Treaty of Sevres

World War I was the first war which involved powers from all corners of the world. It not only had a severe impact on European history, but also in the world history. The war started with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the crown Prince of Austria on the 28th June 1914. In other words, the immediate cause of World War 1 was the assassination of the Archduke. Almost all the major powers in the European continent participated in the war, which had a role to play in the World War 1 causes trenches and timeline. The German Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire, British Empire, France, Italy and Russia participated in the war. The actual war started on the 28th July 1914, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire invaded Serbia. Germany laid their arms down on 11th November 1918. The day is also commonly known as Armistice Day. In other words, the war lasted for four years from 1914 to 1918. It was the treaty of Versailles, which ended the war. The treaty which was signed between the Allied powers and the Ottoman Empire is the treaty of Sevres (1920) . However, the treaty was never ratified by the Ottoman empire.

Treaty of Sevres Summary

In the World War 1 timeline, the 10th day of August 1920 is marked specially. It was on this day that the treaty of Sevres was signed between the Allied Power and the Ottoman Empire. It also marked the end of the World War I. This treaty was signed after the treaty of Versailles was signed between the German Empire and the Allied Powers. This treaty was signed in an exhibition room of a porcelain factory in the city of Sevres in France.

According to this treaty, the German enterprises in the Ottoman Empire were to be handed over to France, Italy and Great Britain. The negotiations for the exact detailing took as long as 15 months. The negotiations started at the Paris Peace Conference. At the Conference of London, the negotiations continued, they became more finite at the Conference of San Remo in April 1920. This treaty abolished the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey was forced to renounce all rights over the regions of Arab Asia and North Africa. The areas which were freed from the Ottoman Empire included Mesopotamia (present day Iraq), Palestine (including Transjordan), Syria, Lebanon and the kingdom of Hejaz. The empire was divided and independent Armenia, and autonomous Kurdistan were carved out. Greece was given hold over Eastern Thrace and over the West coast of Anatolian. The remaining part of Anatolian was to be with Turkey itself. The Greeks were also given control over the Aegean islands, due to which they could command Dardanelles.

The treaty was accepted by the Sultan Muhammad VI at Constantinople. However, the rival government of Kemal Ataturk Pasha of Ankara rejected the treaty. There were four signatories for the Ottoman Empire, namely Riza Tevfik, ambassador Hadi Pasha, Damad Ferid Pasha and the Minister of Education Resid Halis. It was Resid Halis, who endorsed Sultan Muhammad VI. A separate treaty had to be made between the USSR and Kemal Ataturk Pasha. The separate treaty were due to the subsequent victories of Kemal Ataturk Pasha against the Greeks. These victories forced the Allies to negotiate a new treaty. While the treaty was never ratified by the Ottoman Empire, with the Turkish War of Independence the treaty was annulled. A new treaty was signed and ratified, which superseded the treaty of Sevres. The new treaty was known as the treaty of Lausanne. The treaty was Lausanne was signed on 24th July 1923.

The treaty of Sèvres has an important place in World War History. The different treaties signed after the end of the first World War were said to be among the causes of World War II. The Sevres treaty was among the only few treaties, which were not accepted and had to be superseded.