Page 125 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol V

1902 berkshire encyclopedia of world history

Ten thousand fools proclaim themselves into obscurity, while one wise man forgets
himself into immortality. • Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968)

Corridor, was made a “free city” under the administration from the controversy surrounding reparations. During
of the League of Nations. Memel in East Prussia was also the war President Wilson, although rejecting the
ceded and eventually incorporated into Lithuania. In the prospect of any punitive indemnity, had conceded the
West small border territories around Eupen and justice of reparations. Other victorious powers, and
Malmédy were ceded to Belgium. Postwar plebiscites Britain in particular, hoped to achieve an indemnity
(votes) were also imposed in order to settle new territo- within an expanded claim for reparations. At Paris,
rial boundaries in a number of disputed zones: in much to the chagrin of his own advisers, Wilson sur-
Schleswig (resulting in the transfer of one zone in north rendered to pressure from Britain and France in favor
Schleswig to neutral Denmark in 1922), in East Prussia of significant economic penalties against Germany. In
(resulting in Germany’s retention of territory around an effort to appease popular expectations in Britain
Allenstein and Marienwerder in 1920), and in Upper and France for a vast indemnity, negotiators drafted
Silesia (resulting in the division of the province between the notorious Article 231. This article asserted Ger-
Germany and Poland in 1922). In addition to these ter- many’s responsibility for “causing all the damage”
ritorial changes, the Rhineland, including three key that the victorious powers had suffered “as a conse-
bridgeheads beyond the Rhine River, was subjected to quence of the war imposed upon them by the aggres-
military occupation for fifteen years by Allied and Asso- sion of Germany and her Allies” (Sharp 1991, 87).
ciated troops.The Saar River basin was transferred to the Article 231 was soon interpreted inside Germany as
administration of the League of Nations for fifteen years an assertion of Germany’s sole responsibility or “guilt”
(to be followed by a plebiscite), during which time the for causing the war. It was alleged by German critics
coal mines of the area were to be placed under French that this assertion of exclusive German war guilt
ownership. The greatest transfers of territory, however, underpinned all the economic clauses of the treaty. A
took place in colonial possessions. Germany was huge indemnity was clearly in excess of the “com-
deprived of its entire colonial empire. Under a complex pensation...for all damage done to the civilian popu-
system of League of Nations mandates, the former Ger- lation” (Schwabe 1985, 85), which Germany had
man colonies, containing almost 13 million people, accepted in diplomatic exchanges preceding the
passed to the administration of the victorious powers. armistice (the Lansing Note of 5 November 1918). In
The military terms of the treaty achieved Germany’s the treaty Germany was obliged to accept an unspec-
effective disarmament.The army was reduced, by stages, ified total of reparations. This total was likely to be
to a maximum of 100,000 men, on the basis of volun- massive because it had to cover a much-expanded list
tary enlistment. The Rhineland was demilitarized with of legitimate damages drawn up by the Allies, includ-
respect to German arms and fortifications. The navy ing pensions to Allied servicemen. The treaty named
was reduced to a tiny fraction of its former size, and no final total to be paid by Germany, but rather the
Germany was not permitted to possess any battleships Reparations Commission was established and charged
of the dreadnought class, nor any submarines. Germany with reporting a final total by May 1921.
was not permitted to retain any air force. The German The treaty’s consequences were of tremendous signif-
government offered little resistance to these provisions icance. In Germany the liberals and democratic socialists
but insisted that disarmament should be applied to all were smeared as “November Criminals” who had
nations. betrayed Germany by launching a revolution to achieve
democracy and peace on 9 November 1918. The revo-
Reparations lution, it was alleged, had disabled Germany and
Germany especially resented the economic and finan- ensured her defeat. In the eyes of rigid nationalists,
cial provisions of the treaty. This resentment arose democracy in Germany symbolized national humilia-