Armistice Flashcards
(30 cards)
Date for the inter war years
1918-1939
What year is the Armistice signed
11 November 1918- ending the First World War
When did the Paris Peace conference take place?
January 1919
How many representatives attended the conference
32 winning country representatives met in the Palace of versailles
Who led the discussions
Leaders of the most powerful victorious countries: Britain, France and the USA
Leader of Britain who attended
David Lloyd George, Prime Minister
Leader of France who attended
Georges Clemenceau, Prime Minister of France
Leader of the USA who attended
Woodrow Wilson, President of the USA
What were the 3 leaders collectively know as
the “Big Three”
France - impact of the War
Most of the fighting in the war took place in France, particularly the north-east.
Germans destroyed many mines, railways, factories, bridges and farmland.
French suffered the most deaths
France people wanted revenge
Clemenceau - aims
1Cripple Germany
To ensure it wouldn’t have the power to attack France again. Opposed by Britain as it wanted to retain Germany as a trading partner and a very weak German economy would cause problems for it.
2Reduce its armed forces dramatically
3Push Germany’s border back to the Rhine (in eastern Germany) France borders Germany.
This would take away Germany’s defences (reduced army) and make France less vulnerable to attack
4Compensation
to help rebuild France
5* Was known as “The Tiger” - a sign that he would fight for what his people wanted
Britain -impact of the war
Many soldiers died in the trenches
British wanted revenge
Lloyd George- Aims
1* Revenge
He was elected because British public wanted revenge and he promised to “ Make Germany Pay” - he had to deliver this promise
2* Exercise caution
But he was more cautious than Clemenceau. Concerned Germany would want revenge and start another war if treated too harshly
3* Trade
Keep Germany strong enough to allow Britain to trade with it and stop other countries in Europe becoming too strong
5* Gain colonies
Gain German colonies as Empire important source of income for Britain
6* Reduce German navy
Reduce the size of Germany’s navy to stop it rivalling Britain’s ( to keep Empire safe)
USA - impact of the War
*No fighting took place in the USA
* America made a lot of money selling weapons to the Allies
* Suffered the least number of casualties from the war.
* Americans had no reason to seek revenge
Wilson - Aims
1.* Like Lloyd George he had concerns about being too strict and another war
2* he was an idealist
wanted a future where everyone was equal
3* Suggested setting up League of Nations
Where all countries could work and trade together thereby reduce chance of another war
4* Self-determination
Believed in self- determination, allowing countries freedom to rule themselves.
5* Freedom of the seas
Everyone could sail their trading ships wherever they wanted. Clemenceau wanted to keep a naval blockade on Germany so he could control it.
6* Fourteen points
Ideas for a better world. Clemenceau didn’t support his 14 points eg he wanted to keep his treaties with other nations, because he felt they protected France.
Nb* American senate wanted America to follow an Isolationist policy - where they kept out of European affairs and opposed many of Wilson’s ideas.
What is armistice
An agreement that countries at war make to stop fighting immediately.
When is a peace treaty signed
Politicians meet to agree a final peace treaty after the armistice has brought the fighting to an end
What did Germany agree in the armistice
*Pay reparations
*Give Alsace-Lorraine region back to France
*Move its army out of the Rhineland
Why were the Big Three willing to compromise when they disagreed on so much
- Armistice
- Prior Agreements
- Conflicts of interest
*Time Constraints
*A changing Europe
Big three willing to agree- impact of armistice
Germany had agreed to pay reparations etc and Clemenceau used this to argue they should also appear in the treaty
Big three willing to agree- impact of prior agreements
Allies made promises to different countries during the war and after the war those countries wanted those promises fulfilled. Led to arguments for the Big Three
Big three willing to agree- impact of conflicts of interest
The Big Three wanted very different things from the treaties signed with the losing countries eg Clemenceau - Revenge. Wilson a fairer treaty and even proposed the fourteen points.
Big three willing to agree- impact of time constraints
Meeting in Jan, treaty signed in June, but the conference lasted 12 months. Not very long to decide fate of Germany and its allies. Winning countries wanted reparations asap so they could start rebuilding their economies, towns and lives.
Big three willing to agree- impact of a changing Europe
since war started Europe changed considerably as did politics and economies of many countries.
Austria- Hungary owned a huge empire in Easter Europe pre-war but many countries were breaking away and claiming independence.
1917-Revolution broke out in Russia and Tsar and his family assassinated. Communists took power.
Fear poverty caused by war and instability in Europe could lead to more trouble so pressure on Big Three to agree treaties quickly.
