Download The First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918) Part – 2

The First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918)
Part – 2
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 1918)
Two important events transformed the war in 1917. One was the entry of the United States in the War and the
other was the revolution in Russia. In 1917 the revolution broke out in Russia. Russian government passed into the
hands of Bolsheviks (Communist). Lenin signed a peace treaty with Germany to mark the ceasing the Russia’s
hostility towards them. The treaty of Brest-Litovsk ended the war between Russia and Germany. Germany imposed
many terms which were very harsh on Russia. Germany occupied many prosperous and industrial cities of Russia.
Russia was obliged to pay Germany an indemnity of six billion marks.
The War Ends (11 November 1918 was the Armistice Day)
The entry of USA in the Great War brightened the hope of victory to the Allies. Britain, France and United States
launched a massive military offensive in July 1918. Subsequently, the German were pushed back and the German
Emperor Kaiser William lost hopes of winning the war. He abdicated the throne and fled to the Netherlands.
Germany became a Republic and the new government signed the Armistice (An agreement to stop fighting) on 11 th
November, 1918 to mark their surrender to the Allies. Thus the Great War came to an end.
THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES, 1919
The terms of Peace were contained in five main treaties. Here, we would refer only to the Treaty of Versailles,
which was signed on 28th June, 1919 in France. The treaty refers to the agreement made with Germany, who was
blamed for imposing a war on the Allies. The persons who played an active role in framing the terms of the treaty
included the British PM, Lloyd George, President Woodrow Wilson of the United States, M. Clemenceau, the French
Premier and V. Orlando of Italy.
Terms (Provisions) of the Treaty
 The treaty declared Germany guilty of aggression. She had to pay a very high sum estimated at 33 billion
dollars as war indemnity to the allies. Germany was to evacuate the places she had captured during the war.
 The area of Rhine Valley was to be demilitarized. Germany could not “maintain or construct any fortification
either on the left bank of the Rhine or on the right bank”. Moreover, all existing fortification were required
to be destroyed. The German territory west of Rhine was to be occupied by the Allied Troops for 15 years.
 France, for instance, got back Alsace-Lorraine which she had lost in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871).
 Independence of Poland, as newly created state of Poland got back all the territories she had lost in the war.
To provide Poland with a port, the German city of Danzig was internationalized. It was kept as a ‘free city’
and placed under the League of Nations.
 Germany’s military strength was crippled, as restricted to a force of 100000 soldiers, the Navy was limited to
15000 men and 36 ships and the Air Force was totally banned. No submarines were to be allowed. Germany
was neither to make nor to purchase from outside tanks and armoured cars.
 Germany had to supply huge quantities of coal to France, Italy and Belgium for 10 years.
 The complete independence of Belgium, Poland, and Czechoslovakia was recognized by Germany.
 Finally, the covenant (pact) of the League of Nations was added to the treaty of Versailles.
Criticism of the treaty of Versailles: the treaty of Versailles was undoubtedly a “dictated peace”, one that would
assign all the war guilt to Germany. The principle at the root of the Treaty was: “to the victors belong the spoils
and the allies are the victors”. The German representatives had sign the treaty under coercion.
The treaty of Versailles deprived Germany of all its colonial possessions and imposed enormous
compensation in the form of war damages. Her military strength was completely crushed. The peace
arrangements, therefore, broke down and Germany under Hitler showed aggression in its political activities. This
became an important cause of the World War II.
League of Nations:
The League of Nations was emerged as the result of the War. One of the Wilson’s 14-Points related to a ‘General
Association of Nations’ to guarantee independence and territorial integrity of all nations. The League of Nations
was an Association of this kind. It was actually established in 1920 and had its headquarters at Geneva in
Switzerland.
Objectives of the League of Nations:
The chief aim of the League of Nations was “to promote international cooperation and to achieve international
peace and security”. In order to achieve this objective, the members of the League were required: (a) not to resort
to war, (b)to maintain open, just the honourable relations among them, (c)to establish ‘international law’ as the
actual rule of conduct among governments, and ()d)to respect all treaty obligations in their dealings with oneanother.
Besides prevention of war, the other objectives of the League were:
a) Maintenance of status quo, that is , the situations that existed as a result of the Peace Conference.
b) The protection of national minorities.
c) Proper administration of the territories assigned to a nation under the ‘Mandate’ (authority) of the League of
Nations.
d) Dealing with the problems of health, the social and economic problems and the system of communication and
importation.
Its Membership:
the League began with 42 original members. Admission of new members required not less than a twe-thirds vote of
the assembly. The United States never became its member, because the American senate did not ratify the
League’s Covenant. Germany and her allies were not eligible for entry for a few years. With the joining of Germany
in 1926, the League’s position and strength rose high.
Its organ:
The principal organs of the League of Nations were – the assembly, the council, the secretariat and the permanent
court of international justice. The constitution of international labour organization (ILO) was prepared by a
commission set up by the peace conference. The ILO became a part of the treaty of Versailles.
The League’s failure:
The League did much of social and humanitarian work. Between 1925 and 1930 it was able to settle a few
international disputes. However, it failed when it had to deal with disputes in which any of the major powers was
involved. It failed in its main object of maintaining peace in the world.