International Relations Since 1919 – The Treaties
The peace treaties and discussion were dominated by the Big Three. The defeated countries were not consulted over the treaties but they were simply delivered to them once they had been written. There were 5 treaties that were signed in total with each individual treaty focusing on one particular defeated country. The main focus of the treaties were:
1.) disarmament – limiting the military capability and army size of the defeated countries so they could not engage in military combat. 2.) reparations - financial compensation from the defeated countries to the victorious countries and countries which had suffered at the hands of the defeated countries during the war 3.) territories – the creation of new territories, new borders and the reallocation of land and territories.
The first treaty to be created and signed was the Treaty of Versailles. This was considered as the most important treaty and it focused on Germany.
I. The treaties
1. The Treaty of Versailles (June 1919) Germany
There were three main component of the treaty: territorial, military and financial and economic.
The final treaty became a compromise between the Big Three especially between Wilson idealistic approach and Clemenceau desire for revenge
1 The guilt clause. Germany had to accept responsibility for the war and pay for the cost. The exact amount was not set until 1921, when it was valued at 132 billion gold marks £6.6 billion The German army was reduced and restricted to 100,000 soldiers and the navy restricted to six battleships and no submarines. Germany was forbidden from having an air force. Germany lost the region of Alsace and Lorraine to France The Rhineland was designated as a demilitarised zone The German territories of West Prussia and Posen were given to Poland. The League of Nations took control of the Port of Danzig, which cut off East Prussia for the rest of Germany. Belgium was given Eupen and Malmedy Union with Austria (Anschluss) was forbidden The League of Nations was created
2. The Treaty of St Germain (September 1919): Austria
The Austro-Hungarian empire was dismantled Austria lost land to Czechoslovakia , Italy (South Tyrol, Istria), Poland and Yugoslavia Austria’s army reduced to 30,000 soldiers Austria Bankrupt before a reparations figure could be agreed Union with Germany (Anschluss) was forbidden
3. The Treaty of Neuilly (November 1919): Bulgaria
Bulgaria lost land to Yugoslavia, Romania and Greece Bulgaria’s army limited/reduced to 20,000 men. Bulgaria had to pay reparations 2.25 billion francs
2 4. The Treaty of Trianon (June 1920): Hungary
The Austro-Hungarian empire was dismantled Hungary gave up land to Romania and Yugoslavia and Romania Army limited/reduced to 35,000 men. Hungary’s reparations were set at 200million crowns but Hungary defaulted on payments
5. The Treaty of Sèvres (1920): Turkey
Most of its territory in Europe was given to Greece. It also lost land to Italy Britain and France took control of Turkey’s empire in the Middle East and North Africa Turkey’s army was limited to 50,000 soldiers
II. New countries in Europe
As a result of the treaties several new countries were created: Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria, Poland and Yugoslavia.
3 MCQ 1.) Which treaty dealt with Germany? a.) Treaty of Versailles b.) Treaty of Sèvres c.) Treaty of Saint Germain d.) Treaty of Trianon
2.) Which treaty dealt with Austria? a.) Treaty of Versailles b.) Treaty of Sèvres c.) Treaty of Saint Germain d.) Treaty of Trianon
3.) Which treaty dealt with Hungary? a.) Treaty of Versailles b.) Treaty of Sèvres c.) Treaty of Saint Germain d.) Treaty of Trianon
4.) Bulgaria? a.) Treaty of Versailles b.) Treaty of Neuilly c.) Treaty of Saint Germain d.) Treaty of Trianon
5.) Which treaty dealt with Turkey? a.) Treaty of Versailles b.) Treaty of Sèvres c.) Treaty of Saint Germain d.) Treaty of Trianon
4 6.) Which treaty created the League of Nations ? a.) Treaty of Versailles b.) Treaty of Sèvres c.) Treaty of Saint Germain d.) Treaty of Trianon
7.) Whoch two countries were forbidden from forming a union? a.) Germany and Poland b.) Germany and Hungary c.) Germany and Austria d.) Germany and France
8.) Th Rhineland was…? a.) given to Germany b.) given to France c.) demilitarised d.) split between France and Germany
9 .) Which was the first treaty to be signed? a.) Treaty of Versailles b.) Treaty of Sèvres c.) Treaty of Saint Germain d.) Treaty of Trianon
10.) Which was the last treay to be signed ? a.) Treaty of Versailles b.) Treaty of Sèvres c.) Treaty of Saint Germain d.) Treaty of Trianon
5 QCM Answers
1.) Which treaty dealt with Germany? a.) Treaty of Versailles b.) Treaty of Sèvres c.) Treaty of Saint Germain d.) Treaty of Trianon
2.) Which treaty dealt with Austria? a.) Treaty of Versailles b.) Treaty of Sèvres c.) Treaty of Saint Germain d.) Treaty of Trianon
3.) Which treaty dealt with Hungary? a.) Treaty of Versailles b.) Treaty of Sèvres c.) Treaty of Saint Germain d.) Treaty of Trianon
4.) Which treaty dealt with Bulgaria? a.) Treaty of Versailles b.) Treaty of Neuilly c.) Treaty of Saint Germain d.) Treaty of Trianon
5.) Which treaty dealt with Turkey? a.) Treaty of Versailles b.) Treaty of Sèvres c.) Treaty of Saint Germain d.) Treaty of Trianon
6 6.) Which treaty created the League of Nations ? a.) Treaty of Versailles b.) Treaty of Sèvres c.) Treaty of Saint Germain d.) Treaty of Trianon
7.) Whoch two countries were forbidden from forming a union? a.) Germany and Poland b.) Germany and Hungary c.) Germany and Austria d.) Germany and France
8.) Th Rhineland was…? a.) given to Germany b.) given to France c.) demilitarised and occupied by the allied forces d.) split between France and Germany
9 .) Which was the first treaty to be signed? a.) Treaty of Versailles b.) Treaty of Sèvres c.) Treaty of Saint Germain d.) Treaty of Trianon
10.) Which was the last treaty to be signed ? a.) Treaty of Versailles b.) Treaty of Sèvres c.) Treaty of Saint Germain d.) Treaty of Trianon
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