World War I - Essay Example

The World War I came to an end following the armistice in November 1918, which demanded Germany to withdraw its troops and evacuate all occupied territory. Germany had surrendered to the terms laid out in the armistice and lost the war. Fuel food and ammunition were running out and there was no way except to surrender. Many Germans felt they had been stabbed in the back which led to resistance. They blamed the defeat on the home front. The end of war had long-term consequences and changed the political order of Europe. The political changes had serious economy consequences. Borders were shifted leading to emergence of new nations, while the German, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman and Russian empires ceased to exist (Encarta, 2006). The new states could not achieve economy viability and the sources of food and raw materials were scarce. Four years of financial loss, economic deprivation and material destruction left most nations under heavy debts. Deficit financing led to inflation and people had to survive on low foxed incomes. France lost the maximum number of men in the war than did Germany or Britain. Almost one-tenth of the French population was killed or missing after the war (Invicta, 1999). Agricultural and industrial production had fallen to less than half of pre-war levels. Large area of the farmland was devastated and the livestock was driven off. Property including historic buildings was destroyed. Germany was forced to send cows to restock the looted dairy farms including payment for the reparations to France. The survivors of war returned home with physical disabilities unable to work. Others suffered shell shock or what is known as the post-traumatic stress disorder, which affected adaptation to civil life (Encarta, 2006). The widows and orphans had to cope with the economy stress. Women moved into the traditionally men’s occupation and were subsequently granted voting rights. The cultural tradition of the western world was also affected. Soldiers from civilized society slaughtered each other without mercy. Artists portrayed the realities of modern life. Social scientists and psychologists probed into the aggressive nature of human beings. The Paris Peace Conference inaugurated the International Settlement. Matters concerning reparations and financial and territorial issues were raised. This conference led to the formation of the League of Nations and the various treaties (Britannica, 2006). The aftermath left the people devastated but hope was place on the League of Nations. This was established in 1920 by the Allied powers after World War I to promote international peace and cooperation. This League was formulated in the Paris Peace Conference (1919) and contained in the Treaty of Versailles. Although it was initially proposed by the US President Wilson, the United States never joined this League. This weakened the League and successive failures led to it being replaced by United Nations in 1946. The state of war continued for another seven months between the two sides until the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919 (Infoplease, 2000). Germany was not included in the negotiations leading to the Treaty. The US Senate refused to ratify the Treaty as the fourteen points laid out by President Wilson were not embodied. This Treaty placed the blame of the war on Germany who was asked to pay for the reparations to France. Germany was forced to acknowledge the guilt for the war. The Germans were forced to restore Alsace and Lorraine to France, the former German colonies had to be placed under League of Nations, most of West Prussia was awarded to Poland. The Saar territory was placed under French administration for 15 years, and the right bank of Rhineland was permanently demilitarized. The German navy and army were significantly reduced and they were forbidden to build weapons of aggression. Germany was kept under food blockade until it signed the Treaty after futile protests. The Germans were dissatisfied with the terms of the Treaty and it led to the Nazi Movement. Under Gustav Stresemann, the Germans managed to have some of the terms of the Treat eased. Reparations were suspended in 1931 never to be resumed. In 1935, Chancellor Hitler cancelled the military clauses of the Treaty. The victorious allies of the World War I signed the Treaty of Saint-Germain of Sept. 10, 1919 with the new republic of Austria (Infoplease). This too contained the Covenant of the League of Nations and was not ratified by the United States. The Austro-Hungarian monarchy was dissolved and the new republic of Austria recognized the independence of Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Yugoslavia. While Burgenland was given to Austria, it was reduced by the cession of S Tyrol, Trieste, Istria, several Dalmatian islands, and Friuli to Italy. Since the Austrian state was declared insolvent, the reparations were never determined. Austria was also refrained from entering into any economy or political union with Germany without referring to the League of Nations. The Trianon Treaty of 1920 after the World War I disposed off the Hungarian territories (Infoplease). This Treaty was signed on June 4 at Versailles and reduced the size and population of Hungary by about two-thirds. It was divested of all areas that were not purely Magyar. Hungary was also deprived access to the sea and to the natural resources. The military establishment too was reduced and Hungary delegation signed this Treaty under protest. Various protests led to the recovery of part of its lost territories in 1939-40 but the Peace Treaty is 1947 reduced it back to its boundaries of 1920. The Neuilly Treaty of 1919 concluded between the allies and Bulgaria (Infoplease). Part of V Thrace was given to Greece and several border areas to Yugoslavia. Reparations were imposed the army was reduced considerably. The Sèvres Treaty to 1920 concluded at Sèvres between the allies and the Ottoman Empire. This Treaty liquidated the Ottoman Empire and abolished the Turkey Sovereignty. The Allies obtained control over the Turkish economy. This Treaty was accepted by the government at Constantinople but was rejected by the rival nationalist government at Ankara. Protests and negotiations led to a new Treaty in 1923. The Treaty of Lausanne replaced the Sèvres Treaty. The Turkish Straits between the Aegean and Black seas were declared open to all shipping (Britannica, 2006). The first German democracy was called the Weimar Republic. Germans suffered humiliation and loss of honor and craved for vengeance. E. J. Gumbel was a statistician who calculated that terrorists committed 454 murders in the first few years of the Republic’s existence (Bookbinder, 1997). Gumbel pointed out that the judges’ support of the right-wing terrorist violence threatened the Republic. The Balfour Declaration of November 917 was the British pledge that formally committed the British to the Zionist cause. The Zionists appeared to be safe allies to safeguard the British imperial interests (Pf, 2006). The Jewish community had to be reinstated to get the support of the US. The negotiation for this was carried out by Chiam Weizmann. Who greatly impressed Balfour and his skill negotiations culminated in the Balfour Declaration. The armistice ending the First World War was signed in a railroad car in the Compiègne forest, which is located at Fochs headquarters at Rethondes (Lewis, n.d.). It was signed by Matthias Erzberger, the German Secretary of State, who was accompanied by Count von Oberndorff, Major-General von Winterfeldt and Captain Vanselow of the Imperial Navy. The Germans were left with no option but to accept the Versailles Diktat. Being disarmed and dispirited, they had no option but to sign without any further amendments (Lewis). Black Hand was a terrorist group formed with the objective of creating Greater Siberia by means of violence (Spartacus, n.d.). During the first two years of the First World War, this Siberian army suffered repeated military defeats. In 1916, the Prime Minister of Siberia decided to disband the organization and the leaders and members were arrested and executed the following year. References: Bookbinder, P (1997), The Weimar Republic: The Fragility of Democracy, 13 Nov 2006 Encarta (2006), World War I, Online Encyclopedia, 13 Nov 2006 Infoplease (2000), In World War I, 13 Nov 2006 Invicta (1999), First World War 1914-18, 13 Nov 2006 Lewis, G (n.d.), World War I and its aftermath, 13 Nov 2006 "Paris Peace Conference." Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2006. Answers.com 13 Nov. 2006. http://www.answers.com/topic/paris-peace-conference-modeuro-in-encyclopedia Pf (2006), World War I Balfour Declaration, Palestine Facts, 13 Nov 2006 Spartacus (n.d.), Black Hand, 13 Nov 2006 "Treaty of Lausanne." Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2006. Answers.com 13 Nov. 2006. http://www.answers.com/topic/treaty-of- lausanne Read More