Alliances, Armed Peace, and the Treaty of Versailles

Posted on Mar 17, 2025 in History

Alliance Systems Before World War I

1. First Alliance System

Objective: To control Austria and Russia.

  • Three Emperors’ Entente: Germany, Austria, and Russia (Italy joined later).
  • Tensions arose between Russia and Austria, favoring Austria.
  • Secret alliance between Germany and Austria (Dual Alliance).

2. Second Alliance System

Objective: Similar to the first.

  • Russia renewed the alliance between Austria and Germany.
  • Germany, Italy, and Austria formed an alliance (Triple Alliance) to counter France. The Ottoman Empire and Spain later joined.
  • Germany and Russia signed the Reinsurance Treaty.

Armed Peace (1890-1914)

After Bismarck’s dismissal, two blocks were created:

  • Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria, and Italy.
  • Triple Entente:
    1. Russia and France
    2. France and Great Britain (Entente Cordiale)
    3. Entente Cordiale + Russia = Triple Entente

Key Phases of World War I (1915-1917)

Location of the War (1915-1916)

A) Trench Warfare (1915)

  • Favored the Central Powers.
  • France failed to break through the German lines on the Western Front.
  • Austro-German forces attacked in the east, inflicting heavy losses on the Russians in Poland (three times the losses).

B) War of Attrition (1916)

  • Marked by failures and the need for economic strength for peace.
  • Little change on the Eastern Front; a reminder of Poland on the Western Front.

Crucial Year: 1917

From a military perspective, there wasn’t much change, but the Russian Revolution and the United States’ intervention were significant.

A) Russian Withdrawal

  • The Tsarist regime was overthrown in 1917 by a democratic revolutionary movement.
  • The Bolsheviks took power and began negotiating with Germany.
  • The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed.
  • After Russia’s withdrawal, Germany concentrated all its forces in France to defeat the Allies on the Western Front.

B) United States’ Participation

  • The United States had provided loans to France and Great Britain, so a positive outcome was crucial for recovering the money.
  • Germany initiated unrestricted submarine warfare against Great Britain (blockade), prompting the United States to join the war.

Consequences of World War I

Demographic Consequences

A demographic imbalance in sex and age occurred (many young men died in the war).

Economic Consequences

  • All participating countries dedicated their resources to the war effort, leading to the disappearance of economic liberalism.
  • Widespread destruction of infrastructure and materials.
  • Countries had to request loans from the United States, leading to a decline in their economies. (The United States’ power increased, becoming the world’s bank, creating a significant imbalance).

Social Consequences

  • The number of male employees decreased, leading to women entering the workforce.
  • Industrialists, speculators, and intermediaries gained significant benefits.
  • The workers’ movement gained more power.

Political and Ideological Consequences

  • Four empires that existed before the war disappeared.
  • Europe declined, and the United States became a world power.

Peace Treaties

Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920)

Discussions took place among the victors.

  • France adopted the harshest position for two reasons: the war had destroyed French territory (the northeast), and Germany had acted against France in 1870. France wanted to control the economically powerful Rhineland.
  • The United States did not want to destroy Germany economically, fearing it would lead to revenge and social conflict. The US hadn’t suffered any damage and feared the power of German communists.
  • Great Britain did not want to weaken Germany excessively, as it would give France too much power.

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

  • Germany lost significant territories and population, including Alsace-Lorraine, which was returned to France.
  • Poznań, West Prussia, and a corridor to the Baltic Sea were ceded to Poland.
  • Germany lost its colonies.
  • The German army was dissolved (most of its vessels were given to France).
  • Germany was declared guilty of starting the war.
  • Germany was forced to pay substantial reparations for the damages caused.