German Capitulation War Weary Warriors, Wounded and Weak, Surrender

German Capitulation War Weary Warriors, Wounded and Weak, Surrender

Armistice and Peace As a condition of an armistice, Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated on

November 9, 1918 Army and Navy had, to varying degrees mutinied or disintegrated Social Democrats declared a republic to prevent soviet style

government ARMISTICE November 11, 1918

Armistice

November 11, 1918 11th hour of 11th day of 11th month Railroad car in Compiegne, France

Treaty of Versailles1919

Versailles … Hall of Mirrors

The BIG FOUR

Woodrow Wilson

USA David Lloyd George

Great Britain

Georges Clemenceau

France

Vittorio Orlando

Italy

German Territorial Losses

Reparations Reparations are money paid by the losers to winners after a

war (for damages) Germany was ordered to pay $33 billion This was insisted upon by France and Britain No way they could pay

Disarmament Germany was disarmed (declawed) made completely

defenseless Army capped at 100,000 Navy limited to 6 battleships and 13,500 men NO airplanes, NO submarines, NO artillery

WAR GUILT This was arguably the most destructive element of the treaty Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles stated that “Germany

was solely guilty of having started the war.” This placed all the blame on them for EVERYTHING Germans HATED this

Allied Reaction to Treaty Italy – Angry that they were denied land as promised in the

Treaty of London (1915) France – Angry that Germany was not humiliated and punished

more Japan – Angry that they were not treated as a great power even

though they got Germany’s Pacific colonies USA – Angry that Wilson tried to pull the country into world

affairs against its will

Great Britain Britain – Generally happy

Germany weakened as a naval competitor Germany weakened as an economic competitor Germany still viable enough to help limit France Britain got many of German colonial possessions in Africa

New Countries in EUROPE

1. Finland2. Estonia3. Lithuania4. Latvia5. Poland6. Czechoslovakia7. Hungary8. Austria9. Yugoslavia

Other Points of Contention Rhineland

Demilitarized NO Germany military along

border with France

Polish Corridor Splits Germany Gives away Germany’s

largest port city

Versailles

Germany

Back in the USA Even though he was

disappointed with the Treaty of Versailles, Woodrow Wilson came home wanting it ratified by the Senate

The United States Senate must RATIFY (approve) any treaty by a 2/3 majority

American IsolationismAmerican Isolationism5 Isolationists like Senator

Lodge, refused to allow the US to sign the Versailles Treaty.

5 Senate offered amendments BUT Wilson refused

5 Senate REJECTED the Treaty of Versailles

5 USA NEVER ratifies it

5 USA NEVER in League of Nations

5 We say NONO Sen. Henry Cabot Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr. [R-MA]Lodge, Sr. [R-MA]

Wilson’s Collapse

In a defiant effort to get the Senate to reconsider, Wilson went across the country trying to get the people on his side

He became exhausted, collapsed, suffered a stroke He was an invalid the rest of his term

1920 Election (D) James Cox Wanted Senate to

reconsider treaty He agreed with Wilson A vote for James Cox was

saying “yes” to Treaty and League of Nations

(R) Warren Harding Isolationist Rejected League and

Treaty “Return to Normalcy”

Results of 1920 Election HARDING WINS!!! Voters reject League and

reject internationalism We want to go back to

isolationism

Warren Harding … “return to normalcy”