1. The Treaty Of Versailles

Question 1

What was happening in November 1918?

Answer 1

The armistice had been signed on November 11th, Germany had not been invaded, it had not surrendered and had only agreed to a ceasefire to end all hostilities

Question 2

Why did Germany sign the armistice just in time?

Answer 2

The might of the US armed forces was beginning to advance the Allied war effort and it was only a matter of time before Germany was overcome

Question 3

What was the US president called at the time and what proposal for peace did he make?

Answer 3

Woodrow Wilson tabled a set proposal for peace
- the fourteen points
In which there was no mention of punishment instead he wanted to create a new world order where countries disarmed, people decided their own future (through self determination) and international relations were governed by a new peace-keeping organisations(became the League of Nations)
This is what German people anticipated would form the basis of the peace treaty when it was eventually formulated

Question 4

When was the armistice signed?

Answer 4

11th November 1918

Question 5

Who where the big 3?

Answer 5

France, Britain and north America

Question 6

Who where the leaders of the big three?

Answer 6

France - Clemenceau
Britain - Lloyd George
USA - Woodrow Wilson

Question 7

What was Clemenceau’s attitude towards the Germans?

Answer 7

Clemenceau had seen a defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71 with humiliating results, he felt this was France’s chance to settle the scores, the horrors of 1914-18 only reinforced this determination to weaken and punish Germany

Question 8

Between Wilsons idealism and Clemenceau’s bitterness how did Lloyd George differ?

Answer 8

George tried to be practical and find compromises suitable to both sides while also ensuring Britain’s own interests were protected.
This meant dismantling Germany’s small colonial empire

Question 9

Why was a speedy solution to war needed in 1918?

Answer 9

To maintain stability in Europe as they feared the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia might spread communism across the continent and threaten democracy
Moreover Spanish influenza continued to infect causing mor deaths around the world than war itself

Question 10

Summary of the treaty of Versailles

Answer 10

Reparations
- set at £66 billion in 1921 to pay for reconstruction of war damaged areas such as Flanders

military aspects

• 100,000 soldiers (no conscription)
• 15,000 soldiers, no U-boats (submarines) and a maximum of 36 ships
• No Air Force

Territorial aspects
Germany lost 13% of its land
- loss of Alsace - Lorraine to France (as well as the Saar, 1920-35)
-loss of iron and steel works at Eupen and Malmady to Belgium
-loss of northern Schleswig to Denmark
-loss of west Prussia, Posen and Thorn (the ‘Polish corridor) to Poland
-loss of Silesian land to Poland and Czechoslovskia
-loss of port at Danzig (to become a free city under the League of Nations)
- loss of all colonies to the League of Nations

Question 11

Why did German people refer to the treaty as a ‘diktat’?

Answer 11

• Although Germany was represented at the treaty discussions, Germany had no effective voice at the peace talks and no alternative to signing the treaty except the renewal of war
• for the German people the treaty did not represent a negotiated treaty
• it’s supposed guilt for this was the justification for the punishing terms

Question 12

How did the German media portray the treaty?

Answer 12

Newspaper cartoons variously depicted Germany as a man facing execution, a corpse being picked apart, or a maiden having her blood sucker by vampires.
The message was clear: the treaty of Versailles was Germany’s death warrant

Question 13

Describe the reaction of the new German government?

Answer 13

• The new German government could only protest in formal, feeble ways
• The government rejected the treaty outright and explained that it’s signing of the document was due to over-whelming pressure - there was no other alternative

Question 14

How did the German people display their opposition to the treaty?

Answer 14

Protests were held across Germany including Munich, demonstrators gather in front of the Reichstag to hear critical speeches and raise banners calling for ‘nur die vierzehn punkte’ (only fourteen points)

Question 15

what happened at scapa flow in the week prior to signing the treaty?

Answer 15

Naval officers sank 52 ships of the german high seas fleet anchored at scapa flow in the Orkney Islands to show their opposition to the treaty and stop it falling into british hands

Question 16

how did the army attempt to salvage their reputation in the aftermath of the signing of the treaty?

Answer 16

Hindenburg transferred the blame for the armies war failures to the new weimar government by claiming the army had been ‘stabbed in the back’ when the armistice was signed

Question 17

how did hans von seeckt attempt to circumvent the treaty?

Answer 17

hans von seeckt devised a short term training programme to prepare more than 100,000 men for active service as well as cooperate with the USSR for training tank crews and pilots.

Question 18

what impact did the treaty of versailles have on the right and left of german politics?

Answer 18

long term hostility from the right wing and a lack of acceptance from the centre and left

Question 19

was the treaty of versailles to harsh?yes

why did the treaty place an unbearable burden on the weimar government?

Answer 19

in 1919 Ebert was democratically elected leader of Germany although most people only seen him as the person who agreed to the harsh terms of the treaty many were keen to overthrow it. the war guilt clause angered many germans as it ensured that reparations could be demanded from this defeated power

Question 20

was the treaty to harsh? yes

what did the treaty reflect?

Answer 20

frances desire for revenge

Question 21

was the treaty of versailles to harsh? yes

explain what happened to Germany after the treaty

Answer 21

• germany was humiliated by the terms such as having an army of only 100,000 men, a blow to their pride
• this increased their anxiety as they were surrounded by stronger nations
• demand to pay reparations led to borrowing of US
  loans in the 1920s
• they were the only country forced to disarm
• only country to give up colonies while france and britain grew stronger
• principle of self determination obviously did not apply to german speaking people

Question 22

was the treaty of versailles to harsh? yes

why did the treaty not represent the the realities at the end of the conflict?

Answer 22

• when the german’s signed the armistice it anticipated a peace treaty based on Wilson’s 14 points not dominated by the french’s desire for retribution
• german generals were not forced to admit defeat
• germany was allowed no say on the treaty and were in no doubt failure to sign would lead to invasion
• Lloyd George predicted this would lead to further conflict in 25 years

Question 23

was the treaty of versailles to harsh? no

what reasonable justifications are there for the treaty’s harshest terms?

Answer 23

• germany was responsible for the first act of military aggression on the western front
• vast majority of fighting was on french soil meaning allies suffered much more casualties
• devastation was more than anything expected so the French desire for compensation and future security was understandable
• final treaty was less harsh than some of the allies wanted so a less harsh treaty could not have been agreed

Question 24

explain how the treaty followed the precident of previous treaties?

Answer 24

germany had been victorious over some of the allies before and imposed similar peace terms in the last 50 years e.g

• the treaty of frankfurt (franco-prussian war 1871)
• treaty of Brest-Litovsk (russia on eastern front)

Question 25

how was the treaty adaptable and how could peace be secured?

Answer 25

• relations between the european powers improved

- harshest terms were modified in hopes of peace

Question 26

explain the dangers of hindsight?

Answer 26

• many historians believe the treaty of versailles was responsible for the rise of hitler
• these arguments tend to overlook a complicated situation e.g the effects of the great depression, consequences of us isolationism
• the treaty of versailles was all that could be agreed on in 1919
• mistakes which became apparent with hindsight enabled a more effective settlement to the second world war