alternatehistory.com
Chapter 3 - The Three Men at Versailles
As the war came to an end, revolutions spread through Germany like a wildfire, seeking for only the total destruction of their oppressors. German democrats rose everywhere throughout the Empire, eventually over throwing Kaiser Wilhelm II himself. Poles took up arms in their ethnic cities declaring themselves independent from the Germans. The fires of revolution had met Europe and only the Treaty of Versailles could cool them down. For now.
Known in history as the Big Three, Italy, France, and Great Britain were the main superpowers that had held the peace conference. All of their leaders, Vittorio Orlando of Italy, Georges Clemenceau from France, and David Lloyd of Britain had their own agendas. France never wanted never wanted another German war again. Britain wanted to end the wars but keep Germany stable. And Italy simply wanted their war goals of the Adriatic. And as a result none of the Central Powers were invited as they were deemed a threat for a decisive treaty. The negotiations had gone off to a good start in early January, 1920. Japan had been invited to the Council of Powers that would discuss terms and agreed, but soon dropped out from the Council after believing there was "no interest for Japan." Besides this small step back the Allies continued to negotiate terms such as the division of Germany and the establishment of a world-wide peace keeping force. The Supreme Council also discussed economic issues. Affairs like reparations, railroads, infrastructure, rebuilding, and even responsibility for the war were all placed in the hands of the Supreme Council. But arguably the most important part of the war, the territorial changes, were yet to be made.
The last were the Ottomans. The Empire was faced with the most territorial loss, losing more than half of the land they entered the war with. Iraq, Jordan and Palestine were annexed by the Brits and Syria and Lebanon by the French. Armenia was made a new state while the Caucuses countries annexed slivers of land south them. When Allies reached Anatolia, the heartland of the Turks, they reached a problem. Though there was an extremely large risk of low stability in the Ottoman Empire, the Colonial Empire were hungry for land. And land was what they got. 91% of the Turkish coast of the Mediterranean were now in the hands of Italy, Britain, France, and Greece. The land bordering the Sea of Marmara was also now placed under an international committee.This International Committee was the biggest wish of Woodrow Wilson, and for the Europeans to avoid social unrest, they created the Committee of International Affairs. With this, in the Summer of 1921, the Central Powers had officially been dealt with, and Europe had been forever changed.
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Note: The Official Treaty of Versailles. Again many differences from OTL, Turkish land which was in spheres of influence now actually annexed, a larger Hungary, an independent Armenia and Rhineland (and don't forget Slovakia), and harsher reparations. If there are any questions or suggestions about the TL or this Treaty, feel free to ask and I will begin to answer. Also this ws supposed to be published yesterday, but because of setbacks I had to today, these will still be published weekly on Friday though despite today. Anyway thank you for reading, and have a good day!
- BenDaCoolGuy
As the war came to an end, revolutions spread through Germany like a wildfire, seeking for only the total destruction of their oppressors. German democrats rose everywhere throughout the Empire, eventually over throwing Kaiser Wilhelm II himself. Poles took up arms in their ethnic cities declaring themselves independent from the Germans. The fires of revolution had met Europe and only the Treaty of Versailles could cool them down. For now.
Known in history as the Big Three, Italy, France, and Great Britain were the main superpowers that had held the peace conference. All of their leaders, Vittorio Orlando of Italy, Georges Clemenceau from France, and David Lloyd of Britain had their own agendas. France never wanted never wanted another German war again. Britain wanted to end the wars but keep Germany stable. And Italy simply wanted their war goals of the Adriatic. And as a result none of the Central Powers were invited as they were deemed a threat for a decisive treaty. The negotiations had gone off to a good start in early January, 1920. Japan had been invited to the Council of Powers that would discuss terms and agreed, but soon dropped out from the Council after believing there was "no interest for Japan." Besides this small step back the Allies continued to negotiate terms such as the division of Germany and the establishment of a world-wide peace keeping force. The Supreme Council also discussed economic issues. Affairs like reparations, railroads, infrastructure, rebuilding, and even responsibility for the war were all placed in the hands of the Supreme Council. But arguably the most important part of the war, the territorial changes, were yet to be made.
Woodrow Wilson from the U.S. looked upon Versailles with caution. He had sent the Secretary of State (Robert Lansing) to monitor the treaty and to attempt to push American rhetoric. But surprisingly to no avail. Wilson could do nothing but watch a new Europe unfold in front of his eyes. A good result or not, Woodrow Wilson had to deal with the fact that he left Europe in the hands of two colonial powers. Talks when on throughout the year, each power being divided in their own treaty. Versailles was signed first as it decided the fate of Germany. It was agreed upon the three powers that Germany would pay 37.4 billion dollars in marks, which would be used to rebuild Europe and her armies. Germany was also humiliated, admitting that they started the war and were at fault for it. The Monarchy was to never be restored and a democratic republic by the name of the Weimar republic was instituted. Germany had lost Danzig and her land in Poland, losing it to a brand new independent Polish state. One of the biggest German industrial centers had been lost too, being annexed by a Rhineland buffer state (which was in the French sphere of influence). Their army was also cut down to 100,000 men and their colonies annexed by the Brits ans the French. Germany was disgraced, the government weak, and the populace mad.
"This is not a peace. This is an armistice for twenty years."
- Ferdinand Foch, 1919
Austria was next. They were partitioned harshly, losing all of the non-Austrian land. Istria, South Tyrol, and Dalmatia to Italy. Bohemia to a new Czech state. Slovakia to a new Slovak state. Galicia split between Poland and Ukraine. 3/4's of Transylvania to Romania and the other quarter to Hungary. And last not but not least, their Bosnian, Croatian, and Montenegrin holdings all annexed by a unified Kingdom with Serbia, called Yugoslavia. The Allies found Austria-Hungary one of their least threats but still partitioned it, splitting it up by large nationality groups. Austria could never unite with Germany (which was the hope of some politicians after the end of the war) and they too had pay reparations and recognize the independence of their daughter nations. Bulgaria followed suit with the loss of Thrace to Greece and Macedonia to Yugoslavia. Hungary was next as the Treaties passed into 1921. They too would experience harsh reparations and a lost of Ethnic lands. Yet due to some Hungarian sympathies in the council, Hungary was able to keep hold of some of Transylvania, southern Slovakia, and Vojvodina.- Ferdinand Foch, 1919
The last were the Ottomans. The Empire was faced with the most territorial loss, losing more than half of the land they entered the war with. Iraq, Jordan and Palestine were annexed by the Brits and Syria and Lebanon by the French. Armenia was made a new state while the Caucuses countries annexed slivers of land south them. When Allies reached Anatolia, the heartland of the Turks, they reached a problem. Though there was an extremely large risk of low stability in the Ottoman Empire, the Colonial Empire were hungry for land. And land was what they got. 91% of the Turkish coast of the Mediterranean were now in the hands of Italy, Britain, France, and Greece. The land bordering the Sea of Marmara was also now placed under an international committee.This International Committee was the biggest wish of Woodrow Wilson, and for the Europeans to avoid social unrest, they created the Committee of International Affairs. With this, in the Summer of 1921, the Central Powers had officially been dealt with, and Europe had been forever changed.
Note: The Official Treaty of Versailles. Again many differences from OTL, Turkish land which was in spheres of influence now actually annexed, a larger Hungary, an independent Armenia and Rhineland (and don't forget Slovakia), and harsher reparations. If there are any questions or suggestions about the TL or this Treaty, feel free to ask and I will begin to answer. Also this ws supposed to be published yesterday, but because of setbacks I had to today, these will still be published weekly on Friday though despite today. Anyway thank you for reading, and have a good day!
- BenDaCoolGuy
- BenDaCoolGuy
- Word Count: 1000