Armistice Armistice

Canadian HistoryCanadian History

What is an Armistice?What is an Armistice?

► It is the effective end of a war.It is the effective end of a war.►Warring parties agree to stop fighting.Warring parties agree to stop fighting.► It is a formalized truce during which It is a formalized truce during which

time the two warring sides agree to a time the two warring sides agree to a peace treaty.peace treaty.

►Does this mean that there was no real Does this mean that there was no real winner?winner?

Armistice to End the War of all Armistice to End the War of all Wars Wars

►Signed in a railway carriage in France. Signed in a railway carriage in France. Put an end to the fighting.Put an end to the fighting.

►Allied and German representatives Allied and German representatives met and signed the Armistice at met and signed the Armistice at 5:00am on November 11, 1918.5:00am on November 11, 1918.

►Did not come into effect until 11am Did not come into effect until 11am Paris time.Paris time.

►1111thth Day, 11 Day, 11thth Hour, 11 Hour, 11thth Month… Month…

People Involved People Involved

► Matthias Erzberger: German Matthias Erzberger: German politician (civilian). politician (civilian). Opponent of the war. Was Opponent of the war. Was eventually assassinated.eventually assassinated.

► Also included in the Also included in the negotiations were a number negotiations were a number of key German military of key German military personnel.personnel.

► The Allied Supreme The Allied Supreme Commander: Ferdinand Commander: Ferdinand Foch (Marshall of France)Foch (Marshall of France)

► Rosselyn Wemyss who was Rosselyn Wemyss who was the British Representative.the British Representative.

Allied DemandsAllied Demands

► Immediate clearing of Belgium, France, Immediate clearing of Belgium, France, Alsace-Lorraine. (14 Days)Alsace-Lorraine. (14 Days)

►Surrender 5000 cannon (chiefly heavy), Surrender 5000 cannon (chiefly heavy), 30,000 machine guns, 3000 trench 30,000 machine guns, 3000 trench mortars, 2000 planes mortars, 2000 planes

►Surrender of 5000 locomotives, 150,000 Surrender of 5000 locomotives, 150,000 railway coaches, 10,000 trucks. railway coaches, 10,000 trucks.

►Maintenance of enemy occupation Maintenance of enemy occupation troops through Germany. troops through Germany.

Allied DemandsAllied Demands

►Unconditional surrender of East Africa Unconditional surrender of East Africa ►Return of prisoners of war.Return of prisoners of war.►Return of the property of the Belgian Return of the property of the Belgian

Bank, Russian and Rumanian gold. Bank, Russian and Rumanian gold. ►The blockade remains in effect. All The blockade remains in effect. All

German ships to be captured. German ships to be captured. ►Armistice to last 30 days.Armistice to last 30 days.

Paris ConferencesParis Conferences

►Following the Armistice the Allied Following the Armistice the Allied powers met with German leaders in powers met with German leaders in order to come up with a peace treaty.order to come up with a peace treaty.

►Basis for the Treaty of Versailles a Basis for the Treaty of Versailles a particularly harsh treaty for the particularly harsh treaty for the Germans.Germans.

►Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points become a Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points become a key feature of the Treaty of Versailles.key feature of the Treaty of Versailles.

Features of a One Sided Features of a One Sided TreatyTreaty

► One of the most important features of the Treaty is One of the most important features of the Treaty is where Allies placed the blame.where Allies placed the blame.

► All of the Allies had hidden agendas for the Treaty of All of the Allies had hidden agendas for the Treaty of VersaillesVersailles

► France, a country that has had an extensive history France, a country that has had an extensive history of invasion wanted to make sure German would of invasion wanted to make sure German would never invade again.never invade again.

► England, the supreme naval power wanted to cripple England, the supreme naval power wanted to cripple Germany’s naval power.Germany’s naval power.

► Both wanted revenge to varying degrees.Both wanted revenge to varying degrees.► The United States just wanted to go home and The United States just wanted to go home and

ensure that a war like this would never happen ensure that a war like this would never happen again. (14 Points)again. (14 Points)

6 Months Later….6 Months Later….

►After 6 months of negotiations and After 6 months of negotiations and strong opposition to the Treaty by the strong opposition to the Treaty by the Germans it was finally signed.Germans it was finally signed.

► June 28June 28thth, 1919., 1919.

Terms of the Versailles Terms of the Versailles TreatyTreaty

► Germany would accept responsibility for the Germany would accept responsibility for the war. (war guilt clause)war. (war guilt clause)

► Germany would limit the size of its army and Germany would limit the size of its army and navy.navy.

► A buffer zone was created between France A buffer zone was created between France and Germany along the Rhine.and Germany along the Rhine.

► Alsace and Lorraine was returned to France.Alsace and Lorraine was returned to France.► German had to give up West Prussia and German had to give up West Prussia and

Poland in order to create an independent Poland in order to create an independent state.state.

Terms continued…Terms continued…

►Germany was forced to give up all its Germany was forced to give up all its colonies to the League of Nations colonies to the League of Nations (created through the Treaty). These (created through the Treaty). These colonies were then divided among the colonies were then divided among the ‘winners’.‘winners’.

►Germany had to pay reparations. (33 Germany had to pay reparations. (33 million dollars) A lot by their million dollars) A lot by their standards.standards.

Effects of the TreatyEffects of the Treaty

►Embarrassment: German had been Embarrassment: German had been one of the greatest industrial powers one of the greatest industrial powers since the early 19since the early 19thth century. This was century. This was a slap in the face. They did not feel a slap in the face. They did not feel they started it, nor did they lose.they started it, nor did they lose.

►Reparations were unrealistic.Reparations were unrealistic.►Lost many key industrial factories so Lost many key industrial factories so

returning soldiers were offered few returning soldiers were offered few opportunities.opportunities.

The TreatyThe Treaty

►Many experts feel as though the Many experts feel as though the Treaty of Versailles laid the Treaty of Versailles laid the groundwork for Hitler’s claim to power.groundwork for Hitler’s claim to power.

►By 1939 Germany had violated many By 1939 Germany had violated many of the terms and the Allies did very of the terms and the Allies did very little.little.

ActivityActivity

►Evaluate the Armistice and the Treaty Evaluate the Armistice and the Treaty of Versailles. Based on your knowledge of Versailles. Based on your knowledge of the World War 1 do you think that of the World War 1 do you think that the Treaty was too harsh. Explain your the Treaty was too harsh. Explain your answer.answer.