World War I Ended With the Treaty of Versailles
June 28, 1919
World War I (1914-1918) was finally over. This first global conflict had claimed from 9 million to 13
million lives and caused unprecedented damage. Germany had formally surrendered on November 11,
1918, and all nations had agreed to stop fighting while the terms of peace were negotiated. On June 28,
1919, Germany and the Allied Nations (including Britain, France, Italy and Russia) signed the Treaty of
Versailles, formally ending the war. (Versailles is a city in France, 10 miles outside of Paris.) The United
States did not sign the treaty, however, because it objected to its terms, specifically, the high price that
Germany was to pay for its role as aggressor. Instead, the U.S. negotiated its own settlement with
Germany in 1921.
DWorld War One had left Europe devastated. Those countries that had fought in it, had suffered
casualties never experienced before:
Britain : 750,000 soldiers killed; 1,500,000 wounded
France : 1,400,000 soldiers killed; 2,500,000 wounded
Belgium : 50,000 soldiers killed
Italy : 600,000 soldiers killed
Russia : 1,700,000 soldiers killed
America : 116,000 soldiers killed
Those who had fought against the Allies suffered heavy casualties as well:
Germany : 2,000,000 soldiers killed
Austria-Hungary : 1,200,000 soldiers killed
Turkey : 325,000 soldiers killed
Bulgaria : 100,000 soldiers killed
The total deaths of all nations who fought in the war is thought to have been 8.5 million with 21 million
being wounded.
Alongside these statistics, was the fact that vast areas of north-eastern Europe had been reduced to
rubble. Flanders in Belgium had been all but destroyed with the ancient city of Ypres being devastated.
The homes of 750,000 French people were destroyed
and the infrastructure of this region had also been
severely damaged. Roads, coal mines, telegraph poles
had all been destroyed and such a loss greatly hindered
the area's ability to function normally.
The victors from World War One were in no mood to be
charitable to the defeated nations and Germany in
particular was held responsible for the war and its
consequences.
During mid-1918, Europe was hit by Spanish flu and an
estimated 25 million people died. This added to the
feeling of bitterness that ran through Europe and this
anger was primarily directed at Germany.
Post war Germany
The Treaty of Versailles imposed very rigid restrictions against Germany, including limiting its
army to 100,000 members. President Wilson, who
opposed the treaty, had developed his own form of
reconciliation, called the "Fourteen Points." The Points
included a provision for a League of Nations to prevent
"the crime of war." Wilson also wanted all terms of
settlement to be openly negotiated. But the actual terms
of the treaty included secret arrangements for
distribution of conquered German territories among the
Allied Nations. Many historians believe these terms
eventually led to World War II. The treaty had the effect
of humiliating the German nation before the world. This
would lead to a passionate desire in many Germans, including Adolf Hitler, to see their nation
throw off the "shackles" of the treaty and once again take its place in the world - the "rebirth" of
Germany through a strong nationalist government. In years to come, Hitler would speak out
endlessly against the treaty and gain much support. In addition, he would rail against the
'November Criminals' and 'Jewish Marxists.'
In the summer of 1919, Adolf Hitler was still in the army and was stationed in Munich where he
had become an informer. Corporal Hitler had named
soldiers in his barracks that supported the Marxist
uprisings in Munich, resulting in their arrest and
executions.
Hitler then became one of many undercover agents in
the German Army weeding out Marxist influence within
the ranks and investigating subversive political
organizations.
Figure 1 Children using stacks of money as block.