German Disarmament After World War I

The Diplomacy of International Arms Inspection 1920-1931

German Disarmament After World War I examines the Allied disarmament of Germany and the challenges that such an enormous task presented to international efforts in enforcing the Treaty of Versailles.

In the twenty-first century, disarmament remains a critical issue for the International community. This new book focuses on three key areas and lessons of Allied disarmament operations from 1920-31:

• the role and experience of international arms inspectors working amidst an embittered German populace
• the ramifications of the divergent disarmament priorities of the leaders of the disarmament coalition
• the effectiveness of united Allied policies backed by sanctions.

These major issues are examined within the overall context of the assessment of Allied disarmament operations in Germany. While some historians perceive German disarmament as a failure, this book argues that arms inspectors successfully destroyed Germany’s ability to pose a military threat to European security.

This new study shows how the destructive legacy of war convinced the victorious nations, especially Britain and France, of the importance in minimizing German military strength. French post-war security concerns, however, were often faced with the unwillingness of Britain to enforce the totality of the military articles of the treaty. German obstruction also influenced Allied disarmament policies. German Disarmament After World War I examines the initial effectiveness of Allied disarmament efforts in Germany and explains how they ultimately disappeared through diverging conceptions of a post-war world.

This book will be of great interest to all students of disarmament, the interwar period and of military history, modern European history and security studies.