Treaty of Versailles. Why was the Treaty of Versailles the main mistake of the Allies? Consequences regarding Russia

The Treaty of Versailles, concluded between the countries of the Entente and the Triple Alliance in 1919, determined the conditions for ending the First World War for each of the warring parties.

At the beginning of the 20th century, tension gradually increased in the world. Each of the major European powers wanted to strengthen their positions, acquire new territories and expand their zone of influence. Both the Entente countries (based on three powerful powers: Russia, France and England) and the Triple Alliance (Germany, Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary) had territorial claims. Later, most European countries became involved in the war.

Bloody battles and diseases claimed the lives of almost 10 million people and injured 20 million. The war began in 1914 and ended only in 1919. The Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28 at the Palace of Versailles, put an end to it. However, the terms of the treaty turned out to be such that it was clear to the political leaders of the states that in the near future the world should expect a new war. The “offended” party under the terms of the Versailles Agreement was Germany, which, instead of a dominant position, fell back into the position of a controlled state, deprived of even the opportunity to have its own regular army.

The results of the war for Germany under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles

The German Empire was no longer a powerful power. The country lost:

• colonial lands in Africa;
• the Pacific Islands under its control;
• benefits and privileges in Thailand;
• fleet, airships, railway transport (all this was to be transferred to the Entente countries);
• its army and military aviation;
• coal mines of the Saar basin;
• the city of Danzig (which came under the control of the League of Nations).

The Entente received the right to a 15-year occupation of the left bank of the Rhine. This was due to the need to monitor that there were no attempts on Germany’s part to violate the terms of the treaty. The German General Staff was dissolved and compulsory conscription was abolished. Emperor Wilhelm II was considered an international criminal and should have been put on trial.

The German Empire was obliged to pay huge sums of reparations to the Entente countries. Only in the next three years after the conclusion of peace, she had to give away 20 billion marks in gold, securities and goods.

Germany's total losses amounted to an eighth of the territories that belonged to it before the war, and a twelfth of the population.

As a result of the agreement, Germany's ally Austria-Hungary ceased to exist as a separate state: it broke up into independent units (Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia).

Bulgaria, the third ally, withdrew from the war even before the Treaty of Versailles was signed, finding itself economically exhausted. The Bulgarian government was forced to resolve internal conflicts that erupted due to the difficult economic situation.

Results of the war for the victorious countries

The Treaty of Versailles brought considerable gains to the opponents of the Triple Alliance, although population losses during the hostilities were enormous on this side as well.

As new supporters joined the Entente during the war, they also managed to change their borders upward.

According to the terms of the agreement, France, Belgium and Italy were supposed to receive from Germany a considerable amount of fuel and energy reserves: 140, 80 and 77 million tons, respectively.

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles as a prerequisite for the formation of the Third Reich

The German Empire hoped, after the end of hostilities, to finally emerge as a powerful power playing a leading role in Europe politically and economically. Other states also sought to strengthen their position, and in addition they feared the growing influence of Germany and the potential threat from it.

The German government did not immediately agree to recognize the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, and other countries tried to revise it on the most favorable terms for themselves. Therefore, before the signing, many secret meetings were held, during which the parties finally managed to more or less agree.

Historical significance of the treaty

The Versailles peace could not become durable: representatives of the political elite of European states understood that Germany would sooner or later try to take revenge. Therefore, some called this peace simply a truce. For some time, the contradictions between the states were resolved, but it was inevitable. Two decades passed and it broke out. After all, the Treaty of Versailles, without eliminating the previously existing contradictions between states, added new contradictions - between the victors and the vanquished.

The Treaty of Versailles, which officially ended the First World War of 1914-18, was signed on June 28, 1919 in Versailles (France) by the United States of America, the British Empire (Lloyd George David - Prime Minister of Great Britain

Fourteen Points of US President William Wilson

• 1. Open peace treaties, openly discussed, after which there will be no secret international agreements of any kind, and diplomacy will always operate openly and in full view of everyone.
• 2. Absolute freedom of navigation on the seas outside territorial waters, both in peacetime and in wartime, except in cases where certain seas are partially or completely closed internationally for the implementation of international treaties.
• 3. The removal, as far as possible, of all economic barriers and the establishment of equal terms of trade for all nations who stand for peace and unite their efforts to maintain it.
• 4. Fair guarantees that national armaments will be reduced to the utmost minimum consistent with national security.
• 5. The free, frank and absolutely impartial settlement of all colonial disputes, based on strict adherence to the principle that in the determination of all questions relating to sovereignty, the interests of the population should weigh equally against the just claims of the government whose rights are to be determined.
• 6. The liberation of all Russian territories and such a resolution of all issues affecting Russia that guarantees her the fullest and freest assistance from other nations in obtaining a full and unhindered opportunity to make an independent decision regarding her own political development, her national policy and providing her with a welcoming reception in the community of free nations, under the form of government that she herself chooses. And more than welcome, also all the support in everything she needs and what she desires for herself. The attitude towards Russia on the part of her sister nations in the coming months will be a touchstone of their good feelings, their understanding of her needs and ability to separate them from their own interests, as well as an indicator of their wisdom and the unselfishness of their sympathies.
• 7. Belgium, the whole world will agree, must be evacuated and restored, without attempting to limit the sovereignty which she enjoys on an equal basis with all other free nations. No other action can serve more than this to restore confidence among peoples in those laws which they themselves have established and determined as a guide for their mutual relations. Without this healing act, the entire structure and entire operation of international law will be forever defeated.
• 8. All French territory must be liberated and the occupied parts returned, and the wrong done to France by Prussia in 1871 in relation to Alsace-Lorraine, which disturbed the world peace for almost 50 years, must be corrected so that peaceful relations can again be established in the interests of everyone.
• 9. The rectification of Italy's borders must be carried out on the basis of clearly distinguishable national borders.
• 10. The peoples of Austria-Hungary, whose place in the League of Nations we want to see protected and secured, must receive the broadest opportunity for autonomous development.
• 11. Romania, Serbia and Montenegro must be evacuated. Occupied territories must be returned. Serbia must be given free and reliable access to the sea. The relations of the various Balkan states must be determined in a friendly manner in accordance with the historically established principles of affiliation and nationality. International guarantees must be established for the political and economic independence and territorial integrity of the various Balkan states.
• 12. The Turkish parts of the Ottoman Empire, in its present composition, must receive secure and lasting sovereignty, but other nationalities now under Turkish rule must receive an unequivocal guarantee of existence and absolutely inviolable conditions for autonomous development. The Dardanelles must be constantly open to the free passage of ships and trade of all nations under international guarantees.
• 13. An independent Polish state must be created, which must include all territories with an undeniably Polish population, which must be provided with free and reliable access to the sea, and whose political and economic independence, as well as territorial integrity, must be guaranteed by an international treaty .
• 14. A general association of nations should be formed on the basis of special statutes for the purpose of creating a mutual guarantee of the political independence and territorial integrity of both large and small states.

Wilson's speech caused a mixed reaction, both in the United States and its allies. France wanted reparations from Germany because French industry and agriculture had been destroyed by the war, and Britain, as the most powerful naval power, did not want freedom of navigation. Wilson made compromises with Clemenceau, Lloyd George and other European leaders during the Paris peace negotiations, trying to ensure that Clause 14 was implemented and the League of Nations was created. In the end, the agreement on the League of Nations was defeated by Congress, and in Europe only 4 of the 14 theses were implemented.

The purpose of the Treaty of Versailles was, firstly, the redistribution of the world in favor of the victorious powers and, secondly, the prevention of a possible future military threat from Germany. In general, the articles of the agreement can be divided into several groups.

Germany lost part of its lands in Europe:

Alsace and Lorraine were returned to France (within the borders of 1870);

Belgium - the districts of Malmedy and Eupen, as well as the so-called neutral and Prussian parts of the Morenet;

Poland - Poznan, part of Pomerania and other territories of West Prussia;

The city of Danzig (Gdansk) and its district was declared a “free city”;

The city of Memel (Klaipeda) was transferred to the jurisdiction of the victorious powers (in February 1923 it was annexed to Lithuania).

The statehood of Schleswig, the southern part of East Prussia and Upper Silesia was to be determined by a plebiscite (from the Latin plebiscitum: plebs - common people + scitum - decision, resolution - one of the types of popular vote, in international relations it is used when polling the population of a territory about its affiliation with one state or another).

part of Schleswig passed to Denmark (1920);

part of Upper Silesia - to Poland (1921);

also a small section of Silesian territory went to Czechoslovakia;

the southern part of East Prussia remained with Germany.

Germany also retained its original Polish lands - on the right bank of the Oder, Lower Silesia, most of Upper Silesia, etc. The Saarland came under the control of the League of Nations for 15 years, after this period the fate of the Saarland was also to be decided by a plebiscite. During this period, the coal mines of the Saar (the richest coal basin in Europe) were transferred to the ownership of France.

2. Germany lost all its colonies, which were later divided among the main victorious powers. The redistribution of the German colonies was carried out as follows:

Tanganyika became a British mandate;

the Ruanda-Urundi region is a Belgian mandate;

- The “Kionga Triangle” (South-East Africa) was transferred to Portugal (the named territories previously constituted German East Africa); - Great Britain and France divided Togo and Cameroon; - South Africa received a mandate for South-West Africa;

France received a protectorate over Morocco;

Germany refused all treaties and agreements with Liberia;

On the Pacific Ocean

The German-owned islands north of the equator were assigned to Japan as mandated territories;

to the Commonwealth of Australia - German New Guinea; - to New Zealand - Samoa Islands.

Germany's rights in relation to Jiaozhou and the entire Shandong province of China were transferred to Japan (as a result of which the Treaty of Versailles was not signed by China);

Germany also renounced all concessions and privileges in China, the rights of consular jurisdiction and all property in Siam.

Germany recognized the independence of all territories that were part of the former Russian Empire by August 1, 1914, as well as the abolition of all treaties concluded by it with the Soviet government (including the Brest-Litovsk Treaty of 1918). Germany pledged to recognize all treaties and agreements of the Allied and Associated Powers with states that were formed or are being formed in all or part of the territories of the former Russian Empire.

• 3. Germany recognized and pledged to strictly observe the independence of Austria, and also recognized the complete independence of Poland and Czechoslovakia. The entire German part of the left bank of the Rhine and a strip of the right bank 50 km wide were subject to demilitarization, creating the so-called Rhine demilitarized zone.
• 4. The German armed forces were limited to 100 thousand. land army; Compulsory military service was abolished, and the bulk of the remaining navy was to be transferred to the winners. Germany was obliged to compensate in the form of reparations for losses incurred by the governments and individual citizens of the Entente countries as a result of military actions (the determination of the amount of reparations was entrusted to a special Reparations Commission).
• 5. Articles relating to the establishment of the League of Nations

The refusal of the American Congress to ratify the Treaty of Versailles actually meant a return of the United States to the policy of isolationism. At this time in the USA there was strong opposition to the policies of the Democratic Party and personally to President William Wilson. American conservatives believed that accepting serious political and military obligations to European countries would condemn the United States to unjustified financial costs and (in case of war) human casualties. The benefits of intervention in European problems (facilitated access to the markets of European countries and mandated territories of Africa and Asia, recognition of the United States as the leading power in the world, etc.) did not seem obvious and sufficient to Wilson’s opponents.

The isolationist opposition was led by the leadership of the US Republican Party. The President was accused that the Charter of the League of Nations limited the Congress in some ways in the field of foreign policy. Particularly irritating was the provision on the adoption of collective measures in cases of aggression. Opponents of the League called it an “obligation,” an attempt on American independence, and a dictate from Britain and France.

The debate in Congress about the Treaty of Versailles began on July 10, 1919 and lasted more than eight months. After the introduction of 48 amendments and 4 reservations by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the changes made to the treaty turned out to be so serious that they actually began to contradict the agreements reached in Paris. But even this did not change the situation: on March 19, 1920, despite all the amendments made, the Senate rejected the resolution to ratify the Treaty of Versailles. Thus, the United States, which was turning into the strongest country in the world, legally and in many ways actually found itself outside the Versailles order. This circumstance could not but affect the prospects for international development.

Versailles is not peace, it's a truce for twenty years

Ferdinand Foch

The Treaty of Versailles of 1919 was signed on June 28. This document officially ended the First World War, which for 4 long years was the worst nightmare for all the inhabitants of Europe. This agreement received its name from the place where it was signed: in France at the Palace of Versailles. The signing of the Versailles Peace Treaty between the Entente countries and Germany, which officially admitted its defeat in the war. The terms of the agreement were so humiliating and cruel towards the losing side that they simply had no analogues in history, and all political figures of that era spoke more about a truce than about peace.

In this material we will consider the main conditions of the Versailles Peace Treaty of 1919, as well as the events that preceded the signing of this document. You will see from specific historical facts how stringent the requirements for Germany turned out to be. In fact, this document shaped relations in Europe for two decades, and also created the preconditions for the formation of the Third Reich.

Treaty of Versailles 1919 - terms of peace

The text of the Treaty of Versailles is quite lengthy and covers a huge number of aspects. This is also surprising from the point of view that never before have clauses that have nothing to do with it been spelled out in such detail in a peace agreement. We will present only the most significant conditions of Versailles, which made this treaty so enslaving. We present the Versailles Peace Treaty with Germany, the text of which is presented below.

1. Germany admitted its responsibility for all the damage caused to all countries participating in the First World War. The losing party will have to compensate for this damage.
2. Wilhelm 2, the emperor of the country, was recognized as an international war criminal and was required to be brought before a tribunal (Article 227)
3. Clear boundaries were established between European countries.
4. The German state was prohibited from having a regular army (Article 173)
5. All fortresses and fortified areas west of the Rhine must be completely destroyed (Article 180)
6. Germany was obliged to pay reparations to the winning countries, but specific amounts are not specified in the documents, and there are rather vague formulations that allow these reparation amounts to be assigned at the discretion of the Entente countries (Article 235)
7. The territories west of the Rhine will be occupied by Allied forces to enforce the terms of the treaty (Article 428).

This is not a complete list of the main provisions that the Versailles Peace Treaty of 1919 contains, but it is quite enough to evaluate how this document was signed and how it could be implemented.

Prerequisites for signing the agreement

On October 3, 1918, Max Badensky became Chancellor of the Empire. This historical character had a tremendous influence on the outcome of the First World War. By the end of October, all participants in the war were looking for ways to exit it. No one could continue the protracted war.

On November 1, 1918, an event occurred that is not described in Russian history. Max Badensky caught a cold, took sleeping pills and fell asleep. His sleep lasted 36 hours. When the Chancellor woke up on November 3, all the allies withdrew from the war, and Germany itself was engulfed in revolution. Is it possible to believe that the chancellor simply slept through such events and no one woke him up? When he woke up, the country was practically destroyed. Meanwhile, Lloyd George, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain, describes this event in some detail in his biography.

On November 3, 1918, Max Badensky woke up and first of all issued a decree prohibiting the use of weapons against revolutionaries. Germany was on the verge of collapse. Then the chancellor turned to the German Kaiser Wilhelm with a request to abdicate the throne. On November 9, he announced the Kaiser's abdication. But there was no renunciation! William abdicated the throne only after 3 weeks! After the German Chancellor virtually single-handedly lost the war, and also lied about Wilhelm's abdication of power, he himself resigned, leaving behind his successor Ebert, an ardent Social Democrat.

After Ebert was declared Chancellor of Germany, the miracles continued. Just one hour after his appointment, he declared Germany a Republic, although he had no such powers. In fact, immediately after this, negotiations began on a truce between Germany and the Entente countries.

The Versailles Peace Treaty of 1919 also clearly shows us how Badensky and Ebert betrayed their homeland. Armistice negotiations began on November 7. The agreement was signed on November 11. To ratify this agreement, on the German side, it had to be signed by the ruler, the Kaiser, who would never agree to the conditions that the signed agreement carried. Now do you understand why Max of Baden lied on November 9 about Kaiser Wilhelm abdicating power?

Results of the Treaty of Versailles

Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was obliged to transfer to the Entente countries: the entire fleet, all airships, as well as almost all steam locomotives, wagons and trucks. In addition, Germany was prohibited from having a regular army or producing weapons and military equipment. It was forbidden to have a fleet and aviation. In fact, Ebert did not sign a truce, but an unconditional surrender. Moreover, Germany had no reason for this. The Allies did not bomb German cities and not a single enemy soldier was on German territory. The Kaiser's army successfully conducted military operations. Ebert understood perfectly well that the German people would not approve of such a peace treaty and would want to continue the war. Therefore, another trick was invented. The agreement was called an armistice (this a priori told the Germans that the war was simply ending without any concessions), but it was signed only after Ebert and his government had laid down their arms. Even before the signing of the “truce,” Germany transferred the fleet, aviation and all weapons to the Entente countries. After this, resistance by the German people to the Versailles Peace Treaty was impossible. In addition to the loss of the army and navy, Germany was forced to cede a significant part of its territory.

The Treaty of Versailles in 1919 was humiliating for Germany. Most politicians later said that this was not peace, but simply a truce before a new war. And so it happened.

The economic, territorial and political interests of European countries at the turn of the 20th century intersected in many directions. The struggle for influence in the international arena goes beyond diplomatic relations; this is a prerequisite for the outbreak of an armed conflict. The First World War was started to redistribute spheres of influence by the world's largest powers. Its results were disastrous for the economies of all participating countries (except the USA and Japan), but the new order led to even more dire consequences. The Treaty of Versailles, signed with great difficulty, turned out to be a time bomb.

War

The emergence of a military alliance called the Entente was due to the growing influence of the German Empire in the European political and economic arenas. Initially, the bloc includes France and Russia, which enter into an exclusively military-political agreement; later Great Britain joins, having lost the primacy of its handicraft production by the beginning of the century. The central part of Europe is occupied by Austria-Hungary, which is balancing on the brink of internecine war due to its multinational composition, but at the same time is in confrontation with a larger and stronger neighbor - Russia. Germany is developing rapidly, compared to its European neighbors, its colonial possessions are too small, so the intentions are obvious. The Italians, Austrians and Hungarians joined the Germans as an ally. The balance of power changed with the course of hostilities; a total of 38 countries took part in them. The First World War began in 1914, it lasted 5 years and ended in November 1918. Military operations took place on the western, eastern front and in the colonies. Germany and its allies launch an offensive in 1914 quite successfully, capturing Luxembourg and Belgium. The French army is trying to hold back the onslaught through bloody battles, Russia is quite successful in operating in the eastern direction, capturing Prussia. In 1915-16, the most tragic events took place: the Battle of Verdun and the Brusilov breakthrough, which became the last success of the Russian imperial troops. As a result of the Americans joining the Entente armies, the course of the war changes. Germany's allies sign a peace treaty with the victorious states, this forces the Germans to surrender. The tragic events that blew up the Russian Empire from the inside took it out of the war in 1917 and left it outside international economic and political relations for a long period. The Treaty of Versailles is a documentary reflection of the end of the world war.

Consequences

In fact, by 1918, the entire industry and agriculture of European states had been reoriented towards military needs. During the war, more than 60% of enterprises were destroyed, thousands of hectares of agricultural land could not be used for their intended purpose. The loss of the main resource - human life - is difficult to estimate; more than 10 million people died, the number of disabled and unemployed people is incalculable. The demographic situation in Europe was on the verge of collapse. Economic ties between countries and enterprises were lost, the entire international trade and economic infrastructure collapsed, its foundation - production - ceased to exist. Hunger, chaos and devastation reigned on the territory of the countries that won the war and those that lost the war. The gold and foreign exchange reserves of the parties to the confrontation were exhausted; the United States became the main creditor for all parties to the conflict. Throughout the conflict, they sold military equipment, food and everything that was needed to support the troops and population during the war. As an outside observer, the United States was able to boost its industry and earn enormous capital. In Europe, some of the previously existing countries were unable to cope with huge losses and ceased to exist: the Ottoman, German, Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires. The terms of the Versailles peace treaty did indeed contribute to a new division of Europe, but not according to the German scenario. For the military-industrial complex, the First World War became a catalyst in the process of creating and using new types of weapons. Machine guns, tanks, grenades, bombers and fighters significantly changed the tactics and strategy of military operations. The first use of chemical weapons allowed all countries to draw the right conclusion and abandon their use. There have never been more violent clashes in world history; the massive destruction of enemy forces led to huge losses on all sides of the conflict.

Russia

The First World War caused changes in the world economic and political system. At the initial stage, the Russian Empire was assigned a leading role in the military actions of the Entente against the Triple Alliance, but our country did not have any special geopolitical motives at the time of its involvement in the conflict. The resource base allowed the state not to fight for colonial possessions; there was no reason to expand the territory at the expense of neighboring countries. Nicholas II was forced to enter the war because of the military-political treaties that existed at that time with England and France; this decision cost him his throne and his life. The army and rear structures of the Russian Empire were unable to wage a protracted war; the initiative on the eastern front quickly passed to the enemy army. Part of the territory of Ukraine, the Baltic states and Belarus were captured by German troops. In 1916, the Russian army was able to restore its functionality and partially draw back enemy forces from the western front, preventing the capture of Paris. On French territory, at the cost of huge losses, several cities previously occupied by the Germans were liberated. The last significant victory was the Brusilov breakthrough, in which the Austro-Hungarian army was defeated by the Russian imperial troops. Meanwhile, dissatisfaction with the tsar’s policies is growing within the country, and he is rapidly losing the trust of the people. Against the backdrop of military actions that are not victorious, restrictions and hunger, a revolution occurs. The new government begins to solve internal problems and emerges from the global conflict on unfavorable terms. The peace treaty concluded with Germany is a shameful flight that many officers and soldiers did not accept. Some of the imperial troops fought on the fields of the First World War as part of the Allied formations of the Entente, considering it a duty of honor. A period of international isolation began for Soviet Russia; most world powers considered the Bolshevik government illegitimate, so the Treaty of Versailles was signed without the participation of the Russians. This will play a huge role in the future not only in the development of our country, but also in the global political and economic system.

Germany

Possessing a fairly powerful army, navy and great ambitions, Wilhelm II pursued an aggressive foreign policy. Germany, having Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire as its allies, could not conduct military operations on two fronts at the same time. According to the Germans' calculations, they had to capture France in a short time, and then switch to destroying the forces of the Russian Empire. The emphasis was on speed and support from the countries of the Triple Alliance. At the same time, in fact, German troops were forced to operate in the Balkans, Africa, Europe and Asia. This is explained by the great maneuverability and combat effectiveness of German formations. Virtually all naval operations involving the troops of the Triple Alliance were carried out under the leadership of the officers of the German Empire. In 1915, a massive offensive against the French capital was thwarted due to the inability of the Austro-Hungarian army to hold positions on the eastern front. In fact, Germany was defeated in World War I due to economic reasons. For four years, all the production and agricultural capacities of the state worked for the needs of the army. Famine and war led to a revolution that ended with a mutiny among the troops and the overthrow of William II in November 1918. At the same time, Germany admits defeat and concludes a truce with the Entente countries (without Russia, which as a result of the revolution became known as the USSR).

Treaty of Versailles

The peaceful resolution of the military conflict was a long process of reconciling the contradictions of the victorious countries. The Entente, expanded to include Japan and the United States, began to redistribute Europe and colonial possessions in Africa and the Far East. The treaties of the Versailles system were supposed to ensure the independence and stability of the states that won the First World War, while the interests of the losing countries were infringed through financial instruments and territorial annexations. An international conference was held in Paris in 1919-1920. The Treaty of Versailles was signed in June 1919. Its main articles were positions on which consensus was reached at the international conference. The document came into force in January 1920. His project was proposed by Wilson (the then current US President) in 1918. The essence of the Treaty of Versailles in its original version was the redistribution of spheres of influence of the victorious countries, in particular the United States. At the same time, dominance in Europe was necessary for the Americans due to economic indicators, but the allied states had their own interests. The document was supposed to limit the influence of all countries participating in the conflict, not only on the losing side, the leader of which was Germany. The Treaty of Versailles created a group of independent states in central Europe that served as a buffer zone between Soviet Russia and the Western European powers. To maintain peace and prevent potential conflicts, the document created a special organization called the League of Nations. The Treaty of Versailles was ratified by the Entente: Great Britain, France, Japan, and by the Triple Alliance: Germany. In 1921, the Americans created the Versailles-Washington treaty system, which, in essence, did not differ from the original version, but excluded participation in the League of Nations. Germany was forced to sign it too.

The League of nations

The Treaty of Versailles is the document on the basis of which the first international organization was created, designed to regulate relations between countries through diplomacy. During its existence, the League of Nations created several commissions that specialized in analyzing the situation in specific areas: women's rights, drug trafficking, refugees, etc. At various times, it included 58 countries, the founders of which were France, Spain, and Great Britain. The last meeting of the Council of the League of Nations took place in 1946. Many international institutions that exist today are its successors and continuers of traditions: UNESCO, the UN, the International Court of Justice, the World Health Organization.

Division of Europe

The main terms of the Treaty of Versailles implied the separation of part of German territory in favor of the victorious countries and newly formed states created after the collapse of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires. Most of them had anti-Soviet governments and were used as a buffer against Bolshevism. Hungary, Poland, Lithuania, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Finland, Yugoslavia have gone through a difficult path of internal political settlement. Under the terms of the agreement, Germany allocated: Poland - 43 thousand km 2, Denmark - 4 thousand km 2, France - more than 14 thousand km 2, Lithuania - 2.4 thousand km 2. The 50-kilometer zone of the left bank of the Rhine River was subject to demilitarization, that is, it was actually occupied by enemy troops for 15 years. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, concluded between Germany and Soviet Russia, was annulled, which led to the return of the occupied lands (partially Belarus, Transcaucasia, Ukraine). The Saarland is placed under the administration of the League of Nations, with the use of coal mines by France. The Gdansk district was declared a free city. Germany lost all its colonial possessions, which were distributed among the victorious countries. Protectorate rights over Egypt and Morocco were transferred to England and France respectively. Chinese territories leased by Germany for 99 years were transferred to Japan, which is why the largest delegation left the international conference and did not sign the Treaty of Versailles. Briefly, the main provisions were rejected in favor of the winners, 70 thousand km 2, on which more than 5,000 people lived.

Restrictions

As a result of Germany's military aggression, many territories of central, eastern and western Europe suffered; reparations in their favor were also reflected in the Treaty of Versailles. The articles of the document did not contain specific figures; they were determined by a specially created commission. The total volume of payments at the initial stage was approximately 100 thousand tons of gold. Restrictions were also imposed on the armed forces of the aggressor country. Mandatory conscription was abolished, all military equipment was transferred to the Entente countries, and the number of ground forces was stipulated. In fact, Germany, from the most influential country in Western Europe, became a powerless member of international relations. The living conditions of the population and constant pressure from the victors allowed the Nazi regime to come to power in 1933 and create a more powerful totalitarian state, which later, with the help of the USA and England, would become a counterweight in the secret war with the USSR. According to the conclusions of many historians, the Treaty of Versailles of 1919 was an armistice that led to a new war. The Germans were humiliated by the terms of the document, they lost the war without allowing a single enemy soldier onto their territory, and at the same time remained the only aggressor country that bore the brunt of economic and military-political restrictions.

Disagreements

The Versailles-Washington treaty system actually worsened the relationship between the former allies. The Americans and the British sought to reduce the burden of Germany's obligations with the help of the Young Plan, which helped speed up the recovery of the country's economy and industry by 1929. Hoping to acquire a reliable ally in the fight against the USSR, the United States invested quite large sums into the restoration of the former aggressor. England sought to reduce the level of influence of France in the European arena, which, through reparations, practically restored the economy within five years. At this time, Germany finds an unexpected ally - the USSR. Two large states that have fallen out of the system of international relations are uniting. And for a long time they have been cooperating quite effectively in the field of creating military equipment, trade, and food supplies. Japan is beginning to increase its appetites in the Far East and China; there is no unity among the allies; each country pursues its own interests. The Treaty of Versailles is violated primarily by its creators, who were preparing for peace, but ended up with a new war.

Failure

The structure of the world system after the end of the First World War, based on the points of the Treaty of Versailles, contained many contradictions. It is impossible to ensure control of the situation by excluding a sixth of the globe from international relations. The concept of the 14 points of the document had an anti-Russian (anti-Soviet) orientation. Consent and equality are the basic principles of any contract. A special role in the failure of the peace agreements was played by negative economic factors that are associated with the process of cyclical development of any system. While the leading imperialist powers were busy with their own economies, Germany not only learned to maneuver and circumvent the Versailles agreements, but also created a new regime of aggression. To a large extent, this was due to the principle of non-interference by the countries of the former Entente in its military policy. The creation of a new war machine was welcomed by the former allies, as they hoped to direct its aggression to the east. The United States, in turn, decided to increase the growth rate of its own economy through a new war in Europe.

The First World War is over! The enemies laid down their guns. The geopolitical reorganization of Europe has begun. But why did Germany, having suffered a heavy defeat, not only mobilize all its forces, but also unleash the most terrible and bloody war in the history of mankind?! I will express my point of view on this matter.

So, the victorious countries (USA, England, France, Italy, etc.) judged the vanquished (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey), naturally, imposing on them their terms of the post-war world order. The Treaty of Versailles, without eliminating the pre-war contradictions, gave rise to new ones - between the victors and the vanquished. Therefore, the Versailles system turned out to be extremely shaky and unstable. “The Treaty of Versailles is a treaty of predators and robbers,” Lenin said and further emphasized that “the international system, the order that is maintained by the Treaty of Versailles is maintained on a volcano.”

The Versailles system turned out to be unable to fulfill its immediate task - to keep the defeated countries in check. The Entente contributed to the unity of the vanquished and aroused their hatred. Germany's defeat in the war reinforced the discrepancy between the country's high level of economic development and the weakness of its position in world markets. The main cause of the First World War - Germany's struggle for markets, sources of raw materials and areas for investment of capital - was not eliminated, but only temporarily muted and inevitably had to escalate even more after some time. Neither the attempt to undermine the German economy through reparations, nor the deprivation of Germany of a massive army prevented the preparation of revenge. It must be said that the German ruling circles began to think about revenge immediately after the signing of the armistice.

Undoubtedly, the terms of the Treaty of Versailles were extremely difficult, and all this burden fell on the shoulders of the German working people. Germany retained all of its industry and was ready in due time to fully restore its productive power.

An important factor that undermined the Versailles system was also the contradictions between the victors. Imagine the picture: in the Middle East, England secretly supported Syria against France, and France secretly supported Turkey against England. Together with Italy, England tried to weaken French positions in the Balkans.

The Versailles system did not satisfy the United States, which did not ratify the peace treaty. Moreover, Germany received multibillion-dollar American loans that contributed to the restoration of its military-industrial potential.

The Versailles system legitimized the colonial rule of a handful of countries over 7/10 of the world's population. For this reason, it was in no way fair, and the growing struggle of the oppressed peoples destroyed it. Also, one of the main defects of the Versailles system was its desire to isolate the USSR with a “cordon sanitaire”, to build post-war international relations contrary to its vital interests, which objectively undermined this system, making it fragile and short-lived.

So, let's summarize. The Treaty of Versailles and Washington was supposed to end the war. In reality, he turned her into a constant threat hanging over the entire world. The Entente countries are one of the main reasons for the Second World War, their stupid and thoughtless policies, which were calculated two steps ahead, as well as following only their own interests, without seeing the big picture.