Peace Treaty with Germany
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An Interesting page (978) in the diary of the 2nd Battalion Machine Gun Corps in event of Germany not signing The Peace Treaty.
Peace Terms - "A great amount of paper has already been issued re proposed move forward in event of Germans not signing the Peace Terms. This Battalion will move by road to Worringen 1st night and take up billets in Riehl Barracks Cologne, garrisoning that town and guarding main bridges". 24th May 1919, message ( verbal) from Division, to effect that no move was likely before 27th May 1919. Link: http://talk.operationwardiary.org/#/subjects/AWD0003a8y
On page (979) Message from Division no move would take place before 27 May 1919. Move again cancelled until 30th May 1919. http://talk.operationwardiary.org/#/subjects/AWD00039vy P.S. They moved to Cologne on 19th June 1919.
On 29th June 1919 left Cologne and were back in Evinghoven on the 30 June 1919.The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors, following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris during 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities.
Interesting Article regarding WORLD WAR I: TREATIES AND REPARATIONS
Including a section on War Guilt Clause i.e. “Perhaps the most humiliating portion of the treaty for the defeated Germany was Article 231, commonly known as the "War Guilt Clause," which forced Germany to accept complete responsibility for initiating World War I. As such Germany was liable for all material damages, and France's premier Georges Clemenceau particularly insisted on imposing enormous reparation payments. Aware that Germany would probably not be able to pay such a towering debt, Clemenceau and the French nevertheless greatly feared rapid German recovery and a new war against France. Hence, the French sought in the post-war treaty system to limit Germany's efforts to regain its economic superiority and to rearm”.
World War 1 – Treaties and Reparations: Link: http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007428
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ral104
moderator, scientist
Thanks, Marie. It's fascinating to see how events unfolded at the time, isn't it? Of course, we all know what eventually happened, but to see the lack of certainty around key historical events from the people living through them makes them feel much more real to me.
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David_Underdown
moderator
The most dramatic event arising out of the uncertainty as to whether the treaty would actually be accepted or not was the remaining German High Seas Fleet, by then interned in the Royal Navy anchorage at Scapa Flow, scuttling en masse on 21 June 1919 (pretty much as the treaty had originally been expected to be signed) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scuttling_of_the_German_fleet_in_Scapa_Flow
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