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History That Doesn't Suck

147: Peacemaking in Paris: The Treaty of Versailles

History That Doesn't Suck

ProfGregJackson

Education, History, Society & Culture

4.55.1K Ratings

🗓️ 20 November 2023

⏱️ 65 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“A Peace which cannot be defended in the name of justice before the whole world would continually call forth fresh resistance” This is the story of peacemaking in 1919–a fraught peacemaking. With the Armistice signed, some 30 nations (led by the major Allied Powers) are gathering in Paris, France, to deliberate on the terms they’ll give to Germany. But the conference is beset with conflicting views. Not only do these various nations and other unofficial representatives have conflicting views, but the three most powerful Allies–France, the UK, and the US, a.ka., The Big Three–aren't always on the same page. That’s especially true of the American President Woodrow Wilson, who’s pushing hard for his 14 points, particularly, for the creation of his League of Nations; he’s clashing with France’s Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau who’s far more interested in ensuring France’s security against German aggression than any idealistic (or as he sees it, unrealistic) notions of a world at perpetual peace. Filled with shouting matches, disagreements, and voices from across the globe, this Conference will create a League of Nations. It will also redraw some of the map of Europe, lay the foundation for a new map of the Middle East, and lay severe penalties on Germany's shoulders. They’re trying their best–but are they creating a better world? Or laying the seeds of future conflicts? And will the US Senate approve this Treaty of Versailles? We shall see. ___ 3 Ways to dive deeper into History That Doesn’t Suck Join our growing facebook community Get our weekly newsletter, The Revolution Become part of the HTDS Patreon family Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

History That Doesn't Suck is a bi-weekly podcast, delivering a legit, seriously researched hard-hitting

0:04.6

survey of American history through entertaining stories.

0:06.2

If you'd like to support H.TDS or enjoy bonus content, please consider giving at

0:10.3

Patreon.com.

0:11.3

Forward slash History That doesn't suck.

0:13.4

It's a dark cold night. It's a dark cold night, October 13, 1918.

0:27.0

The 16th Bavarian reserve infantry is currently holding a line of trenches

0:31.0

amid the fields and hills of Flanders that lie 10 miles or so to the southeast of Iph, not far from Verfic, Belgium.

0:39.9

What each of the soldiers are doing, I can't say.

0:43.1

But this is a seasoned unit, filled with several men

0:46.0

who've seen plenty of death and multiple battles.

0:49.3

Many are likely smoking.

0:51.2

Perhaps a few are catching a little shut-eye. Some are likely chatting. Do they long for home?

0:57.0

Maybe they're discussing the recent setbacks in the war.

1:00.0

However, they're passing the time, it's interrupted around midnight by the sound of Allied artillery.

1:05.0

And soon after the first shell strikes, a sweet yet spicy scent and yellow cloud descends upon them.

1:12.0

Throughout the line, the call goes out, GAS! yellow cloud descends upon them.

1:12.6

Throughout the line, the call goes out.

1:14.6

Gas!

1:16.5

Immediately, gray-clad men dropped to the ground

1:18.9

fumbling in the dark for their masks.

1:21.2

Once secured and sealed on their heads, they breathe in hot, uncomfortable, but filtered air.

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