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1. France and the
Search for
Security in
EuropeWith the League in place,
why was Europe not
secure?

2. The US and the League
 US didn’t join League or sign Versailles.
 France had accepted a moderate treaty
under the assumption that US would be
involved I maintaining European security.
 US public is isolationist.
 Wilson can’t sell League or Versailles to
Congress.
 Europe stuck with a treaty and
international organization that no one is
happy with.

4. The German Question
 Question: what role will Germany play in
European (and world) affairs?”
 Despite being militarily defeated, Germany
was still a major industrial power.
 France tried to steal that industrial base,
but Wilson prevented this.
 US absence and Britain’s apparent
indifference left France feeling alone.

6. Keep Germany Weak
 Clemenceau wanted Germany divided
permanently, but got no support,
only promises from Wilson for
backup if Germany attacked again.
 But with an isolationist Congress,
Wilson’s promise meant nothing, so
Britain withdrew its promise too.
 France is ALONE.

7. The Reparations
Question
 France wanted $$ from Germany, not only
to pay for damage, but to keep Germany
weak.
 Set up payments so that the more the German
economy recovered, the higher the payments
were.
 Through payments US maintained
connection to Europe (German reparations
went towards British and French loans to
the Americans).
 Deal was that if Germany failed to make
payments, the Allies would occupy the
Ruhr Valley (industrial heartland).

8.  In 1922, Germany asked for a
moratorium on payments.
 France, Belgium and Italy voted to
occupy (Britain against).
 1923 French and Belgian moved in.
 German government ordered passive
resistance (population refused to
work).
 This lead to hyperinflation ($ worth
nothing), which decimated the middle
class (became Hitler’s support base
later).
 Hyperinflation lead to fall of
current German government.

11.  New government formed by
Gustav Stresemann, who
announced Germany would pay
reparations.
 Streseman introduced a new
currency and introduced a new
era in the Weimar Republic.
 One of cooperation and
international participation rather
than sulking.

13. Re-organizing Reparations:
The Dawes Plan
 Germany requested expert international
advice to manage reparation payments.
 Response was a committed headed by
Charles Dawes, an American banker.
 5 Point Plan:
 Evacuate Ally forces from Ruhr
 Pledge government revenues for reparations
 Payments begin at $250 mil. and build to $600
mil.
 Payments still tied to German prosperity
 Foreign loan of $200 mil. offered to get
Germany started.

14. Re-organizing Reparations:
The Young Plan (1930)
 Another plan, introduced at
beginning of Depression by another
American banker, Charles Young.
 Cut reparations to $29 billion (from
33).
 End Allied occupation of Rhineland
(lost their last means of exerting
force to make Germany pay).

15. End of Reparations
 During Depression, Germany
could not pay at all.
 The Luasanne Conference set
new total to $750 million,
which Germany never did pay.
 Hitler cancelled reparations
officially in 1937 (total paid: $5
billion dollars).

17. French Security:
Maginot Line
 Maginot Line was a line of concrete
forts and tunnels along France’s
boarder with Germany.
 Believed it could withstand anything.
 Didn’t think of two things:
 Boarder with Belgium (Schlieffen Plan)
 Airplanes and tanks.

20. French Security:
Treaties of Mutual
Assistance
 Treaty with Beligium in 1920
 Treaty with Poland in 1921
 Joined The Little Entente
(Czechoslovakia, Romania, and
Yugoslavia) in 1924, 1926, and
1927.

21. French Security:
Appeasement
 France reluctantly agreed to
appeasement as a last-ditch
effort to maintain security.