose of the meeting was to establish the terms of the peace after World War I. Though nearly thirty nations participated, the representatives of Great Britain, France, the United States, and Italy became known as the "Big Four." The "Big Four" would dominate the proceedings that led to the formulation of the Treaty of Versailles, a treaty that articulated the compromises reached at the conference. The Treaty of Versailles included a plan to form a League of Nations that would serve as an international forum and an international collective security arrangement. U.S.
President Woodrow Wilson was a strong advocate of the League as he believed it would prevent future wars. Significantly the Soviet Union was not invited to the conference. Throughout this time the British blockade of Germany remained in effect, adding a sense of urgency to the proceedings. That situation later gave rise to the charge of a dictated peace, especially because no foreign troops set foot on German soil.
President Woodrow Wilson was a strong advocate of the League as he believed it would prevent future wars. Significantly the Soviet Union was not invited to the conference. Throughout this time the British blockade of Germany remained in effect, adding a sense of urgency to the proceedings. That situation later gave rise to the charge of a dictated peace, especially because no foreign troops set foot on German soil.
The Peace Treaties
The final form of the treaties represented a series of compromises among the victors. The hardest terms originated with the French, who desired the
destruction or the permanent weakening of German power. In addition to requiring Germany to accept sole responsibility and guilt for causing the war the victors demanded a reduction in the military potential of the former Central Powers. The Allies also prohibited Germany and Austria from entering into any sort of political union. The French and the British agreed that the defeated Central Powers must pay for the cost of the war and required the payment of reparations either money or in kind. The Paris peace conference resulted in several additional treaties. Bulgaria accepted the Treaty of Neuilly, ceding only small portions of territory, because the Allies feared that major territorial changes in the Balkans would destabilize the region. The peacemakers recognized the territorial breakup of Austria-Hungary in two separate treaties: the Treaty of St. Germain, between the Allies and the republic of Austria, and the Treaty of Trianon, between the Allies and the kingdom of Hungary. Both suffered severe territorial losses, which the allies claimed were necessary in order to find territorial boundaries that accorded closely with the principle of self-determination. The Treaty of Sèvres effectively dissolved the Ottoman empire, calling for the surrender of Ottoman Balkan and Arab provinces and the occupation of eastern and southern Anatolia by foreign powers. The treaty was acceptable to the government of sultan Mohammed VI, but not to Turkish
nationalists who rallied around their wartime hero Mustafa Kemal. As the head of the Turkish nationalist movement, Kemal set out to defy the Allied terms. He organized an army that drove out Greek, British, French, and Italian forces and abolished the sultanate and replaced it with the Republic of Turkey, with Ankra as its capital. Allied powers officially recognized the Republic of Turkey in a final peace agreement, the Treaty of Lausanne.
destruction or the permanent weakening of German power. In addition to requiring Germany to accept sole responsibility and guilt for causing the war the victors demanded a reduction in the military potential of the former Central Powers. The Allies also prohibited Germany and Austria from entering into any sort of political union. The French and the British agreed that the defeated Central Powers must pay for the cost of the war and required the payment of reparations either money or in kind. The Paris peace conference resulted in several additional treaties. Bulgaria accepted the Treaty of Neuilly, ceding only small portions of territory, because the Allies feared that major territorial changes in the Balkans would destabilize the region. The peacemakers recognized the territorial breakup of Austria-Hungary in two separate treaties: the Treaty of St. Germain, between the Allies and the republic of Austria, and the Treaty of Trianon, between the Allies and the kingdom of Hungary. Both suffered severe territorial losses, which the allies claimed were necessary in order to find territorial boundaries that accorded closely with the principle of self-determination. The Treaty of Sèvres effectively dissolved the Ottoman empire, calling for the surrender of Ottoman Balkan and Arab provinces and the occupation of eastern and southern Anatolia by foreign powers. The treaty was acceptable to the government of sultan Mohammed VI, but not to Turkish
nationalists who rallied around their wartime hero Mustafa Kemal. As the head of the Turkish nationalist movement, Kemal set out to defy the Allied terms. He organized an army that drove out Greek, British, French, and Italian forces and abolished the sultanate and replaced it with the Republic of Turkey, with Ankra as its capital. Allied powers officially recognized the Republic of Turkey in a final peace agreement, the Treaty of Lausanne.
Europe - Before and After
The map of Europe changed – many new nations in Europe were formed; Poland, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Albania, Baltic States.
The Middle East - Before and After
The map of the Middle East changed and new nations were created in the Middle East by Britain and France out of the land that was once controlled by the Ottoman Empire; Syria,
Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Palestine. Meanwhile, the Ottoman Empire became Turkey.
Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Palestine. Meanwhile, the Ottoman Empire became Turkey.