To what extent had the hopes of the peacemakers of 1918-19 been fulfilled in Europe by 1929?

Essay by matsza97High School, 12th grade December 2005

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The First World War broke put in 1914 and finished in 1918, but was officially ended by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. After signing this Treaty a new order was established in Europe. The old Empires like German Empire and Austria-Hungary collapsed and many new countries were created - e.g. Poland, Czechoslovakia. The international relations in this period became more complex than ever before because many problems remained unresolved by the treaty. The purpose of this essay is to consider whether the hopes of the after-war peace settlements were fulfilled by 1929.

The main aim of the victorious powers after the First World War was to punish Germany and to do everything in order to preserve peace and such a war wouldn't happen again. The Versailles Treaty included in the 440 articles the demands that Germany officially accept responsibility for starting the war, and pay heavy economic reparations. Germany also lost many of their land possessions which were ceded mainly the newly created countries such as Poland.

This caused many disputes on the boarders between those countries and was a threat to the preservation of peace.

The treaty also provided for the creation of the League of Nations, a major goal of US president Woodrow Wilson. The League of Nations was intended to arbitrate international disputes and thereby avoid future wars. The League of Nations has achieved significant successes in a number of areas. First success was the solution of the dispute over the border between Albania and Yugoslavia remained in dispute after the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, and Yugoslavian forces occupied some Albanian territory. After clashes with Albanian tribesmen, the Yugoslav forces invaded further. The League sent a commission of representatives from various powers to the region. The commission found in favour of Albania, and the...