WWI Aftermath: Democracy, Communism, and European Change

The Devastation and Social Upheaval of World War I

One of the most significant changes brought about by World War I was the restructuring of the European map. Major empires crumbled, leaving hundreds of thousands of casualties in their wake. The toll of the war was as much emotional as anything else. Chodorow maintains, "The tense and tumultuous atmosphere of post-war Europe, however, was not conducive to the peaceful consolidation of democracy. The chaos left behind by war and revolution soon proved too much for inexperienced parliamentary governments. In their place there emerged new dictatorial and totalitarian regimes, better suited to cope with a world in crisis" (Chodorow 886). One of the first such regimes to emerge after World War I appeared in Russia in the 1920s. "The victory of communism in that potentially powerful country introduced an entirely new and disturbing element into international affairs" (Chodorow 886). Political changes in Germany, Austria, and Hungary were closely associated with military defeat, and "democracy in these countries carried a blemish that only time and success could erase" (Chodorow 886). It is no wonder that, with so many countries in financial and emotional decline, recovery would be slow and painful.

Other significant milestones to emerge from the war were the changing position of women and the infamous lost generation. Women's place in society experienced an extreme shift — they became valuable during the war as instrumental participants in the labor movement. Work in general experienced a surge, and "the wartime spur to industrialization produced a large increase in the industrial labor force all over Europe, and a good deal of labor unrest accompanied the transition to peacetime" (Noble 1033).

In addition, post-war America experienced a boom that many refer to as the Jazz Age, often associated with lavish lifestyles. The world was also becoming smaller. Thomas Noble adds, "Mass consumption was the reverse side of the mass production that made possible the new prosperity of the 1920s. As it became possible to mass-produce the products of the second industrial revolution, more people could afford automobiles, electrical products like the radio and phonograph, and clothing of synthetic fabrics, made possible by the innovations in chemistry" (Noble 1033). The war literally touched all, and while it might have been over, it was far from forgotten.

World War I ended with a series of treaties, the most important being the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty forced Germany to disarm and provide reparations, including "civil damages" (Craig 933). While Germany did bear responsibility for initiating hostilities, it was virtually impossible for the country to pay for all of the damage that had resulted from the war. Additionally, Germany "had not deliberately planned and instigated World War I" (Craig 933). The ramifications of the treaty were too overwhelming for any country to overcome. The debt placed upon Germany was too great to bear and only compounded the economic burdens felt across the globe. The emotional strain surrounding the manner in which the treaty was imposed also left deep resentment within Germany.

The Treaty of Versailles and Its Economic Consequences

As noted by Chodorow, "The economic results of the war were even more serious than its political aftermath. The territorial losses by themselves caused a major economic shock among the defeated powers" (890). Realignment was neither simple nor swift. The financial strain ultimately proved too much for Europe to handle, resulting in a severe economic crisis. Matters only worsened when "no major Western European country or the United States provided strong, responsible economic leadership" (Craig 947). While the end of the war was a relief, picking up the pieces proved equally difficult. The additional burdens placed upon Germany only compounded an already dire situation.

By far the most devastating effect of the war was the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Chodorow claims, "Within one decade, Europe had thus come full cycle from despair through hope and back to despair" (892). This statement captures the broader repercussions of the post-war settlement. What history demonstrates is that no mistake can simply be erased, just as no reparations can completely repair damage already done. Germany's inability to carry its own financial weight during this period only prolonged the suffering of a world economy that was badly bruised and desperately in need of healing.