Primary Documents - 1919
This page of the Primary
Documents section of the website collects together archive source documents
originating in 1919, the year which saw the Treaty of Versailles forced upon
a reluctant Germany.
Included among the following documents is the text of the Versailles treaty, plus the text of prominent U.S. opposition to President Wilson's enthusiastic backing for a post-war League of Nations.
The list presented below - with each entry accompanied by a brief summary of its significance - is sorted by date, with earlier documents listed first.
Document | Description |
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January - French President's welcoming comments |
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January - U.S. President's initial comments |
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January - British Prime Minister's initial comments |
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January - Italian Prime Minister's initial comments |
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January - French Prime Minister's initial comments |
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January - British observer's account of initial session |
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January - Robert Lansing's announcement |
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February - New German President's initial address |
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February - New German President's follow-up address |
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February - British eye-witness journalist's account |
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February - Former German leader's allegations |
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February - French journalist's interview with Polish leader |
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March - German Army Chief of Staff's account |
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March - British Commander-in-Chief's final war report |
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May - Statement repudiating charges of atrocities |
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May - Formal report blaming Central Powers |
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May - Germany's response at proposed terms |
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May - Clemenceau's reply to German protests |
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May - Neutral newspaper's stance against peace terms |
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May - Polish Prime Minister's positive assessment |
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June - Allies' peace terms with defeated Germany |
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June - Account by U.S. newspaper journalist |
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July - One of Wilson's final speeches in support of League |
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August - Senate majority leader's opposition |
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August - Hoover's pessimistic assessment |
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September - U.S. AEF Commander-in-Chief's official report |
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September - U.S. C-in-C's view of Foch's appointment |
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September - Polish Prime Minister's lobbying in favour |
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November - U.S. C-in-C's account of key offensive |
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1919 - Former British Director of Military Ops' account |
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1919 - German strategist's post-war view of Allied attacks |
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1919-24 - 26 articles of the covenant |
"Toc Emmas" was slang for trench mortars.
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