The Geographical Impact of the Post-War Treaties

What impact did the post-war treaties have on the map of Europe?

The post-war treaties redrew the boundaries of countries, in an attempt to honour Wilson's idea of self-determination. This led to massive changes to the map of Europe.

Which European countries shrank because of the post-war treaties?

Many countries became smaller as a result of the redrawn boundaries. Examples include:

• ❖ Russia lost much of the land it had surrendered to Germany.
• ❖ Germany lost 13% of its land.
• ❖ Other countries such as Turkey and Bulgaria also shrank.

Which countries were created with the post-war Treaties of Europe?

Eight new countries were formed so national groups could have their own states.

• ❖ The Baltic state of Estonia was created from territories of the former Russian empire occupied by Germany during the First World War.
• ❖ The Baltic state of Latvia was created from territories of the former Russian empire occupied by Germany during the First World War.
• ❖ The Baltic state of Lithuania was created from territories of the former Russian empire occupied by Germany during the First World War.
• ❖ Poland was one of the largest new countries, made up of land that previously belonged to Germany and Russia.
• ❖ Yugoslavia contained a mix of smaller national groups from the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
• ❖ Czechoslovakia contained a mix of smaller national groups from the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
• ❖ Austria was created from the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
• ❖ Hungary was created from the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

What was the effect of the post-war treaties on European empires?

Several empires were broken up at the end of the First World War. Examples include:

• ❖ Austria-Hungary was broken down into Austria and Hungary with land given to other countries.
• ❖ The Ottoman Empire's lands were greatly reduced.

What happened to Poland after the post-war treaties?

The new state of Poland needed a coastline and access to a port, so land was given to Poland from an area of West Prussia where the population was predominantly German.

What consequences did the post-war treaties have for eastern European stability?

The new states created at the end of the First World War had both positive and negative consequences for eastern European stability:

• ❖ Positively, the new state of Czechoslovakia became both politically stable and well respected in European politics.
• ❖ Positively, old empires under autocrats had been swept away and the treaties recognised new republics and democracies. The Balkans became more stable in the long term and the Treaty of Lausanne with Turkey became one of the most successful and long lasting post war agreements.
• ❖ Negatively, Poland had no natural barriers on its borders making it difficult to defend. The allies contributed a strip of German land called the Polish Corridor, but many Germans found themselves living in Poland as a result.
• ❖ Negatively, the Austrian economy was close to collapse in 1920 because of the massive impact of war debts, loss of markets and raw materials from its former empire and massive unemployment. The League of Nations had to step in with financial relief in 1922 to prevent a complete economic collapse.
• ❖ Negatively, the Hungarian economy was devastated due to losing 80% of its markets and raw materials. In 1924 the League of Nations introduced a Financial Reconstruction Plan of loans to help Hungary that finally stabilised the economy in 1925.
• ❖ Negatively, Eastern Europe between Germany and Russia was fragmented into Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Austria and Hungary. A number of small scale wars and disputes broke out between these states during the 1920s, mainly over the possession of territory claimed by two or more of them.
• ❖ Negatively, the USSR also argued over Poland's eastern borders. This meant Poland had enemies on both sides that wanted to take back their land.
• ❖ Negatively, the Balkans experienced conflict when the nationalist revolt of Mustapha Kemal fought the Greeks for control of Turkish territories given to them under the Treaty of Versailles. It led to ethnic cleansing and the slaughter of Greek and Armenian civilians in 1921-1922.