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THE END OF
WORLD WAR I
The Treaty of Versailles
and Its Tragic Legacy
Alan Swayze
Crabtree Publishing Company
www.crabtreebooks.com
Author: Alan Swayze Photo Credits:
Editor: Lynn Peppas Alamy: 11 (© akg-images), 27 (© Trinity Mirror/Mirrorpix)
Proofreader: Lisa Slone, Wendy Scavuzzo The Bridgeman Art Library: 21 (Shooting down a Zeppelin during the First World
Editorial director: Kathy Middleton War, Hardy, Wilf (Wilfred) (20th century)/Private Collection/© Look and Learn),
22 (The sinking of the Llandovery Castle (gouache on paper), English School, (20th
Production coordinator: Shivi Sharma
century)/Private Collection/© Look and Learn), 23 (The British Dreadnought
Design Concept: Margaret Amy Salter Warspite (colour litho), Davis, George Horace (1881-1960) (after) / Private
Cover design: Ken Wright Collection/© Look and Learn), 37 (Germany is crushed by the Treaty of Versailles,
Photo research: Nivisha Sinha, 1931 (colour litho), Schilling, E. (fl.1923)/Private Collection/Archives Charmet)
Crystal Sikkens Corbis: 15, 25b (© Bettmann), 29 (© Bettmann), 34 (Universal Images Group),
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Written, developed, and produced by (Hulton Archive), 28 (Heritage Images), 34 (Universal Images Group),
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Cover: The heads of state at the signing 24 (LC-USZC4-11358), 30 (LC-USZC4-11161), 31 (LC-DIG-ggbain-13711),
of peace in the Hall of Mirrors, 35r (LC-DIG-hec-20948),
Versailles, June 28, 1919 Royal Collection: 32 (George V in coronation robes)
Title Page: British Prime Minister Shutterstock.com: 18t (Olemac)
Lloyd George, French Premier U.S. Signal Corps photo: 12 (Edward N. Jackson)
Georges Clemenceau, and U.S. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration: 33
President Woodrow Wilson in Wikipedia Commons: 19 (Wilfred Owen plate from Poems (1920))
Cover: Wikimedia Commons: Imperial War Museum Collections
Paris during negotiations for
Title: © Bettmann/CORBIS
the Treaty of Versailles Back cover: Wikimedia Commons: Library and Archives Canada (background)
Contents Page: German troops in the Shutterstock: I. Pilon (medals); Shuttertock: IanC66 (airplane)
streets of Soissons following the
capture of the town on May 29, 1918 t=Top, b=Bottom, l=Left, r=Right
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CONTENTS
Introduction
from war to troubled peace 4
chapter 1
the end of world war I 8
chapter 2
Technological advances 17
chapter 3
Economic and Social Changes 26
chapter 4
Political Shifts 30
Further Reading
and Websites 45
Glossary 46
Index 48
n
Om WAR TO
io
ct
du
OubLED PEACE
o
tr
In
below: Archduke Franz Ferdinand, his wife Sophie, and their children
4
The War Begins Germany hoped to send soldiers
from the Eastern Front to fight on the
The war began with the assassination Western Front. However, it needed
of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a troops to secure the territories it
Bosnian-Serb on June 28, 1914. gained in the treaty with Russia.
The archduke was heir to the throne In 1918, Germany staged a major
of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. offensive along the Western Front.
In response, Austria-Hungary delivered However, the Allies drove the German
an ultimatum to Serbia. International troops back in a series of successful
alliances came into effect. On July 28, counterattacks. At the same time,
1914, Austria-Hungary attacked Serbia. American forces entered the war on
Russia, Serbia’s ally, mobilized its army the Allied side. Germany agreed to an
in response. The alliances soon drew armistice on November 11, 1918. World
Germany and France into the conflict War I ended in a victory for the Allies.
as well.
Norway Sweden
Baltic
Moscow
Sea
North Denmark
Great Sea Russian Empire
Britain
Netherlands
London Berlin
Atlantic Belgium German Empire
Ocean Paris Luxembourg
6
European Powers After World War I
Norway Estonia
Sweden
Latvia
Denmark Baltic
Sea Lithuania
North
Sea East Prussia
Great
Britain
Netherlands Poland
Germany U.S.S.R
Belgium
Luxembourg
Czechoslovakia
Atlantic Austria
Ocean France Hungary
Switzerland
Romania
Yugoslavia
Italy
Bulgaria
Albania
Portugal Spain
Greece
Turkey
Africa Mediterranean Sea
7
E END OF
1
r
te
RLD WAR I
ap
ch
den
German advance
at time of armistice
Swe
Weighing the situation in Russia, the Land occupied by
Finland Central Powers after treaty
Germans allowed Lenin to travel secretly
through Germany from Switzerland to 0 200 Miles
0
Russia. Once back in Russia, Lenin 200 Kms
Sea
St. Petersburg
(Petrograd)
provisional government. He rallied the Estonia
Baltic
Russia
people with his call for “peace, land, and Livonia
bread.” Between November 6 and 8, the Moscow
Lithuania
Bolshevik-led Red Guards overthrew the
provisional government. They declared Germany
Russia to be the world’s first Marxist Warsaw
Ukraine
His new government immediately took
steps to make peace with Germany. Austria-
Rostov
11
Paris Peace Conference of 1919 The British Naval Blockade of Germany
The peace conference that led to the 0 300 miles
an Shetland
January 1919. No leaders from Germany ce Islands
O Scapa
Flow
ic Orkney
or Russia were invited. The major world nt
Norway
Islands
a
leaders attending included French Premier
l
At
Scotland
Georges Clemenceau, British Prime
Battle of
Minister David Lloyd George, Italian Jutland
d
Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando, and U.S. Irish North Sea
an
Sea
el
President Woodrow Wilson. Wilson soon Dublin
Ir
land
les
found that Clemenceau and Lloyd George Heligoland
Wa
Eng
dominated the conference and that they
s
nd
Amsterdam
rla
London Hamburg
the
showed little interest in his Fourteen Points. Dover
Ne
English Channel Antwerp
Both leaders had been facing angry voters Calais
Belgium
The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June Dover patrol and mines
12
Terms of the Treaty The territorial losses cut the total
The French and British wanted Germany German population by 10 percent.
to be punished harshly. They ignored The losses humiliated Germany.
Wilson’s Fourteen Points for the treaty Military Restrictions The German
because they didn’t believe them to be army could be no larger than 100,000
harsh enough. men. Naval forces were limited to
Territorial Losses Germany lost its 15,000 men and 6 battleships, with
colonies and a large part of its own only 36 ships total. Military weapons
territory in the treaty: West Prussia, specifically outlawed included aircraft,
part of East Prussia, Schleswig, Upper submarines, and tanks.
Silesia, Danzig, and Memel. Alsace- War Guilt Clause, Article 231 Under
Lorraine was also returned to France. Article 231, Germany was forced to
The new League of Nations, established admit guilt for starting the war and
as part of the treaty, assumed control required to pay heavy penalties.
of the Saar region, and the entire Germans later would call this the
Rhineland was to be occupied for up War Guilt Clause. German war debt
to 15 years. The treaty also said that came to 266 gold marks, equal to
Germany could not unite with Austria. roughly 63 billion U.S. dollars at the time.
Netherlands Berlin
Od
Germany
er
Ruhr Ceded to
Poland
Warsaw Poland
Belgium
Dresden
Bu
Rh
Ceded to Leipzig
g
W
ine
Belgium
es
er
Luxembourg ula
Main t
Prague Vis
Saar Ceded to
Czechoslovakia Dn
Czechoslovakia ies
ter
Ceded to Danube
France
Territory lost by Germany under the treaty
Munich Danube
France
Vienna Territory controlled by the League of Nations
13
The German officials were stunned and
outraged when they heard the terms. In
fact, leading experts of the time protested
that Germany’s paying out such a huge
amount could damage the global economy.
France and Britain insisted on the payments
anyway. The treaty included clauses stating
that Germany could be punished further
if it failed to pay on time. Although the
Germans felt betrayed, their backs were
up against a wall. They were forced to
sign or risk greater punishments.
Below: The peace treaty was signed in the Hall of Mirrors in the palace at Versailles, France.
15
Other Treaties Based The Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine
on Versailles Bulgaria and the Allies signed this treaty
After the Treaty of Versailles, the Allies on November 27, 1919. It gave Bulgarian
signed separate treaties with Austria, territories to Greece and the future
Bulgaria, Hungary, and the Ottoman Yugoslavia and limited the Bulgarian
Empire. On July 21, 1921, the U.S. army to 20,000 men.
Congress passed the Knox–Porter The Treaty of Trianon The Treaty of
Resolution. This brought a formal Trianon was signed on June 4, 1920,
end to the conflict between the United by the Allies and the Kingdom of
States and the Central Powers. Hungary. The Kingdom of Hungary
The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye was born when Austria-Hungary was
This treaty was signed on September 10, dissolved. The treaty redefined its
1919, by the Allies and Austria. It borders, with the new state making up
dissolved the once-powerful Austro- only 28.6 percent of pre-war Hungary.
Hungarian Empire. Many people who Almost a third of Hungarians now lived
had been ruled by outside of its borders. Hungary’s army
Austria-Hungary was limited to 35,000. The new kingdom
gained their had no direct access to the sea. This left
independence. The it without a navy.
treaty limited the The Treaty of Lausanne After failing
Austrian army to to sign the Treaty of Sèvres in 1920,
30,000 volunteers. Turkey signed the Treaty of Lausanne
with the Allies on July 24, 1923. The
treaty defined the borders of the
modern Turkish state. Turkey gave up
the Ottoman Empire, and the Allies
recognized Turkey’s new borders.
16
CHNOLOgICAL
2
r
te
vANCES
ap
ch
17
Barbed wire was first used in the U.S.
by cattle ranchers. In World War I, it was
used to protect trenches and slow enemy
advances. Grenades and trench mortars
could be used effectively against enemy
soldiers at shorter ranges.
Advances in Weapons
Fierce and drawn-out fighting required above: Maxim
machine gun
stronger weapons both in and out of
trenches. Machine guns were one of
the war’s most lethal developments. Chemical Warfare
Capable of firing hundreds of rounds a Both sides tried to break the trench war
minute, machine guns made crossing stalemate by any means possible. Deadly
open ground deadly. poison gas was one invention. Before the
Infantry rifles, like the Lee Enfield Rifle, war ended, 50 types of chemical gas had
were developed that could fire faster been used. They caused long-term injury
and hold more bullets at once. Tracer or painful death.
bullets allowed a shooter to see the The Germans first used 4,500 cylinders
path of the bullet as it flew through of chlorine gas at Ypres in 1915.
the air. Early models of flamethrowers Phosgene gas, called the “choking gas,”
were also developed during the war. was 18 times more lethal than chlorine
Artillery caused the war’s largest gas. Mustard gas turned out to be the
number of casualties. The use of most effective for both sides. The gas
artillery drastically changed during burned the skin, eyes, and lungs and
the war. In 1914, cannons were fired caused painful blistering.
directly at their targets. By 1917,
below: Gas masks provided some protection
indirect fire from guns and mortars against poisonous gases used during the war.
was much more common.
20
Advances in
Aircraft Weaponry
Both sides needed ways to
make their planes more
efficient and to manufacture
weapons to protect their
aircraft and themselves.
Eighteen pound (8 kg)
anti-aircraft guns were
developed, which could
send artillery shells 2,000
yards (1,829 m) farther into
the air. The introduction
of interrupter gear on
airplanes synchronized
a machine gun mounted
on a plane’s nose with the
rotation of the propeller.
This allowed pilots to easily operate above: Zeppelins could be attacked
the guns by themselves. Bombers and shot down during air battles.
were developed, too, with larger fuel
capacities, allowing them to travel
farther and carry heavier loads. By the
war’s end, bombers could carry a bomb
load as large as 1,750 pounds (794 kg).
Naval Blockades
Soon after the war broke out, Britain
Advances in began a naval blockade of Germany.
Naval Warfare Britain also set mines in international
waters near Germany, which put neutral
Before World War I, Britain had ruled ships in danger. The blockade violated
the world’s seas for hundreds of years. international law. Still, the blockade cut
Its modernized shipbuilding industry off vital military and civilian supplies.
and navy were the envy of other nations. Germany created a blockade of its own.
Any country going up against the British This blockade, however, was largely
navy would need a secret weapon to under the sea and featured newly
be successful. improved submarines.
21
Submarines Dreadnoughts
At the beginning of the war, Britain Just before the war began, the British
had more submarines than Germany. had produced a new class of warship.
To face the British navy, the Germans The HMS Dreadnought was bigger and
improved the design of their U-boats. faster than any other ship. It had more
They increased the boat’s stability when guns and thicker armor. It was the first
traveling on the surface. U-boats became oil-powered fighting ship. All previous
tougher and better equipped for long- ships had been powered by coal.
distance travel. Germany dispatched Germany built its own dreadnought-
them far into the North Sea to attack class ships.
British ships.
below: The Llandovery Castle, a
Submarines proved their power on Canadian hospital ship, was sunk
September 20, 1914, when a single U- without warning by a German U-boat.
boat sank three large British cruisers
off the Dutch coast. This attack was
the worst naval disaster the British
navy had suffered in 300 years.
As the British naval blockade
continued, Germany declared
“unrestricted submarine warfare.”
This declaration meant that U-boats
would target merchant ships as well
as military ships. The goal was to
stop supplies and starve Britain out
of the war. German commanders
ordered U-boats to attack any vessel
traveling to or from Britain.
However, the plan might have
backfired for Germany. On May 7,
1915, a U-boat sank the British liner
RMS Lusitania, killing 1,198 people,
including 128 Americans. Germany’s
unrestricted submarine warfare
pushed America into the war on the
side of the Allies.
22
Hydrophones (Pre-Sonar) Other Technological
and Depth Charges Advances
With U-boats everywhere, Allied
naval commanders wondered how to Many other technologies were born
fight an enemy they could not see. out of the war. Two-way radio became
American weapons experts developed important for communications.
the hydrophone, which could detect Searchlights helped ships navigate at
engine noise from enemy submarines night and spot incoming enemy aircraft.
underwater. This invention helped the Electricity made a huge impact on
Allies find a submarine and drop depth World War I. Battleships could use
charges. Depth charges were bombs that electric systems to operate certain
were preset to explode at a certain depth. controls remotely or automatically.
If a depth charge exploded even near a
U-boat, it could damage or destroy the
thin metal hull of the submarine.
WHAT DO YOu THINk?
Why did Germany risk U.S. entry
Below The British dreadnought
into war by continuing to wage
HMS Warspite saw action in the
unrestricted submarine warfare?
Battle of Jutland in May 1916.
23
WHAT DO YOu kNOW?
THE FATE OF THE gERmAN FLEET
According to the armistice, the Germans were required to hand over their High
Seas Fleet to the Allies. In all, 74 German ships sailed to Scapa Flow in the Orkney
Islands, north of Scotland. They were held there by the British until the peace
arrangements were settled.
On June 17, 1919, the Germans decided to destroy their fleet to prevent the British
from taking it. All ships opened their portholes, hatches, and torpedo tubes,
flooding them. Crews took to their lifeboats as the ships sank. British ships tried
to stop the Germans’ actions with force. Nine Germans were killed and 16 wounded.
These were the final casualties of the war.
Wounds, Diseases,
and Medical Practices
During World War I, doctors developed
new ways to treat tissue damage, burns,
and contagious diseases. Doctors learned
that wounded soldiers had to be brought
to the operating table within 12 hours.
After that, the risk of infection greatly
increased. Medics learned to clean
wounds quickly and thoroughly. They
used salt water to kill germs. That step above: The Red Cross provided
was important because no medication help for wounded soldiers.
24
Doctors began working on a typhoid
vaccine during the war as well.
Surgical advances, such as blood-
typing, blood transfusions, use of
anesthetics such as chloroform, and
reconstructive surgical techniques,
helped doctors to save more lives
and better care for the wounded.
27
above: The Red Army captures the anti-Bolshevik White Army’s artillery during the civil war in Russia.
Stab-in-the-Back Legend
German leaders claimed that
their armies had not really been
defeated. In November 1918, when
Germany surrendered, no Allied
force had crossed into German
lands. Leaders explained that
Germany had to surrender because
of the lack of support from home.
This story became known as the Above: The German mark, the country’s money, had
stab-in-the-back legend. Its become so worthless that it was used to light stoves.
point was that Germany’s defeat
29
LITICAL
4
r
te
FTS
ap
ch
32
above: Australian troops at Gallipoli
Australia Australians made many
contributions to the war, especially at
Gallipoli. This helped the nation emerge
Political Climate
as a member of the international
community. Until the war, Britain had
in Germany
handled Australia’s foreign affairs.
Even with the war over, conditions had
However, as a World War I combatant,
not improved in Germany. In October 1918,
Australia sent its own representatives
Germany’s naval command decided to
to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919.
confront the British navy in the hope of
It also began to play a greater role
ending the blockade. To the sailors in
politically in the Pacific region.
the city of Kiel, such action seemed like
New Zealand In 1914, New Zealand’s certain death. Rather than go on the
population was just over one million. mission, the sailors mutinied. They killed
World War I took more than 100,000 some of their officers and took control of
New Zealanders overseas. Being so far the ships. The incident sparked outrage
from home made them more aware of in Germany. The Kiel sailors were seen
who they were and where they came as rebelling against high authority.
from. It created a sense of a separate
Other protests and demonstrations took
national identity. New Zealand soldiers
place throughout the country. Those who
referred to themselves as “kiwis.”
had jobs went on strike, with soldiers
Ultimately, the war took a heavy toll. joining the protests. By early November
New Zealand suffered almost 50 percent 1918, workers’ and soldiers’ councils had
casualties among the 120,000 soldiers taken over a number of German cities.
who enlisted. New Zealanders did not Politicians feared that Germany might
see a point to some battles. Some citizens experience a revolution like the one
did not support the fighting. that happened in Russia.
33
Germany was in a dangerous political, The new government also did not have
social, and economic situation. The war strong support from German citizens.
had claimed over two million German Invasion of the Ruhr With
soldiers. The country’s industry could hyperinflation and other economic
not recover without these men. They problems, Germany could not meet its
made up the core of Germany’s debt payments from the Treaty of
workforce. Germany’s economic Versailles. Germany’s economic situation
problems seemed unavoidable. concerned France and Belgium, who were
owed payments. In January 1923, French
The Beginning of the
and Belgian troops occupied the German
Weimar Republic
industrial region of the Ruhr Valley.
Germany desperately needed stronger
They decided to take their payments in
leadership now that Kaiser Wilhelm
goods, such as coal from the Ruhr.
no longer held power. The German
people were upset that their economy The German government asked Ruhr
was so poor. German politicians feared workers to use “passive resistance”
that the people would revolt against against the invading troops. This plan
their government. In 1919, German had German coal miners and railway
delegates met in the city of Weimar workers refusing to obey instructions
to form a democratic government given by the occupation forces.
and write a constitution. The new Production in the Ruhr came to a
government became known as the standstill. The measure was politically
Weimar Republic, named for the city. effective. But the consequences of
Immediately, the new government passive resistance proved disastrous
faced serious problems. Germany to the German economy.
was suffering from
hyperinflation. The
country had to obey
the terms of the
Treaty of Versailles.
34
It contributed further to hyperinflation
and destroyed government finances.
Wanting to reinvigorate Weimar’s
economy, the United States agreed to
invest in Germany.
35
The Young Plan Another plan was Germany had introduced a new
the Young Plan. On February 11, 1929, currency, the Rentenmark, whose
American Owen D. Young chaired a value was fixed to gold prices. The
committee in Paris to create a new plan government asked for international
for Germany’s recovery. This was a assistance with its debt. The Dawes
follow-up to the Dawes Plan. The Young Plan was implemented. The German
Plan had three points. It reduced the economy received more than 44 billion
amount of the debt payments due marks worth of foreign investment.
from Germany. It set up the Bank for More than half came from American
International Settlements to handle loans. The rest was organized mostly
the transfer of funds. It ended foreign through American bankers. Foreign
controls on the German economy. money provided the resources needed
The Dawes and Young plans greatly for building new factories and
increased America’s economic ties to upgrading old ones. Many factories
Europe. Unfortunately, the Young Plan used newly developed mechanization
was barely in effect when the Great and assembly-line techniques.
Depression began. The Great Depression
By 1929, the German economy was
hit America and Europe especially hard.
beginning to stabilize and grow.
Germany’s ability to repay its war debt
Economic recovery introduced social
quickly vanished completely.
reforms and better standards of living.
Government programs were created to
Weimar’s Golden Years
support the young, aged, unemployed,
The years from 1924 through 1929
and disadvantaged.
are known as the “Golden Age of
Weimar.” This period saw great The Middle Class Left Out
improvement in Germany’s stability, Germany’s economic recovery did
economic security, living standards, not benefit everyone. The Mittelschicht
and cultural achievements. (German for “middle class”) found
Exceeding Expectations Many little to celebrate. The middle class
economists feared that the terms was particularly hurt by hyperinflation.
dictated by Versailles would hit They did not benefit as much from
German industry too hard. Germany new government policies. They also
had faced inflation, the occupation of did not benefit from rising industrial
Ruhr, and high unemployment. Still, wages. While unemployment had
the German economy began to see some fallen for working-class jobs, it
improvements during the 1920s. remained high for the middle class.
36
The Nazi Party
Even before the economic struggles of
the 1920s, new political groups were
emerging; 1919 saw the beginnings of
the Nazi Party. It was called the German
Workers’ Party at this time. The group
promoted German pride, anti-Semitism,
and outrage at the terms of the Treaty of
Versailles. Adolf Hitler joined the party
the year it was founded. In July 1921, he
assumed leadership of the organization.
It was renamed the National Socialist
German Workers’ (Nazi) Party. It spoke
loudly about injustices and the failures
of the Weimar government. It held little
influence until the Great Depression of
above: This cartoon shows Germany crushed
the 1930s, when it gained great
by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
momentum and power.
below: During the Depression, hungry and unemployed New Yorkers stood in lines for free food.
39
ABOVE: Hitler at a 1925 Nazi Party meeting The Rise of the Nazi Party
The Great Depression and the collapse
of Germany’s economy provided an
opportunity for Hitler and the emerging
Nazi Party. Through the 1920s, Hitler
had been speaking about the problems
First they came for the communists, of unemployment, inflation, hunger, and
and I didn’t speak out because economic issues. His speeches attracted
I wasn’t a communist. Then they new people to the party. Many young,
economically disadvantaged Germans
came for the trade unionists, and joined the Nazis.
I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t
In 1923, in Munich, Hitler and his
a trade unionist. Then they came
followers staged the “Beer Hall Putsch,”
for the Jews, and I didn’t speak out an attempted takeover of the government
because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they in the German state of Bavaria. Hitler had
came for me, and there was no one hoped this would spark a larger revolution
against the national government. Instead,
left to speak out for me.
Hitler and others were arrested. Hitler
..
Martin Niemoller received a five-year prison sentence,
1 892 –1 984 although he actually served less than
a year. While in prison, he wrote the
first volume of his political autobiography,
Mein Kampf (German for My Struggle).
40
The Beer Hall Putsch and Hitler’s trial other races. Jews, Slavs, and Roma were
received much attention from the press. seen as racially inferior.
The attention turned him into a national
The Hitler Youth The Hitler Youth
figure in Germany. When he was released
movement grew out of Hitler’s belief
from prison, Hitler began rebuilding the
that the future of Nazi Germany was
Nazi Party through the electoral process.
its children. Created in the 1920s, the
The Nazi Party won the greatest share Hitler Youth had 100,000 members in
of the popular vote in the two Reichstag 1933. After Hitler came to power, he
general elections of 1932. Hitler created outlawed all other youth movements.
a political alliance between the National By 1936, Hitler Youth membership had
Socialist German Workers’ Party, or grown to four million.
NSDAP, and the German National
Hitler Youth catered to 10- to 18-year-old
People’s Party.
boys and girls. Boys trained for military
Finally, in 1933, Hitler became chancellor service. Girls prepared for motherhood.
of Germany. In the following months, he Boys engaged in “military athletics,”
rapidly brought all aspects of German such as bayonet drill, grenade throwing,
life under the control of his party. By gas defense, and pistol shooting. Girls
June 1933, few organizations remained had to run 66 yards (60 meters), throw a
outside state control, aside from the ball, swim 109 yards (100 meters), and
army and churches. know how to make a bed.
Netherlands Berlin
Warsaw
Belgium Germany Claiming the Sudetenland
Reunification with Saar
September 1938 and
Czechoslovakia March 1939
Poland
region January 1935
and Reoccupation of
Rhineland March 1936 Prague
Luxembourg
Czechoslovakia
France Annexation Vienna
Munich
of Austria
March 1938
Switzerland
Austria
Hungary
Italy Romania
Yugoslavia
Regions of German expansion
1936-1939
The agreement forced the Czechoslovak Corridor in 1939. This corridor was a
government to accept the German strip of land that separated German
annexation of the Sudetenland. The East Prussia from the rest of Germany.
agreement lasted for six months, until Britain said it would come to the aid
Hitler seized the rest of Czechoslovakia. of Poland if it was attacked. Hitler
Invasion of Poland and the thought the British were bluffing.
Beginning of World War II Germany invaded Poland on September
Hitler became bolder after these 1, 1939. Britain and France declared
successes. He demanded the return of war on Germany two days later.
the Free City of Danzig and the Polish World War II was underway.
43
Legacies of
World War I
American involvement in World
War I and President Wilson’s
administration became deeply
unpopular. In the period between
the wars, Congress passed laws
to keep the U.S. neutral in future
conflicts. World War I had left
millions dead, permanently
disabled, and mentally damaged.
However, the legacy of the Great
War goes beyond its effects in the ABove: World War I Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri
United States.
45
gLOSSARY
abdicate to formally give up power; surrender a throne
aerial
bombardments continuous firing of artillery from airplanes
alliance formal association of nations or groups
anesthetics a substance that causes a patient to not feel pain
annexed incorporated territory into a larger existing political unit
anti-Semitism anti-Jewish beliefs; hostility toward the Jewish population
armistice an agreement to stop fighting a war
Baltic States countries within Europe’s eastern peninsulas, modern-day
Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo,
Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania,
and Moldova
blockade isolation or blocking a harbor to stop people or supplies from
entering or leaving the country
boycott refusing to buy from or deal with a person, nation, or business
ceasefire a military order to stop fighting
chancellor chief minister or head of state
cholera a disease that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea and can
cause death
colonialism policies through which a nation maintains control over
dependent, foreign territories
combatants people or nations that fight or participate in battles or a war
Communist relating to an economic system based on the idea that wealth
and property would be owned by the community as a whole
counterattacks attacks by a defending force against an attacking enemy force
to regain lost ground
culture the controlled growing of microorganisms
czar a Russian king; one of the former emperors of Russia
demilitarized prohibited from having military forces or installations
dominated ruled over or controlled; stood out above all others
dominions the smaller countries that make up an empire
exiled forced to leave his or her home or country
fascism a government with a dictator who controls the economy and
will not tolerate opposition
46
finances management of money, banking, credit, and investments
Great Depression the most severe economic downturn in recent history; began in
1929, lasted into the 1930s
Hindenburg Line a German defensive position on the Western Front
hyperinflation when money loses its value very quickly, causing the prices of
goods and services to increase substantially
indirect not in a direct path; scattered
industrialization building factories to improve manufacturing output
inflation when money loses its value, causing prices to increase
lethal deadly; highly destructive
Marxist according to the ideas of Karl Marx; belief in a classless society
where workers would control the means of production
mobile easily movable
mobilized assembled and prepared for war
mortars short-barreled cannons that can send explosives high into the air
mutinied revolted against their commanding officer
nationalism devotion to the interests or culture of a particular nation
neutral not aligned with or supporting a side in a war or dispute
oratory skill in public speaking
propaganda ideas, information, or rumors spread for the purpose of helping
or hurting an organization, issue, or person
reparations money or payments owed by a country or group that loses a war
republicans people who favor government in which officials are elected
restructured organized or arranged in a different way
sanitation using measures, such as cleanliness and disposal of trash and
human waste, to protect public health
stalemate a situation in which further action is blocked; a deadlock
suffrage the right to vote
synchronized caused two or more things to happen at the same time
traumatized experienced horrible things that resulted in emotionally injuries
triage sorting injured people into groups depending on the
seriousness of their injuries
typhoid an infectious disease that often leads to death from high fever,
delirium, and an intense rash
U-boats German submarines; short for Unterseebooten
ultimatum statement of terms that expresses or implies the threat of serious
penalties if the terms are not met
47
INDEx
Allies 5, 10, 11, 13, 15–16, 18, Hindenburg Line 19 Treaty of Trianon 16
19, 23–24, 28 Hitler Youth Movement 41 Treaty of Versailles 5, 12, 13
armistice 5, 9, 11–12, 19, 24 Hitler, Adolf (German Chancellor) Allied reactions to 15
29, 37, 38 military restrictions on
Baltic States 9, 10 Mein Kampf (political Germany 13
Bolsheviks, trade boycott 31 autobiography) 40, 41 U.S. reactions to 15
HMS Dreadnought (warship) 22 War Guilt Clause 13
Cambrai, battle of 19 triage 24
Canada, introduction of incendiary bullets 21
welfare system, 27 international alliances 4 U-boats 23
Central Powers 5–6, 8–11, 16, 31 Irish War of Independence 31–32 United States
Chamberlain, Neville Knox–Porter Resolution 16
(British Prime Minister) 43 League of Nations 5, 13–16 unemployment 26, 27
Clemenceau, Georges covenant of 14
(French Premier) 12, 15 Lenin, Vladimir Weimar Republic 38
counterattacks 5 exile of 8 Wilhelm, Kaiser 34
czar 8, 9 Wilson, Woodrow
mobile laboratories 25 (President, U.S.) 10, 14
Dawes, Charles Gates mobile x-ray equipment 25 declaration of war 10
(U.S. Vice President) 35 Munich Agreement 43 Fourteen Points 10–12
women
Europe National Socialist German impact of WWI 30–31
economic crises 5 Workers’ Party. see Nazi Party job opportunities for 30
renewed nationalism 5 Nazi Party suffrage 30
authoritarianism 41 World War I (WWI)
fascism 5, 44 militarism 41 advances in aircraft
Franz, Archduke totalitarianism 41 weaponry 21
assassination of 5 Nicholas II (Russian czar) advances in aircraft 20–21
revolution against 8 advances in naval warfare 21–22
Germany advances in weapons 18
annexation of the observation balloons 20 aerial bombardment 17
Sudetenland 43 Orlando, Vittorio (Italian beginning of 4
Dawes Plan 35 Prime Minister) 12 chemical warfare 18
debt default 39 Owen, Wilfred 19 economic aftermath 26–27
hyperinflation 29, 34–35, 37 end of 4, 8
invasion of Poland 43 Representation of the People Act horrific experiences 26
invasion of the Ruhr 34 1918 (Britain) 31 impact 4
mutiny 33 RMS Lusitania 23 impact on Australia 33
naval blockade of 12, 21, 28 Russia impact on New Zealand 33
Operation Michael 10 civil war 28 medical advances 24
unrestricted submarine warfare inflation 28 political shifts 30
10, 22 surrender 8 trench warfare 18
use of anti-tank guns 20 withdrwal from WWI 8
war reparations 29 zeppelin (airship) 20, 21
Young Plan 36 stalemate 5
Great Britain Swinton, Ernest 20
dominions, dependence on 32
war on Germany 5, 43 tetanus vaccine, development of 24
Great Depression 36–40 Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 9–10
Treaty of Lausanne 16
Hague Conventions, restriction Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine 16
on poisoned weapons 19 Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye 16
48
Marking the 100th anniversary of World War I, this series presents the dramatic
course of events of the Great War and the conflict’s lasting impact on the world.
Discover the political and social turmoil of the time, the horrific conditions of
trench warfare, the gripping accounts of naval combat, and the hero worship
of flying aces. Short biographies and first-hand accounts help young readers
relate to this world-changing period in history.
Thee End
d of World War
Wa I
The End of World War I: The Treaty of Versailles and Its Tragic Legacy describes
the events that followed the armistice of November 11, 1918. At the Paris Peace
Conference in 1919, the leaders of Britain, France, and the United States met to agree
on how to deal with Germany and other defeated countries. This meeting redrew the
map of Europe and set out the terms for the Treaty of Versailles—terms that would
cripple Germany, create bitter resentment, and pave the road to World War II.
Guided Reading: U