The End of World War I: Decided by YOU

EmperorTigerstar
7 Jul 202312:34
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video script explores an alternate history of World War One's post-war treaties, specifically the Treaty of Versailles and its impact on shaping Europe and the Middle East. The channel, focused on geography, conducted a survey allowing viewers to vote on hypothetical treaty terms, leading to a redrawn map. Changes include Germany keeping some territories, Austria potentially joining Weimar Germany, and a different Middle East with independent Kurdistan and a stronger Hejaz. The script ponders the unpredictable outcomes of these changes, emphasizing the complexity and contentious nature of post-WWI peace negotiations.

Takeaways
  • 🏛 The post-WWI treaties were infamously harsh, particularly the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed heavy penalties on Germany and contributed to the rise of the Nazi party.
  • 🌍 The Treaty of Versailles was voted on by the audience of a geography-themed channel, with changes including the retention of certain territories by Germany and the division of colonies differently.
  • 🔄 The audience's hypothetical Treaty of Versailles resulted in Germany keeping some territories like Alsace-Lorraine and OIP and Mamadi, but losing parts of southern East Prussia to Poland.
  • 🇺🇸 An interesting change was the audience's decision to give German Samoa to the United States instead of New Zealand, potentially altering the future of Samoa.
  • 👑 The Austro-Hungarian Empire was forcibly split, with Austria losing territories to Italy and Yugoslavia, but the audience voted to keep Central Tyrol and Southern Carinthia within Austria.
  • 🗳️ A plebiscite was chosen by the audience for the possibility of Austria joining Germany, which would have significantly altered the political landscape.
  • 🇭🇺 Hungary's treaty was less punitive territorially, but still resulted in significant losses, reflecting the audience's preference for less harsh outcomes.
  • 🇧🇬 Bulgaria's losses were minimally changed by the audience, with only slight adjustments to its territorial outcomes post-WWI.
  • 🕌 The Middle East saw a different scenario with the audience voting for self-determination and independence for regions like Hijaz and Kurdistan, contrary to the imperialist outcomes of the actual treaties.
  • 🤔 The unpredictable future of the Middle East post-1920 is highlighted, with potential changes to the map due to the actions of leaders like Atatürk and geopolitical shifts.
  • 🔮 The script concludes with the idea that there was no perfect ending to WWI, emphasizing the complexity and uncertainty of the historical outcomes.
Q & A

  • What were the main factors contributing to the harshness of the Treaty of Versailles?

    -The Treaty of Versailles was harsh due to military restrictions, giant reparation costs imposed on Germany, and the significant land taken from Germany. The economic turmoil caused by the treaty was used by the rising Nazi party to gain popularity, which eventually led to World War II.

  • Why was there no perfect outcome for the post-WWI treaties?

    -There was no perfect outcome because the treaties had to balance the competing interests of victorious nations wanting to carve up lands and colonies, the rise of ethnic-based nationalism, and the demands for self-determination to create new independent nations. No combination of results could have satisfied everyone.

  • What was the significance of Alsace-Lorraine in the Treaty of Versailles?

    -Alsace-Lorraine was significant because it was an economically important area for Germany. Its loss, especially during the Great Depression, was a blow to Germany and was used by the Nazis as an excuse for their policies. In the survey, it was voted that France would take back Alsace-Lorraine but not set up a Sarland protectorate.

  • What changes were made regarding Germany's overseas colonies in the hypothetical Treaty of Versailles?

    -In the hypothetical Treaty of Versailles, Germany's overseas colonies were voted to be divided in the same way as in our timeline, except for German Samoa, which was given to New Zealand in our timeline but was voted to be given to the United States in the survey.

  • How did the survey participants approach the fate of Austria and Hungary after WWI?

    -The survey participants voted for outcomes that were less punitive for Austria and Hungary. For Austria, they voted to keep Central Tyrol and Southern Carinthia, and for Hungary, they chose an outcome that resulted in less territorial loss compared to our timeline.

  • What was the outcome of the plebiscite for the Sudetenland in the hypothetical scenario?

    -In the hypothetical scenario, the survey participants voted for a plebiscite on the option of the Sudetenland joining Austria. This resulted in the Sudetenland staying separate from Czechoslovakia, with districts along the border with a majority German population potentially being given to Austria.

  • How did the survey participants approach the issue of self-determination in the Middle East?

    -The survey participants voted for a significant shift towards self-determination in the Middle East. They granted full independence to Kurdistan, approved a Wilsonian Armenia, and gave the Fertile Crescent to Hijaz, reflecting a preference for self-determination over imperialist desires.

  • What was the potential impact of the hypothetical treaties on the rise of the Nazi party?

    -The hypothetical treaties, by being less harsh and providing less nationalistic ammunition, could have potentially lessened the rise of the Nazi party. However, the economic and military aspects of the Treaty of Versailles were still harsh, and it's uncertain how this would have affected the political landscape.

  • What was the significance of the plebiscite in determining the borders in the hypothetical post-WWI treaties?

    -The plebiscite was significant as it allowed for the self-determination of populations in certain regions. For example, the survey participants voted for plebiscites that led to Austria potentially joining Weimar Germany and parts of southern East Prussia being given to Poland based on ethnic lines.

  • What was the hypothetical outcome for the Ottoman Empire's territories in the Middle East?

    -In the hypothetical scenario, the Ottoman Empire was significantly restricted, losing control over most of its territories. Hijaz was granted the rest of the Fertile Crescent, Kurdistan gained full independence, and Greece was given Thrace in Constantinople. The Ottomans were left with Western Anatolia.

Outlines
00:00
🌍 Post-WWI Treaty Revisions and Their Impact

The script discusses the aftermath of World War One, focusing on the peace treaties imposed on the Central Powers, which were notably harsh. The Treaty of Versailles is highlighted for its severe military restrictions, reparations, and territorial losses for Germany. This harshness contributed to the rise of the Nazi Party and eventually World War II. The video proposes a hypothetical scenario where viewers vote on the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and other WWI treaties, considering the attitudes of major Allied Powers. The survey results lead to several changes in the historical outcomes, such as Alsace-Lorraine remaining German and adjustments in territories like OIP and Mamadi, Danzig, and parts of East Prussia. The overseas colonies are also voted upon, with German Samoa being given to the United States instead of New Zealand, hinting at alternate historical trajectories.

05:01
🏛 Reimagining the Austro-Hungarian Empire's Post-War Borders

This paragraph delves into the unique fate of Austria-Hungary, which was forcibly split into separate entities after WWI. Viewers' votes influenced the borders, particularly with Italy and Yugoslavia. Austria retained Central Tyrol and Southern Carinthia, while the German-majority areas along the borders of Bohemia and Moravia were contentiously kept within Austria. A plebiscite was voted for, leading to Austria joining Weimar Germany. Hungary, after experiencing internal chaos, was given a less punitive territorial outcome than in our timeline, though still significant losses. The script suggests that these changes could have reduced nationalistic ammunition for the Nazis but also speculates on the unpredictable nature of history and the potential for war.

10:01
🕌 Middle East's Post-WWI Reconfiguration and Unpredictability

The script explores the complex situation in the Middle East following WWI, where self-determination, ethnic claims, and imperialist desires of Britain, France, and Italy clashed. Viewers voted for a significantly different outcome than history, granting independence to regions like Hijaz and Kurdistan, and limiting the Ottoman Empire to Western Anatolia. The map of 1920 is presented, but the script acknowledges the uncertainty of what would follow, given the chaotic years that led to the Treaty of Sevres being revised and the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. The potential for further conflict and territorial changes, especially regarding Eastern Thrace and Kurdistan, is highlighted, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of historical outcomes.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡World War One
World War One, also known as the Great War, was a global war that lasted from 1914 to 1918. It involved many of the world's major powers, organized into two opposing alliances: the Allies and the Central Powers. The war resulted in the mobilization of over 70 million military personnel, making it one of the largest wars in terms of the number of combatants. In the script, World War One is discussed as the backdrop for the peace treaties that followed, shaping the geopolitical landscape of Europe and the Middle East.
💡Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties signed after World War One, which officially ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It imposed heavy penalties on Germany, including significant territorial losses, military restrictions, and economic reparations. The harshness of the treaty is highlighted in the script as a key factor that contributed to the rise of the Nazi Party and the eventual outbreak of World War Two.
💡Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle that nations or groups have the right to freely choose their political status and pursue their economic, social, and cultural development. In the context of the video, self-determination is presented as a competing interest during the post-war peace negotiations, where the desire for new, ethnically based nations clashed with imperialistic ambitions of the victorious nations.
💡Imperialism
Imperialism refers to the policy or practice of extending a nation's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means. In the script, the imperialism of victorious nations is depicted as a driving force behind the carving up of coveted lands and colonies, which contributed to the complexity and contentiousness of the peace treaties.
💡Ethnic-based nationalism
Ethnic-based nationalism is a form of nationalism where the nation is defined by shared ethnicity, often leading to the desire for a separate state for a particular ethnic group. The script discusses how this form of nationalism rose alongside the peace process, influencing the formation of new independent nations and the redrawing of borders.
💡Reparation
Reparation refers to compensation paid for war damage, typically imposed on the defeated party in a conflict. In the script, the reparation costs imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles are mentioned as one of the burdens that contributed to economic turmoil and political unrest in the country.
💡Nazi Party
The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party, was a far-right political party in Germany that led by Adolf Hitler. The script notes how the harsh conditions of the Treaty of Versailles were used by the rising Nazi Party to gain popularity, which eventually led to their rise to power and the onset of World War Two.
💡Plebiscite
A plebiscite is a direct vote in which the entire electorate of a region is invited to vote on a particular issue. In the script, plebiscites are mentioned as a method used in the hypothetical redrawing of borders, allowing the people to decide on their political affiliations and territorial归属.
💡Partition
Partition refers to the act of dividing a territory or an estate into parts, often among different parties. The script discusses how partitions were used in the hypothetical post-World War One treaties to divide territories based on ethnic lines or other criteria, significantly altering the map of Europe and the Middle East.
💡Irreconcilable demands
Irreconcilable demands refer to conflicting interests or requirements that cannot be satisfied simultaneously. The script suggests that even with different treaty outcomes, the competing interests of the involved parties during the peace process might have still led to some form of conflict, such as World War Two.
💡Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was a Turkish military officer, revolutionary, and the founder of the Republic of Turkey. In the script, his potential actions in an alternate historical scenario are considered, particularly regarding the fight for Eastern Thrace and Kurdistan, which could have significantly impacted the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.
Highlights

After World War One, the Central Powers faced brutal peace treaties.

France sought harsh revenge, while the US supported self-determination.

The Treaty of Versailles imposed severe restrictions and reparations on Germany.

Versailles' harshness contributed to the rise of the Nazi party.

A hypothetical survey allowed viewers to vote on post-WWI treaty terms.

The survey considered major Allied Powers' attitudes towards peace.

Viewers' votes altered the territorial outcomes in the Treaty of Versailles.

Germany kept some territories, reducing Nazi propaganda material.

Austria-Hungary was split, with each having its own treaty.

Austria lost territories but viewers voted for less territorial loss.

Hungary's treaty was influenced by internal chaos and war.

Bulgaria's territorial losses were minimally changed by the viewers' votes.

The Middle East scenario involved competing interests of self-determination and imperialism.

Viewers' votes led to a significantly different outcome for the Middle East.

The hypothetical treaty outcomes suggest the complexity of post-WWI negotiations.

The experiment highlights the unpredictable nature of historical outcomes.

Transcripts

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World War OneTreaty of VersaillesPeace TreatiesHistorical HypothesisGeographyEuropean BordersMiddle EastNationalismImperialismRedraw Map