The Post-War Treaties, 1919-20: Achievements & Defects
Achievements
1. Good intentions:
• PJ Larkin (1965) noted peacemakers had but faced major difficulties: many nations, global scope, emotional climate, time limits.
2. Restrictions on Ger:
• Aimed to another German war. Ger’s armed forces dismantled, lost land (incl. overseas empire), had to pay reparations for 60 yrs + A-H & Ottoman Empires (Ger’s allies) broken up.
• ToV returned Alsace-Lorraine to Fr & a created demilitarised Rhineland as a buffer.
3. League of Nations:
• World-changing: = first global ‘parl of nations’ → UN. Some agencies still benefit world (eg ILO, WHO, ICJ, UNESCO).
4. Self-Determination:
• Created new states, ended old dynastic empires (Ger, A-H, Turkey). Shifted from royalty to peoples.
5. Article 19:
• … allowed for treaty revisions if world peace threatened.
Defects
1. It was a Diktat:
• Ger & Russia excluded; USA later rejected League = Treaty lacked & lasting enforcement.
2. Minorities:
• Self-determination not universal – eg many Germans in Poland & Czechoslovakia.
• Weak League Minorities Commission gave little protection vs → resentment & opportunity for Hitler.
3. Empires:
• Self-determination only for Europe: Br & Fr empires ↑ ∵ given Ger colonies via .
• Macmillan (2003) argued this → lasting resentment, esp. in Africa & Middle East (eg unstable Iraq).
4. Enforcement:
• No mechanisms to . Allies invaded Ger for reparations (1921, 1923) but later abandoned enforcement.
5. Resentment:
• Dissatisfied even its creators. Fuelled German anger (Dolchstosslegende, Munich Putsch).
• Feeling that reparations were too harsh later → Br & Fr Ger.
6. Self-determination:
• Weakened central Europe → power → unable to resist Ger in 1930s.
• Perversely, USA helped Ger (1924) but demanded Br & Fr repay debts → left them financially weak vs Hitler.
8. The USA:
• Senate rejected Treaty & League. USA pursued & laissez-faire economy → 1929 crash → global Depression → Hitler’s rise.
Achievements
1. Good intentions:
• PJ Larkin (1965) noted peacemakers had GOOD INTENTIONS but faced major difficulties: many nations, global scope, emotional climate, time limits.
2. Restrictions on Ger:
• Aimed to STOP another German war. Ger’s armed forces dismantled, lost land (incl. overseas empire), had to pay reparations for 60 yrs + A-H & Ottoman Empires (Ger’s allies) broken up.
• ToV returned Alsace-Lorraine to Fr & a created demilitarised Rhineland as a buffer.
3. League of Nations:
• World-changing: LEAGUE = first global ‘parl of nations’ → UN. Some agencies still benefit world (eg ILO, WHO, ICJ, UNESCO).
4. Self-Determination:
• Created new states, ended old dynastic empires (Ger, A-H, Turkey). Shifted SOVEREIGNTY from royalty to peoples.
5. Article 19:
• … allowed for treaty revisions if world peace threatened.
Defects
1. It was a Diktat:
• Ger & Russia excluded; USA later rejected League = Treaty lacked LEGITIMACY & lasting enforcement.
2. Minorities:
• Self-determination not universal – eg many Germans in Poland & Czechoslovakia.
• Weak League Minorities Commission gave little protection vs DISCRIMINATION → resentment & opportunity for Hitler.
3. Empires:
• Self-determination only for Europe: Br & Fr empires ↑ ∵ given Ger colonies via MANDATES.
• Macmillan (2003) argued this → lasting resentment, esp. in Africa & Middle East (eg unstable Iraq).
4. Enforcement:
• No mechanisms to ENFORCE. Allies invaded Ger for reparations (1921, 1923) but later abandoned enforcement.
5. Resentment:
• Dissatisfied even its creators. Fuelled German anger (Dolchstosslegende, Munich Putsch).
• Feeling that reparations were too harsh later → Br & Fr APPEASING Ger.
6. Self-determination:
• Weakened central Europe → power VACUUM → unable to resist Ger in 1930s.
