The Aftermath of World War I – An uneasy Peace

The end of World War I and its aftermath had a decisive impact in shaping the world we live in today, as borders were redrawn and an imperfect peace eventually gave way to another World War. In today’s blog post, we explore some library resources and useful websites to help you understand this historical event.

The Greatest Day in History: How, On the Eleventh Hour of the EleventhDay of the Eleventh Month, the First World War Finally Came to an End by Nicholas Best describes the events leading up to the Armistice in 1918 and how it was experienced on the front lines, by politicians in the major capitals of Europe and America, and on the home front. This book also describes the difficult process by which the Armistice was negotiated, and the major personalities involved.

Although the Armistice was widely celebrated by the victorious Allied nations, the months leading up to the Armistice and the first months of peace that followed were anything but easy. 1918: War and Peace by Gregor Dallas is a comprehensive account of the last months of the War and the first few months of peace. It describes the events that led to Germany’s acceptance of the Armistice, and how an imperfect peace took root in the months that followed.

The Armistice of November 11^th was followed by a long and difficult period of negotiations to bring about the formal end of the war. The war did not officially end until the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919.  The United States never ratified or signed the treaty and did not officially end hostilities toward Germany until Congress adopted resolutions declaring the war over in 1921.   AShattered Peace: Versailles 1919 and the Price We Pay Today  by David Andelman and Paris 1919 : Six Months ThatChanged the World by Margaret Olwen Macmillan detail the negotiations that finally brought the First World War to a formal close.

In many places in Europe, such as Russia and Turkey, fighting continued for several years after the Armistice. The Vanquished: Why the FirstWorld War Failed to End by Robert Gerwarth explores the aftermath of World War I in Germany, Russia, and Eastern Europe, where the fighting not only did not end on November 11^th, but in some cases intensified as different factions struggled to create new political realities.

Despite the difficulties of the post-war world, the anniversary of the Armistice is commemorated in many countries. In Britain and in many Commonwealth countries it is known as Remembrance Sunday, and is celebrated on the closest Sunday to November 11th. The British Legion’s Remembrance Sunday page tells about the history of this holiday and how it is celebrated.

Veterans Day, which falls on November 11^th every year, is a major holiday in the United States. Veterans Day 2018 – History on the History Channel site tells the story of the Veterans Day holiday in the United States. It was proclaimed a Federal holiday in 1938 and was known as Armistice Day until 1954, when it was changed to Veterans Day.

- Michael K., West Windsor Branch