Peace Processes and Diplomacy: What Makes Peace Difficult to Secure?
- Making peace is never simple. Even after weapons fall silent, countries must rebuild trust, negotiate fair terms, and repair the problems that caused the war in the first place.
- World War I and World War II show how difficult this can be: both wars ended in different ways, and the peace that followed each conflict had very different results.
- Together, they reveal not only how wars end, but also why securing lasting peace is so challenging.
- Use the phrase: “Peace built on resentment cannot last.”
- This strengthens any argument about Versailles.
- Remember: power matters more than promises.
- Without military force, diplomacy collapses.
How World War I Came to an End
- World War I ended not because one side achieved total conquest, but because Germany collapsed from within.
- Key reasons:
- Germany’s final offensives failed in 1918, leaving the army exhausted.
- The arrival of fresh U.S. troops strengthened the Allies and shifted momentum.
- Germany faced starvation, economic breakdown, and political crisis at home.
- The Kaiser abdicated, and the new government requested peace.
- The Armistice of 11 November 1918 stopped the fighting, followed by the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919.
- Germany hadn’t been invaded, so many Germans didn’t think they were truly defeated.
- This led to the false “stab-in-the-back” myth: the idea that politicians and civilians betrayed the army.
- The myth fuelled resentment, undermined the peace settlement, and made later diplomacy harder.
How World War II Came to an End
In Europe
- WWII in Europe ended through complete military defeat of Nazi Germany:
- Allies advanced from the west; Soviets pushed from the east.
- Berlin fell; Hitler committed suicide.
- Germany surrendered unconditionally on 8 May 1945.
In the Pacific
- Japan refused to surrender until:
- Atomic bombs devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
- The Soviet Union invaded Japanese-held territory.
- Economic collapse made further fighting impossible.
- Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945.
- Timeline
- World War I End (1918–1919)
- March–July 1918: Germany’s last offensives fail.
- August–November 1918: Allies advance with U.S. support; German army collapses.
- 9 November 1918: Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates.
- 11 November 1918: Armistice signed - fighting stops.
- June 1919: Treaty of Versailles imposes harsh peace terms on Germany.
- World War II End (1945)
- In Europe:
- January-April 1945: Allies and Soviets push into Germany.
- 30 April 1945: Hitler commits suicide in Berlin.
- 8 May 1945: Germany surrenders (V-E Day).
- In the Pacific:
- 6 & 9 August 1945: Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
- 8 August 1945: USSR declares war on Japan.
- 15 August 1945: Japan surrenders (V-J Day).
- World War I End (1918–1919)
Why Peace After World War I Was Difficult
The Treaty of Versailles: A Peace Built on Punishment
- The Treaty weakened Germany through:
- harsh reparations
- territorial losses
- strict military limits
- full blame for the war
- Germany felt humiliated, creating anger and a desire for revenge.
- Versailles was like locking a problem in a box instead of solving it: pressure built until the box burst.
New Borders but Old Tensions
- The collapse of empires created new nations but:
- mixed rival ethnic groups
- created minority conflicts
- triggered border disputes
- Instead of stabilising Europe, tensions grew.
The League of Nations Lacked Power
- It failed because:
- it had no army
- the USA never joined
- major powers ignored it
- decisions required unanimous agreement
- Without enforcement, diplomacy was powerless.
Why Peace After World War II Was Approached Differently
Reconstruction Instead of Revenge
- Post-WWII leaders avoided repeating Versailles. They focused on:
- rebuilding Germany and Japan
- supporting economic recovery
- establishing democracies
- reducing resentment
- This created more stable societies.
The United Nations Provided Stronger Structure
- The UN:
- gave major powers permanent Security Council seats
- provided peacekeeping missions
- encouraged cooperation
- It was not perfect, but far stronger than the League.
The Cold War Complicated Peace
- After 1945:
- Europe split into Western (capitalist) and Eastern (communist) blocs
- both sides built nuclear arsenals
- diplomacy became a balancing act of fear and caution
- The nuclear threat prevented open war but made global peace fragile.
What These Wars Teach Us About Why Peace Is Hard to Secure
- Humiliation leads to future conflict
- Germany’s resentment after WWI helped extremists rise to power.
- Economic instability creates political extremism
- The Great Depression undermined peace by empowering aggressive regimes.
- Diplomacy collapses without trust
- Appeasement and miscommunication contributed to the outbreak of WWII.
- Peace needs enforcement
- The League of Nations failed because it lacked power. The UN succeeded because it combined diplomacy with military authority.
- Cooperation is essential
- After WWI, nations turned inward.
- After WWII, nations worked together and peace held more effectively.
- Always explain HOW each war ended before discussing peace.
- This shows you understand the connection between war outcomes and peace negotiations.
- Compare the peace settlements.
- WWI = punishment
- WWII = rebuilding
- This is the single strongest contrast you can use in your analysis.
- Think about motivations.
- Countries make peace choices based on fear, pride, security, and economic survival.
- Connect outcomes to long-term consequences.
- Versailles → resentment
- Marshall Plan → stability
- WWI peace: slamming the door and walking away.
- WWII peace: rebuilding the house so the neighbour doesn’t burn it down.
- What key factors brought World War I to an end in 1918?
- Why did WWII end differently in Europe and Asia?
- Why did the Treaty of Versailles fail to create lasting peace?
- How did the post-WWII approach to peace differ from the post-WWI approach, and why was it more successful?
- Why is peace more difficult to secure when countries feel humiliated or mistrust one another?