Treaties of and post WWI

 Major Provisions Brought About by WWI and Post WWI Treaties:

Through the establishment of new boundaries, all treaties generally increased the chances of future discontent in southeastern Europe and the Middle East.

Treaty of London (1915):  as a reward for support, Italy was to be given parts of Austria.  The promises of this treaty were never fully realized by Italy (largely because of W. Wilson’s non-support).  This became an important factor in the rise of Mussolini in 1922.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk(1918):  took substantial territory away from Russia, including:  Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine.

Treaties of St. Germain (1919) and Trianon (1920):  Austria-Hungary split into Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia.  Austria and Hungary are forced to pay reparations.  This is problematic because in Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, there are many national and ethnic groups that are too blended to be divided into nations.

Treaty of Neuilly (1919):  Bulgaria must surrender territory, limit the size of its army, and pay reparations.

Treaties of Sevres (1920) and Lausanne (1923):  Turkish Empire broken; some territories now independent, but Britain and France take control of the former Turkish Empire in the Middle East.

Treaty of Riga (1921):  established Poland as the buffer zone between Russia and Germany.

Treaty of Versailles (1919): 

-          Germany was to pay about $33 billion in reparations to the Allies

-          Germany was forced to accept full responsibility for starting the war (war guilt clause)

-          Germany agreed never to engage in Anschluss (a union) with Austria

-          Germany military was disarmed save for a small army for national security

-          Rhineland (bordering France) was demilitarized and the Allies occupied it for 15 years

-          Saar Basin was transferred to the League of Nations, while the coal mines were to be operated by France for 15 years

-          Germany was forced to cede 10% of its European territory

-          All German territories in Africa, China, and the Pacific Islands were given to League of Nations to administer.  They became mandates.