from the book by donald kagan. the close of world war one ludendorff urges negotiation of peace on...
TRANSCRIPT
The Close of World War One Ludendorff urges negotiation of peace on basis of 14 Points
Recommends representative, liberal govt. To gain acceptable peace or rally nation against
unacceptable one To place blame on political parties rather than
military leadership U.S. Gen. Pershing – invade Germany to
compel unconditional surrender British PM David Lloyd George – German
surrender denied Allies chance to punish Germany
Foch – seek armistice to prevent Germany from resuming war This was the view that triumphed
Unexpected Defeat German people led to believe that victory
was nearly at hand Russian surrender and early success in new
offensive in the west reinforced belief Military reverses concealed
Outcome different from expectations Many believed Germany had not been
defeated Tricked by enemy and betrayed by some
including pacifists, Jews and Socialists at home The Stab in the Back
The Treaty
Terms drawn up by Big Four Germans and Bolshevik Russians not
present French wanted to weaken Germany
and preserve French political & military “superiority” for security
Wilson’s “Peace Without Victory” abandoned for a dictated peace.
Adulation for Wilson faded along with 14 Pts
Terms France gets Alsace-Lorraine Right to Saar coal mines for 15 years Demilitarized Rhineland
Treaty provided that Britain & US would guarantee aid to France if attacked by Germany
Disarmament of Germany 100,000 troops Major reduction of fleet No warplanes, subs, tanks, heavy artillery,
poison gas Eastern frontier moved west
Loss of land and creation of Polish Corridor
Terms Austria-Hungary dismantled
Republic of Austria and Hungary Czechoslovakia Yugoslavia Russia lost land to independent states of Finland,
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania + a portion of Poland Wilson accepts because of faith in League of
Nations Not international govt. – sovereign states in common
cause Matters submitted to arbitration Refusal to comply would justify economic or military
sanctions Unlikely to be effective without armed forces Germany and USSR excluded from LON
Colonies under LON Covenant Placed under control of one of main Allies as “mandated territories” until independent
Ottoman Empire dismantled Turkey reduced to Constantinople and Asia
Minor Ottoman territories Palestine & Iraq to Britain Syria & Lebanon to France
German colonies in Africa divided among GB, FR & South Af. Pacific possessions to Australia, New Zealand,
Japan
Reparations Germany was willing to pay for damages to
civilian population and property Americans believed that to be acceptable But GB & FR wanted Germany to pay full cost of
war - to cover Allied war debts to US Generally believed that Germany could not
afford it FR – either Germany pays or invites FR
intervention Reparations to be justified by Clause 231 – War
Guilt Germans resented charge – insult to injury Insult to insult – having no choice but to sign Undoing the treaty the focus of later German leaders
Weimar Govt. & Criticism of Treaty Reps of new govt. signed treaty
Social Dems. And Catholic Center party formed backbone of Weimar govt. in Germany until 1933
W. Rep. never overcame stigma of Versailles Churchill thought it would have been better to
establish const. monarchy with Kaiser’s grandson Thought it would have been more respected by
people Legitimacy and patriotism of Weimar govt.
questioned by German people – easy target by opponents
Criticism of Versailles by Allies French thought it failed to provide security for
FR Tied security to British and American help
Many US and British critics complained it did not rise to idealistic principles originally professed Not a peace without victors No end to imperialism Violated self-determination
J. M. Keynes (GB) a harsh critic The Economic Consequences of the Peace (1920) “immoral and unworkable” Would bring economic ruin and war in future
POV that Germany was no more at fault than others is foundation of appeasement
Kagan’s Assessment Many attacks on TofV unjustified Germany neither dismembered or ruined
Reparations could be and were scaled down Until world-wide depression – Germans
recovered a high level of prosperity Paying about 6% of annual national income
Dawes Plan 1924 reduced it to 3.3 and Young Plan 1929 to 2.6% - in fact between 1919-1931 Germany averaged 2%
Kagan cites a source that claims – “On balance, the United States and to a lesser extent the European Allies subsidized Germany during the Weimar era, and not the other way around.”
Kagan’s Assessment cont. German treaties with defeated foes harsher
than Versailles 1871 treaty with FR intended to cripple FR Treatment of Russia at Brest-Litovsk far more severe
TofV not in line with idealism of 14pts New countries contained ethnic minorities
Czechoslovakia contained unhappy German minorities as part of a collection of nationalities that did not get along
Even with the TofV, Germany was largest & most populous nation west of Russia Well-educated, disciplined, skilled people w/ higher
birthrate than France With Russia isolated & Hapsburg & Ottoman Empires
gone – Germany would eventually be stronger than before the war
Kagan’s Assessment cont. Peace treaty inadequate because it rested on a
victory whose reality & legitimacy Germany didn’t admit Not carrying the war into Germany contributed to view So did a war guilt clause
Reparations seemed much worse than they were Increasing Germans’ sense of being mistreated and
strengthening the power of those who opposed the govt.
Hypocritical to proclaim principle of ethnic self-determination then forbid Germans of Austria to join with the German Republic
Supporting French efforts to enforce the peace meant military engagement on the continent “Resisting it in the name of fairness, generosity, and
justice required no such effort and yet preserved a good conscience”
Kagan’s Assessment cont. LON unrealistic – idealist in world unwilling
to abandon national sovereignty LON undermined badly by absence of US No mechanism for settling quarrels nor for
bringing force to bear to maintain peace or prevent aggression
Would work only if countries willing US & GB soon came to resist France’s
efforts at enforcement of TofV TofV neither conciliatory enough to
remove desire for change or harsh enough to prevent future war