Europe 1919: Post-WWI Territorial Changes
Europe in 1919: The Territorial Impact of World War I
This political history map represents Europe in 1919, highlighting the territorial implications of the First World War. Between 1900 and 1914, two antagonistic blocs formed, leading to a policy of rearmament among the great powers. This period is known as the Armed Peace.
The Formation of Alliances
In 1882, the Triple Alliance was signed between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. This alliance was a cornerstone of international politics until the onset of World War I in 1914. In 1907, the Triple Entente emerged, consisting of Britain, France, and Russia.
Pre-War Conflicts and Tensions
During the pre-war period, European powers engaged in various territorial confrontations. The Berlin Conference of 1885 did not resolve rivalries between different imperialist powers. This led to two crises in Morocco, resulting in the establishment of a protectorate and the expansion of the colony in Cameroon.
In the Balkans, the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires sought to increase their influence. They intervened in domestic disputes, leading to three successive Balkan crises. In the summer of 1914, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire was assassinated in Sarajevo. The attack was carried out by a Bosnian student with ties to Serbia. Serbia’s decision to align with Austria led to a declaration of war, with the hope that other powers would remain uninvolved.
The Shifting Alliances of World War I
Alliances began to come into play. Italy sided with the Allies (France, Britain, and later the U.S. in 1917). The Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers in 1915.
The United States Enters the War
In April 1917, the U.S. announced its entry into the conflict on the Allied side. The U.S.’s power tipped the balance of the conflict in 1918, as the Central Powers could no longer resist Allied attacks.
The Paris Peace Conference and its Treaties
In 1919, a peace conference was held in Paris, involving the four major powers: the USA, France, Britain, and Italy. The conference produced several treaties:
- The Treaty of Versailles: Germany was recognized as solely responsible for the conflict. Impositions included demilitarization of the left bank of the Rhine, cession of territories to France (those ceded on February 26, 1871), recognition of the independence and borders of Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland, a limit of 100,000 men for the German army, and recognition of Germany’s responsibility for war losses and damages, requiring compensation to the Allied governments.
- The Treaty of Saint-Germain: Austria lost territory and became a republic.
- The Treaty of Trianon: Hungary lost its access to the sea and ceded territories to Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Romania.
- The Treaty of Neuilly: Bulgaria ceded territories to Greece.
- The Treaty of Sèvres: The Turkish Empire ceded territory to Arabs and Greeks.
Consequences of the Peace of Paris
The Peace of Paris led to the dismemberment of great empires and the emergence of new states: Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Yugoslavia. Significant political changes also occurred. The traditional dynasties of the great empires were dethroned. Democracy gained ground, with Germany and Austria, as well as some new states, proclaiming constitutional and democratic republics. Universal male suffrage was introduced in most of Europe, and, most importantly, women’s suffrage was recognized in several countries.
A Fragile Peace
The conclusion is that this peace was not destined to endure; it lasted barely two decades.