1.5 The Treaty of Versailles Flashcards
Who were the Big Three?
Woodrow Wilson, George Clemenceau and David Lloyd George.
What did Wilson want?
- He was an unworldly idealist who wanted future peace.
- He was keen to make the treaty fair to prevent Germany from seeking revenge in the future.
- He had produced the Fourteen Points and the Germans expected the treaty to be based on this.
What did Clemenceau want?
- He was cunning and cynical.
- He was determined that France should have its revenge on Germany.
- He wanted the German military destroyed.
- He wanted Germany to pay for the damage to France.
What did Lloyd George want?
- He acted as a balance between Clemenceau and Wilson.
- He did his best to make the treaty less harsh on Germany in order for them to still trade.
- He did just win an election on the slogan ‘make the Hun pay’
What was the Treaty of Versaille imposed on Germany for?
- To punish her.
- To weaken her economically.
- To weaken her militarily.
How can you remember the key terms of the treaty?
BRAT Blame Reparations Arms Territory
Explain the term of blame
- Fixed the blame for the outbreak of the war solely on Germany and her allies.
- This gave a legal basis for reparations.
- It was also because many of the populations of both France and Britain genuinely believed Germany was to blame and wanted her to admit it.
Explain the terms of reparations
- Germany was forced to pay for the damage done to the allies.
- The amount was not decided at Versailles but instead decided in 1921.
- It was set at £6,600 million
Explain the terms of arms
- German military strength was restricted to:
- A maximum of 100,000 troops
- No conscription
- No tanks, armoured cars, military aircraft or submarines
- Only six battleships
- The Rhineland was to be permanently demilitarised (Germany couldn’t have troops in this area or fortify it in any way) in order to act as a buffer zone between France and Germany
Explain the terms of territory
- Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France (Germany had agreed that in the armistice).
- West Prussia and Posen were given to Poland - this would ensure that Poland had access to the sea and would find it easier to trade with other nations.
- Eupen and Malmedy were lost to Belgium.
- Northern Schleswig voted to become part of Denmark.
- Some of this land included rich industrial land with a lot of raw materials. This included the Saar (which was controlled by the League of Nations) and Silesia (which voted to become part of Poland).
- Germany lost 11 colonies.
1. Britain took over German East Africa.
2. Britain and France divided up Togoland and the Cameroons behind them.
3. South Africa acquired German South-West Africa.
4. Germany’s Pacific colonies were given to Japan in gratitude for her contribution to the allied cause. - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were set up as independent states - self-determination in practice.
- Anschluss (union) with Austria was forbidden. They had geographical, linguistic and cultural links with Germany and many in Germany and Austria were calling for a union.
Overall, Germany lost 13% of its territory, 12.5% of its population, 50% of its iron reserves and 15% of its coal reserves.
What is the League of Nations and how were Germany excluded?
A League of Nations was set up, its aims and organisation being set out in the League Covenant. However, although Germany was bound to accept any decisions of the League, it was not allowed to be a member (they were allowed to join in 1926)
