The Paris Peace Conference and Versailles Treaty

1557 Words4 Pages

Success or Failure

At the end of World War I (WWI), as with most wars, it was necessary to hold a peace conference and due to the number of countries involved in the war, this task was extremely imposing. The desired conclusion of this conference was world peace, but with approximately 75% of the world nations represented and each country having it’s own agenda, the search for peace was elusive because of a desire for vengeance. This vengeance may have set the stage for World War II.

On January 12th, 1919, the Paris Peace Conference (PPC) opened at several different venues, in and around Paris, France, but was moved to the Versailles Palace because of the number of attendees. As many as 32 World Leaders were represented at the PPC, but the negotiations were basically between the Triple Entente, (Britain, France and Italy), Japan and the United States.

Each country and leader came with individual expectations, and with so many voices desiring to be heard, protocol had to be found. This was accomplished by allowing the main negotiators to be Georges Clemenceau (France), David Lloyd George (Britain), Vittorio Orlando (Italy), and Woodrow Wilson (United States). The actually number of treaties agreed upon at the PPC were five, the Treaties of Versailles with Germany, St. Germain with Austria, Trainon with Hungary, Neuilly with Bulgaria and Serves with Turkey . Though the most renown treaty is the Versailles Treaty, because it dealt with Germany, who was generally seen as the driving force behind WWI.

To understand the prospectives, emotions and desire for revenge against the Triple Alliance, and Germany in general, you have to know that a vast majority of Europe had been destroyed, decimated and that the number of ca...

... middle of paper ...

... creating an open door for Hitler and his Nationalism ideals to culminate in the next world catastrophe, WWII. The desire for vengeance and continued control over Germany, hindered the PPC from foreseeing the flaws in the Treaty and setting the stage for WWII.

Works Cited

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWversailles.htm

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/

Course website. (April 19, 2011).

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/treaty_of_versailles.htm

Trueman, Chris., BA (Hons), MA.

Professional website. (April 19, 2011).

Annals of America. Vol 14, 1916 - 1928. World War and Prosperity;

Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. 1976 by Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 76-547. (April 12, 2011).

http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/versailles.htm

http://www.firstworldwar.com/index.htm

Duffy, Michael. (April 19, 2011).

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