Running head: TREATIES SIGNED TO END THE WAR

Treaties Signed to End the War

Michael Duvall, Jeremy Nieves, Samantha Olsen, and Jean Rowton
HIS/335
Chris Dean
September 5, 2016

TREATIES SIGNED TO END THE WAR

Treaties Signed to End the War

Five major treaties were signed to end World War I. These treaties, signed between 1918
and 1920, sought to stabilize a war-torn Europe as well as make Germany pay for the damage the
war did. Each one of the treaties affected the people of the region with loss or gains in territory
as well as changes in economics, politics, psychological effects, and the long-term impact on the
various cultures of the nations involved.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed on March 3, 1918 between the Central Powers
and Russia. Russia lost a large amount of European land in the treaty. The treaty brought on
many psychological effects of the Russian people. There were also many political effects
because of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk that lead to many economic effects. The treaty and World
War I also lead to long term effects in Russia
Territory
Russia lost almost half of their European territory in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
Germany and Austria took part of Latvia, Russian Poland, and Lithuania. Russia also lost the rest
of Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Ukraine as they became independent states under German
protection. Other losses included Bessarabia to Romania as well as the Armenian areas of the
Caucasus to the Ottoman. These losses included eighty percent of Russian coal mines, a large
amount of agricultural land, plus half of other industries in the European territory (Cavendish,
2008).
Psychological Effects
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was very harsh and created many psychological effects
among Russia. The armament factory in Tula felt that the treaty was an act of treason and

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harmful to Russian workers, the revolution, and the economy. Many Russians also felt that the
treaty was a large betrayal of their country. The treaty also played a large part in the continued
revolution between the Red and White armies (Cavendish, 2008).
Political Effects
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was debated by Leon Trosky who was part of the Bolshevik
government. The Bolshevik government turned Russia into a dictatorship and a communist
country. The Bolshevik government intended on only having a temporary dictatorship in order
to take over production so they could redistribute wealth among the country and create a
classless society. After Lenin had several strokes Stalin became a major figure in the communist
government. Stalin decided to launch massive programs to nationalize the economy. Stalin used
harsh tactics to put all industry and land into state control under the government creating a
dictatorship throughout all of Russia (Lyons, 2000).
Economic Effects
The political effects of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk created many economic effects. Due
to World War I and the Russian Revolutions Russia had a collapse in labor productivity. The
output of products drooped creating a food and fuel shortage. It was estimated that the
agricultural output was only 25 to 30 percent of prewar production. The Russian foreign debt
also continued to rise. In March of 1921 the New Economic Policy (NEP) was introduced. The
NEP was able to save Russia from crisis in 1921, but was implemented too late to help with a
famine that lasted through 1923. This famine occurred due to an imbalance of trade between
urban and rural areas plus a combination of rising industrial prices, depressed agricultural prices,
and rapid unemployment (Heywood, 2014).
Long-term Impact

TREATIES SIGNED TO END THE WAR

World War I had a large impact on the world including Russia. It changed Russian
culture and society for the long-term. Many women started working outside the home and
wanted independence. Russia went through the revolutions and communism. The society
changed as the country became a communist government and dealt with famine and
unemployment. The changes from World War I also determine Russias involvement in World
War II later in the 20th century. More portions of Russia changed throughout the years due to the
changes in government (Lyons, 2010).
The Treaty of Versailles
Territory
Germany lost much of what it gained in land with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles
on June 28, 1919. Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France and Poland was given access to the
sea, effectively cutting East Prussia off from the rest of Germany (Wilkinson & Hughes, 2004,
Chapter 4). In addition, Belgium was granted two small strips of land in the west and the Danes
were given northern Schleswig (Wilkinson & Hughes, 2004).
Psychological Effects
According to Magaa, when the dust settled and the harsh reality of defeat was made
clear, the German people were dumbfounded (Magaa, 2003, para. 1). It was not only a military
defeat, but also a psychological defeat for the Germans "the German people were expecting
victory and not defeat. It was the acknowledgement of defeat, as much as the treaty terms
themselves, which they found so hard to accept" (Henig, 1984, p. 27).
Economic Effects
The total amount of the reparations payments Germany would be required to make was
not specified in the treaty. Instead, Germany agreed that five billion dollars would be paid over

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the next two years and the remaining balance would be revealed after that time (Wilkinson &
Hughes, 2004). The currency Germans used during the war ceased to exist as the economy
plunged into an inflationary crisis that shook European society more profoundly than any other
series of events in the entire decade (Wilkinson & Hughes, 2004, Chapter 5). The economic
chaos increased social unrest and led to the destabilization of Germanys government, opening
the door to radical right wing parties and their promises to help the working class which
inevitably led to the rise of Adolf Hitler (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
[USHMM], 2014).
Long-term Effects on Germanys Culture and Society
It was not surprising that Germany was demonized due to the destruction that WWI had
caused. The governments and people affected by the war wanted Germany to be punished. When
it became clear that Germany would not be able to pay the reparations, it was decided that the
failed state should accept moral responsibility for the war and all the consequences thereof
(Magaa, 2003). The accord was adopted as article 231 of the Versailles Treaty on April 7, 1919
and stated, "The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the
responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the damage to which the allied and
Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of war
imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies" (Birdsall, 1962, p. 254).
According to Magaa (2003), Article 231 was referred to as the War Guilt Clause. More than
any other clause in the entire Treaty of Versailles, Article 231 created a lasting resentment in
Germany" (Henig, 1984, p. 19). The guilt clause resulted in German humiliation and rage
which would soon lead the world into another war (Magaa, 2003).

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The Treaty of Saint-Germaine-en-Laye

Territory
The Treaty of Saint-Germaine-en-Laye, signed on September 10, 1919 between the
Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Allies. The Austro-Hungarian Empire should dissolve as well
as reparation in regards to territorial lands amounting in approximately 60% of the Austrian
Empire. Bohemia and Moravia crown lands created the new state of Czechoslovakia. Bukovina
was given to the Kingdom of Romania, Tyrolean to Brenner Pass fell to Italy, Kingdom of
Dalmatia, the Duchy of Carniola and Lower Styria was handed over to the Serbs, Croats and
Slovenes. The only overseas colony, Tianjin was given to China (Crossland, 2010).
Psychological Effects
World War 1 had caused many psychological effects on the soldiers, countries, and the
people of those countries throughout and after the war. Some of these affects came from what the
people saw and took part in during this time in history. This is especially so in the results of the
post war treaties. While restoring peace in the aftermath of WW1, the Treaty of Versailles
appeared to the most important. Through this treaty the Allies sought to weaken Germany
making it so they could never cause the level of destruction and loss of human life as the world
had seen during the Great War. Through this need to weaken Germany is where we find the most
psychological effects (Wilkinson & Hughes, 2004).
Political Effects
These treaties also carried many political effects when it came to peace as well. Germans
wanted new leadership, which they saw in Adolf Hitler. Hitler promised to take back territory,
bring back the military, strengthen nationalism with Germans, and overlook views of Nazism. In
the years between 1919 and 1923 the governmental authority wavered from month to month

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making street battles and assassinations almost daily occurrences. German fascism thus remained
dispersed and divided.
Economic Effects
Though the treaty of Saint-Germaine focused on the new nation of Austria, it effectively
reduced the once great economic power of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to that of a much lesser
power in the Danube Basin. Germany now became the economic power, although its economy
too would be devastated by the peace treaties (Wilkinson & Hughes, 2004).
The Long-Term Impact on the Germanys Culture and Society
In Germanys case for example, the guilt bestowed upon them, the reparation payments
and the military limitations put into place made it difficult for the German people to move on.
Labeled as losers in the war, the embarrassment unknowingly pushed the people into a sociopolitical sentiment that favored the radical right wing Nazi party in the mid 1920s. This new
political platform made the German people believe in a new Germany, a pure, strong, and
dominant Germany that would no longer be defeated. Though Germany usually takes the
spotlight, this belief of defeat and embarrassment also drastically affected neighboring nations
Bulgaria, Austria and Italy. They too wanted to revamp their images by implementing various
conservative political agendas. Though many feared another war, coming out a winner felt more
endearing.
The Treaty of Trianon
On June 4, 1920, representatives of the United States, the British Empire, France, Italy,
and Japan, listed as Principal Allied and Associated Powers, along with representatives from
Nicaragua, Panama, Cuba, Belgium, China, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Serb-Croat-

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Slovene State, Siam, and Czechoslovakia signed the Treaty of Trianon with representatives from
the newly created Hungarian government ("Treaty of Trianon," 2011).
Territory
The treaty very specifically defined the borders of Hungary, leaving it landlocked and
forcing nearly 33% of ethnic Hungarians to live outside the new borders (Trueman, 2014). In
fact, Trueman states, nearly 900,000 now lived in Czechoslovakia, 1.6 million lived in Romania,
and almost 420,000 former Hungarians now called Serbia home (2014). In addition, the former
Austro-Hungarian Empire lost nearly 75% of its land to the newly created states of Romania,
Czechoslovakia, and what was to become Yugoslavia (Trueman, 2014, para. 3).
Psychological Effects
According to Trueman (2014), the Treaty of Trianon stated that Hungarians living
outside the new borders would lose their Hungarian nationality within one year of the treatys
signing. Understandably, the Hungarian people were angry over the terms of the treaty. The
national flag was lowered to half-mast in protest at all government buildings and the new
patriotic slogan was No, no, never (Wilkinson & Hughes, 2004). Unfortunately, little concern
was given for the people of Hungary when the treaty was written. The Allied leaders had more
important things to worry about than the fate of ten million people in Hungary (Wilkinson &
Hughes, 2004, Chapter 4).
Political Effects
The army of Hungary was reduced to just 35,000 men and the country was not allowed to
form an air force or a navy (Trueman, 2014). In addition, enlistment in the army was made
voluntary rather than compulsory ("Treaty of Trianon," 2011). With the break-up of the AustroHungarian Empire, the new government formed in Hungary was an independent republic until

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Mikls Horthy declared himself Regent from March 1, 1920 to October 15, 1944 (World Public
Library, 2015).
Economic Effects
With no access to the Mediterranean Sean and its many ports, the new Hungarys
economy suffered due to increased costs in transportation and the loss of raw materials
(Trueman, 2014). The rail lines that once ran through the Austro-Hungarian Empire now cut
through new borders reducing Hungarys number of rail lines to 38% of what it was before the
war (Trueman, 2014). Transportation costs were increased with tolls and tariffs imposed by
states the rail lines crossed, increasing the price of goods and eating into profits (Trueman,
2014). In addition, Trueman (2014) states, with less land available to farmers, Hungarys grain
production was reduced to 30% of what it was in pre-war years. Trueman further states iron ore,
once an abundant raw material before the war, was now only available outside the newly drawn
borders (2014). In response to these new economic troubles, Viennese bankers and investors
decreased their financial support of the new government to only 5% of what they invested prior
to the war (Trueman, 2014).
Long-term Impact on Hungarys Culture and Society
With the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Treaty of Trianon effectively
destroyed the reign of Charles IV and allowed Mikls Horthy to step in as Regent while the
country attempted to rebuild itself (World Public Library, 2015). The people of Hungary were
united in their belief that not only was the treaty unfair, but that, at Trianon, Hungary was
unjustly crucified, and the proud Hungarian people was treated with absolute cruelty (Sandache,
2013, p. 4). According to Sandache, the prevailing attitudes represented in political speeches and

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artistic work was that of freedom, the injustice of history, (and) the Hungarians collective
lonliness (2013, p. 4).
Treaty of Svres
Territory
One of the smaller treaties that affected one of the minor members of the Central Powers
was the Treaty of Svres, signed on August 10, 1920. It was a treaty between the victorious
Allied Forces and the nation of Turkey. The treaty was designed to get rid of the Ottoman
Empire by giving land to the Greeks, a nation Turkey had control over prior to the war (Treaty
of Svres, 2016). The territories that were lost due to the treaty were all of the Balkan regions,
not including the city of Constantinople, and all of its land in the Middle East which was divided
between the Allied Forces (Lyons, 2010).
Psychological Effects
The Treaty of Svres had a massive psychological effect on the people of Turkey because
they felt demoralized with the loss of the war and the dismantling of the empire. Lyons (2010)
states, Loss of the territory to the Greeks was too much for the Turkish nationalist (p.19). This
feeling eventually led to a military coup in the efforts to retake the land that was lost.
Economic Effects
Turkey did not feel the same economic effects as other nations that were part of The
Central Powers. Unlike Germany, with the Treaty of Versailles, Turkey lost all control of the
economics within their own country (Treaty of Svres, 2016). This control was handed over to
the Allied Forces along with control of the nations bank, the ability to import and export goods,
the complete control over Turkeys budget, and it was forbidden for Turkey to collaborate with
any other Central Powers in any type of economic way.

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Political Effects
Much like the many other areas of this treaty, the political effects also had an impact on
Turkey. The Allied Forces took control of the election process throughout the country and if
anyone was seen engaging in political rebellion they were turned over to The Allied Forces.
Also, like all the other Central Power nations, Turkey had a limitation on their military and how
large they could rebuild it.
Long-term Impact on Culture & Society
The Treaty of Svres was one of the many treaties that was not successful during this
time of peace between the two World Wars. Turkey was upset by the abolished Ottoman Empire
and tried to overtake the land that was lost prior to the treaty. This led to continued unrest in the
region between the Greeks and the Turks. Eventually, another treaty was created in an effort to
stabilize the area. This agreement was called the Treaty of Lausanne, which was signed in 1923.
This agreement actually gave back some of the land the Turks had to give to the Greeks.
According to Lyons (2010), It also prepared the way for a massive deportation of the Greek
population from the Asia Minor to Greece and the Turkish minority from Greece to Turkey
(p.19). The nation of Turkey was essentially never the same after the defeat of World War I. The
Ottoman Empire was destroyed and the social and cultural impact Turkey once had on the region
was eventually lost. The country would no longer be a world power and fell low in the ranks
amongst the other nations of the world.

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