Changes that occurred in various European countries after the First World War: 

1. Germany: (i) In 1871 Germany had captured Alsace Lorraine but now it surrendered to France.

(ii) In the north it gave up some areas to Belgium and Denmark. It also gave up areas to Poland.

2. Italy: (i) Italy has fought the war on the Allied side to satisfy her territorial ambitions in Austria, Turkish Empire and Africa.

(ii) But all that Italy gained from the peace settlement was a small part of Austria.

3. Russia: (i) Russia suffered heavily in the war. In fact it suffered more casualties in war than all the Allies put together.

(ii) In March 1918 it withdrew from war after signing a treaty with Germany. By this treaty it accepted the independence of Poland, Finland and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

4. Poland: (i) In 1815 Poland had disappeared from the map, after being annexed by the three empires of Austria, Prussia and Russia. But now it reappeared when the three empires declined together.

(ii) However, the old enmity with the new neighbouring countries could not be wiped out so easily.

5. Austria: (i) By a separate treaty, Austria was reduced to a small state and it lost all its imperial glory.

(ii) Austria recognized the independence of the newly formed countries of Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. Italy had also gained some territory at the cost of Austria.

(iii) All the newly formed countries had to deal with the problems of border disputed, political upheavals and economic difficulties.