Key Issues 3/19/08

How different were the war aims of Germany and the Entente Powers?

Germany's aims were extensive and ambitious. Germany demanded France to be turned into a weak, dependent state. Germany also demanded other things all in an attempt to push back the new Russia. The Entente Powers demanded a weaker Germany. France specifically asked for Alsace and Lorraine back, as well as a formation of the Rhineland Republic, to act as a sort of buffer state. Britain demanded most of Germany's colonies and the return of all land Germany overtook. The US, President Woodrow Wilson specifically, demanded a formation of a League of Nations, in order to prevent future wars. Germany's demands were ignored, France and Britain wanted to inflict damage to Germany, while The US took more of a preventative approach.

How similar to each other were the peace aims of the 'Big Three'?

Both France and Britain wanted things from Germany because they were directly involved in the war. The US, separated by the Atlantic Ocean, was never directly attacked by Germany, so The US's demands were more trying to prevent future wars.

Why was the 'War Guilt' clause controversial?

The 'War Guilt' clause was controversial because it placed sole cause of the war on Germany's shoulders. The entire cause of the war was blamed on Germany even though is obviously takes more than one army to have a war.

How stable were the successor states in the inter-war period?

Yugoslavia- Yugoslavia was periled with conflict in its early years, amid an increasingly more prevalent fascist movement. It was eventually taken by Germany.

Czechoslovakia- Czechoslovakia was the only state that remained democratic until the 1930's. Yet due to friction with Poland and the USSR in addition to being taken by Hitler in 1938 were the downfall of Czechoslovakia.

Poland- Poland was the largest of the states, but was surrounded by Lithuania, Germany, and The USSR, all of which had territorial issues. The government became increasingly anti-Semitic and after the Munich agreement, Poland was doomed.

Austria- Political conflict was rampant and protests would spill into the streets of Vienna but it was inevitably absorbed into Hitler's Reich.

Hungary- The socialist/communist government was overthrown almost immediately, and was replaced with a right-wing regime. It entered the war as Hitler's anti-Communist ally.