BAckground
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Due to internal strife (the Russian Revolution and Civil War), Russia was forced to sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany on March 3rd, 1918, to back out of the war. The terms were exceedingly harsh, with Germany taking 1,300,000 square miles of territory (a fourth of Russia) and 62,000,000 people (a third of the population). The land taken was some of Russia's most valuable because it was developed, including many factories and railroads, and contained much of the Russian coal and iron, both essential to industry. All together Russia lost more than half of its industry, which devastated the Russian economy. The treaty would later be heavily referenced by the diplomats at Versailles, to justify a harsh treaty with Germany.
Armistice
The Central Power's war effort began to fall apart in the late fall of 1918, due to worker strikes, desertions, and mutinies. In November 1918, the Allies and the Central Powers were able to negotiate an armistice, where the Central Powers would surrender in exchange for a peace treaty based on Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points.
Woodrow Wilson's "Fourteen Points"
On January 8th, 1918 Woodrow Wilson gave his "Fourteen Points" speech in front of Congress addressing the fourteen issues he felt must be settled in ordered to guarantee a lasting peace. His interpretation of an appropriate peace treaty was lenient, as he felt restoration, not reparation or restriction, would keep the world at peace. Wilson could afford to be generous about the terms of the treaty, because his nation had neither been heavily damaged nor would likely be in danger from Germany in the future. He also felt that measures should be taken to settle disputes peacefully without the need for war. This dream would become the League of Nations, a worthy but ultimately ineffective organization. Summaries of Wilson's Fourteen Points:
- Peace talks shall proceed in the public view, without secret clauses
- Any nation's ships are free to traverse non-territorial waters not forbidden by any treaty
- Free and equal trade between nations shall be attempted
- Armed forces shall be guaranteed to be reduced to the lowest possible for "domestic safety"
- The concerns of colonial populations shall equally be waged with the claims of the governments involved in territorial disputes
- In settling Russian concerns, the Russian needs shall be put to the fore, rather than the interest of the nations involved and aid shall be rendered as needed to Russia.
- Belgium shall be a free nation, with the rights implied
- Alsace-Loraine shall be restored to France as well as all invaded and occupied French territories
- Nationality shall be used to adjust Italy's borders
- "The people of Austria-Hungary" would remain a nation
- Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro would be restored and a council created to review Balkan interests. Several Balkan state's freedoms should be guaranteed.
- The Ottoman Empire would be broken up according to nationality and the Dardanelles opened up for free trade.
- A Polish state would be formed made up of those of Polish ethnicity and guaranteed independent.
- "A general association of nations" (the League of Nations) would be formed to guarantee each nations rights and look after the interests of all nations.
The Treaties of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Trianon, and Sevres
- Created the Republic of Austria, a smaller, less powerful version of Austria-Hungary, and gave the relinquished lands to the newly-formed Czechoslovakia, the Kingdom of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs (later renamed Yugoslavia), and Poland.
- Italy and Romania gained new lands as well from Austria.
- Austria could not seek reunification.
- Hungary also became independent and lost land (Transylvania, Slovakia and Transcarpathian Rus, and other areas) to Romania, Czechoslovakia, and the Kingdom of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs.
- Brought peace with the Ottoman Empire.
Paris COnference
In January 1919, negotiations began in the Palace of Versailles, France. Broad and diverse issues would be covered, not to everyones satisfaction.