Chapter 2: League of Nations in the 1920s

The principle that people sharing a common nationality should have the right to form their own nations and govern themselves.

A newly formed state whose territory and population were previously under the sovereignty of another state.

The idea that people sharing a common language should form their own nation.

The treaty that imposed harsh terms on Germany after World War I, leading to significant land losses and limitations on its military capabilities.

The German-speaking region of the Czech Republic that was annexed by Germany in 1938, referred to as the 'Sudetenland.'

The term used to describe the areas of land that formerly belonged to the defeated German Empire and had been transferred to neighboring countries after World War I. These areas included territories in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Hungary.

The region located in the southwest of Germany that was returned to France after World War I, along with Alsace.

The region located in the northeast of France that was returned to France after World War I, along with Lorraine.

Germany's complaints about the Treaty of Versailles, although they had some merit, were partially justified due to the harshness of the terms.

The Treaty of Versailles aimed to weaken Germany, preventing it from posing a future threat to France and other European powers.

Despite the Treaty's severity, Clemenceau, the French Prime Minister, hoped for even stricter terms to ensure lasting peace and French security.

A vote by the people of a region to decide their future, often on joining another country.

France's internal instability in the aftermath of World War I, coupled with a substantial military presence, highlighted the challenges of maintaining order and security.

The Treaty of Versailles' provisions left Germany with sufficient power to rebuild and potentially threaten European security, concerning France.

A signed agreement between countries, often ending a war, dictating terms such as territory, money, or military forces.

Germany's territorial losses under the Treaty were limited to those gained through previous wars, leaving its core territories intact.

The loss of territory, population, and resources after a war or other conflict. It can significantly weaken a country's power and influence.

Despite disarmament, Germany retained economic strength, posing a potential threat to European stability, even with territorial losses.

The Treaty of Versailles' imposition of harsh peace terms on Russia after World War I, despite Wilson's Fourteen Points, made Germany's expectation of lenient treatment hypocritical.

The Saar Valley, a heavily industrialized region in Germany, was placed under the League of Nations' control for fifteen years after WWI. France could use its coal mines during this period, and a plebiscite was scheduled to determine its future.

Germany lost its African colonies after World War I, which were transitioned to mandates under the supervision of the League of Nations.

The Rhineland was a German border region along the French border. Following WWI, it was demilitarized and subjected to Allied occupation, signifying a major territorial and military consequence for Germany.

East Prussia, a German province bordering Lithuania and Poland, was separated from mainland Germany after WWI by the "Polish Corridor". This corridor, granting Poland access to the Baltic Sea, significantly altered Germany's geographical makeup.

Known as the 'Fourteen Points', Wilson's vision for world peace was based on principles like self-determination for nations and the establishment of an international organization to address global issues.

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty signed in March 1918 between the Bolshevik government of Russia and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria). Russia ceded vast territories to Germany and its allies, ending its involvement in World War I on the side of the Allies.

The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, were a revolutionary socialist party in Russia that gained control of the government through a coup in 1917. They promoted the overthrow of capitalist systems in favor of a socialist state.

The First World War (1914-1918) was a global conflict that involved the major powers of Europe and beyond. It resulted in millions of casualties and vast destruction across the continent.

Lenin's Bolshevik government believed that ending Russia's costly involvement in World War I was crucial for securing the stability of their new regime. The war had a devastating impact on the Russian economy and its people.

The Central Powers were a military alliance during World War I consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria. They opposed the Allied Powers, which included France, Britain, Russia, and later the United States.

With Russia out of the war, Germany was able to focus its resources on the Western Front, leading to a major offensive that brought the Central Powers closer to victory.

The Western Front was the main theater of war in World War I, stretching across Belgium and France. It featured trench warfare, which resulted in heavy casualties and a stalemate.

After World War 1, Yugoslavia relied heavily on Western loans due to its underdeveloped economy and lack of industrialization.

The Treaty of Versailles and other agreements aimed to establish independent nations after World War 1, but in reality, they created new problems for newly formed countries.

The payment that Germany was forced to make to the victorious Allied powers after World War 1 to cover the cost of war damage.

Poland regained its independence after World War 1, but its borders were not clearly defined, leading to ethnic tensions and a population with diverse nationalities.

President Wilson's belief that language was the key to defining nationality was too simplistic for the diverse and complex situation in Eastern Europe.

France's main industrial region, located in the north of the country, was heavily damaged during the war.

After centuries of being controlled by foreign powers, Poland finally regained independence, but with a population comprised of multiple ethnicities.

The conference held in Paris in 1919 where the terms of the Treaty of Versailles were decided, including the issue of reparations.

The 'Big Three' were the three most powerful Allies at the end of World War I: the United States (President Woodrow Wilson), Britain (Prime Minister David Lloyd George), and France (Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau).

Despite the agreements established after World War 1, Yugoslavia remained fragile and vulnerable due to its weak economic structure.

The idea that self-determination (the right to choose one's own government) could be achieved simply through language proved too simplistic in Eastern Europe's diverse ethnic landscape.

A sense of intense bitterness and desire for revenge. It was something Wilson argued would be a consequence of imposing strict reparations on Germany.

The Paris Peace Conference officially recognized Poland's independence in June 1919, confirming its re-emergence as a sovereign nation after decades of being divided.

The ability of a nation to make payments over time. Germany's inability to keep up with reparation payments was a major source of tension and economic problems.

The principle that Germany should pay for the damage it caused during the war. While agreed upon by Lloyd George, he wanted to keep it as low as possible to help the German economy recover.

The economic consequences of reparations were very damaging for Germany, creating a burden that slowed its recovery and contributed to economic instability. It also played a vital role in feeding German resentment and dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Versailles.