28 jun 1919 ano - Treaty of Versailles

Descrição:

TLDR: The Versailles Treaties concluded the First World War and made several major changes to Europe. It punished Germany but did not dismember it. It redrew the map of Europe by carving apart Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire, granting German colonies to France, Britain, and Japan, created an independent Polish state, and giving Alsace-Lorraine back to France. The treaties created a defensive alliance between Britain, France and the U.S. It was the beginning of the healing of post-war Europe.

In January 1919, over 70 delegates from 27 nations met in Paris to talk peace. The Treaty of Versailles laid out the terms of the postwar settlement with Germany. The “Big Three” of Britain, France, and the U.S. led discussion while Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia were excluded.

Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points called for open diplomacy, a reduction in armaments, freedom of commerce and trade, and the establishment of the League of Nations. The League would provide a place for peaceful resolution of international problems. Wilson wanted this peace to be based on national self-determination-that people should be able to choose their own national governments through democratic majority-rule elections and live free from outside interference in territories with clearly defined, permanent borders.

Wilson had his way and the League was created, to Lloyd George and Clemenceau’s discontent, who were more concerned about what to do with Germany. Clemenceau wanted revenge, economic retribution, lasting security for France, and thus a buffer state between the two, the permanent demilitarization of Germany, and reparation payments. Lloyd George was along the same lines, though less harsh. However, Wilson disagreed and the conference was at a standstill. They compromised, and France was granted military occupation of the area between France and Germany for fifteen years, and gained a formal defensive alliance with the U.S. and Britain.

The agreements at the conference redrew the map of Europe. Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire were carved apart. Germany’s African and Asian colonies were given to France, Britain, and Japan, though its territorial loss in Europe was minor. France regained Alsace-Lorraine. Ethnic Polish territories formerly seized by Prussia were returned to a new independent Polish state. Germany had to limit its army to 100,000, agree to build no military fortifications in the Rhineland, and accept temporary French occupation of the region.

The war guilt clause declared that Germany and Austria were entirely responsible for the war and had to pay reparations equal to all civilian damages caused by the fighting. This came to much criticism from Germans, but the SPD still signed the treaty.

Adicionado na linha do tempo:

Data: