British History

The different difficulties faced by Britain before and after the war Before the war -The country was badly affected by the spread of trade unions and the rise of their membership mainly among the industrial workers. This was clearly manifest through the prevalent strikes during the period comprised between 1911 and 1914 -The British feminist movement constituted itself a source of trouble and unrest when it started to appeal for force argument to meet their demands and win the right to vote (demonstrations, attacks on properties and refusal to pay taxes) - Irish people started to resent so intensely against the British government to an extent that they called for Home Rule and hence, a civil war lurked and looked imminent

As soon as the WW1 broke out, all these dissatisfied sections of the British society gave up their protest, forgot about their differences and rallied altogether behind their government so as to provide it with support in its internationally scaled confrontation. The waves of patriotism were really pervasive and grandiose that everybody directed his efforts to the battle and to serving his country. (3 million volunteers drafted in the army belonging to different ages)

During the war -Actually, the huge numbers of volunteers drafted in the British army didn’t reflect any strength. At the contrary; it rested behind many great losses within the British infantry that couldn’t handle the situation and make profit from its human resources which were unprepared to fight in a war with such a big dimension

Some instances of the biggest casualties inflicted on the British army; more than 50000 British soldiers were killed in France, at Gallipoli, more than 200 000 soldiers were lost.

These military losses had their projection on politics. Herbert Asquith, the British Prime Minister at that time was accused of not providing enough munitions and support for the army. In 1915, he had to form a coalition government that he headed himself. Yet, the casualties continued to blast the British army which pushed Asquith to call for new elections won by his dynamic liberal rival, Lloyd George who held the PM office in 1916 and rushed to form a new coalition government. The following years were no less aggressive and bloody, they brought reciprocal destructive attacks and millions of victims. This alluded to the fact that unless the war stops very soon, the world will be at the steak. Germany proved to be strong enough to undergo such a brutal breath taking war till its end with the same avidity and edge. The entry of the USA to the war was to be considered a turning point in the war. Being totally exhausted and devastated by the war, Europe needed an external support in terms of war materials which was granted by the United States that played the role of the winning card to the allies. In November 1918, the war came into an end after the armistice called for by Germany. Although it came into its end, the war inflicted huge and irreparable losses on both sides of the belligerent countries. The human tragedy consisted in 8, 5 million killed, more than 20 million injuries. Several other millions were to die as a consequence to the famine and epidemics caused by the war. More importantly, the world war provided for a great deal of hatred and bitterness that would be more accentuated and articulate during the few coming years.

The postwar era: expectations and disappointments During the war, the allies got recourse to different ways in order to weaken their enemies and win the battle. One of the obstinate rivals they fought against was the Ottoman Empire that despite its hard times and internal handicaps could inflict humiliating losses on the allies. At Gallipoli, Turks knew how to compel British soldiers to surrender after sustaining severe casualties in the battlefield (200 000) in 1915. British decision makers realized that the best way to grant an imminent victory is to weaken the Ottoman Empire from its inside. In effect, they worked on nurturing Arab’s nationalism and encouraging them to revolt against the Turkish Sultan who proved to be corrupt and vicious. They promised some of the enthusiastic intellectuals as well as Shariff Husain, the then Emir of Mecca to help them establish their united Arab state including Greater Syria, Mesopotamia, Jordan and Arabia. This hope of independence would become stronger after the US president Woodrow Wilson’s had called for the principle of self determination during his meetings in Congress. Effectively, Shariff Husain, impressed by Wilson’s calls and British promises, waged his revolt against Turks. After he won autonomy, he proclaimed himself King of the Arab countries and asked Britain to approve his proclamation. Yet, in 1916, Britain forgot about her promises and met secretly with France to divide the territory of the ailing sick man. They agreed on assigning Syria and Lebanon to France while Iraq and Jordan would go for Britain. Palestine nevertheless was considered an international land left under an international administration. They accepted Shariff Husain as King of Arabia only which was one of the greatest disappointments of the war and a clear

instance about the double edged policy Britain was practicing in compliance with France. Britain kept along with her suspected secret policy when she promised Palestine as a National Home to the Jews. The Jewish constituted an influential minority in the United States on both, political and financial stages. Britain realized that they are the nearest to convince the American administration not only to get involved in the war but also to support its ambitions in the middle east and else where in the world as well as the contribution to the reconstruction of Europe that was deplorably suffering from the drawbacks of the war . This promise took the form of a letter sent by Lord Balfour to Lord Rothschild, one of the most prominent leaders in the Zionist movement in USA. When the war came to an end, victorious nations met in Paris in 1919 to issue a peace treaty that aims at bringing order back to the earth and establishing a lasting peace. Wilson was one of the ardent participants to meet with these demands. He had prepared a Treaty involving 14 points among which, the principle of self determination and the respect of people’s will were on the top of priorities. Wilson’s proposal included some embarrassing clauses that lay in contrast with the policies of the victorious nations like outlawing the secret meetings and there were many held between them. That is why it was reckoned a utopia that can’t be applied in real grounds. British and French delegates were widely influenced by their peoples’ hatred and resentment against the defeated nations that they acted very harshly against Germany and others.

Germany: the biggest loser of the war The treaty of Versailles came after the war had shored off and the armistice took place between the belligerent nations. It was meant to be a lasting peace treaty as President Wilson put it. Germany was one of the thorniest issues that the treaty had to deal with and settle. The British and French people were filled

with a fierce anger and hatred against Germans for they were behind all that destruction and mess the war had left. Consequently they pressed on their governments to issue harsh penalties against Germany. France in its part rallied behind its people and endorsed this extreme view. The British government incarnated in the PM Lloyd George adopted at first a moderate stance as he wanted to prevent a harsh peace against Germany. But later, as the pressure kept on increasing on his government and as he was preparing for elections, he abandoned his principles and lined up with the popular opinion which was antiGerman. Wilson came to a conclusion that a just and lasting peace was impossible. The treaty of Versailles released 3 mains clauses against Germany: Disarmament: Germany was required to reduce its militants to 100 000 men only, not to have a military industry, not to call for compulsory military service. The western part of Germany was declared neutral and under the control of allies troops.  Financial penalties: Germany had to pay for the devastation caused by the war in the occupied territories whereas others suggested that Germany should be held responsible for the whole destruction induced by the war. Moreover, it was required to provide reparations in the form of coal and ships for France.  The restoration of Alsace Lorraine to France and the port of Danzig to Poland: Germany felt greatly humiliated by this decision that was taken under what was called the fait-accompli policy. It generated actually so much resentment on the part of Germans which would nurture their anger and foster them to wage a new worldwide war in 1940. German would work on restoring these by force- taken areas (Alsace-Lorraine and Danzig)