2 - The Impact of the Versailles Settlement on Germany

Question 1

When did the Paris Peace Conference open?

Answer 1

12th January 1919

Question 2

Where were meetings held for the Paris Peace Conference?

Answer 2

Various locations in and around Paris

Question 3

Who attended the meetings?

Answer 3

Leaders representing 75% of the worlds population, they excluded defeated powers

Question 4

Who took all major decisions in these meetings?

Answer 4

US President Woodrow Wilson, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, French Prime Minister and conference chairman George Clemenceau, Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando

Question 5

When were Germans allowed to see the terms of the treaty?

Answer 5

Germans weren’t invited to attend the meetings or see the terms of the treaty until the 7th of May

Question 6

What did the Allies do on the 16th of June?

Answer 6

They gave the German government seven days to accept the treaty which provoked political crisis in Berlin and the formation of a new coalition government

Question 7

What happened on the 28th of June?

Answer 7

The Versailles Treaty was signed by all parties

Question 8

What did Germans regard the treaty as?

Answer 8

‘Diktat’ - dictated peace

Question 9

How much territory did Germany lose?

Answer 9

Over 70,000km² (13%)

Question 10

What resources did Germany lose?

Answer 10

75% of iron ore, 68% of zinc ore, 26% of coal, 15% of arable land

Question 11

What happened to Germany’s colonies in Africa and the Far East?

Answer 11

All were placed under the league of Nations control

Question 12

What did disarmament mean?

Answer 12

Surrendered all heavy weapons, dismantled fortification in the Rhineland and on the island of Heligoland, conscription to Germany armed forces forbidden, German army limited to a maximum of 100,000 men, German army forbidden to use tanks or gas, Germany navy limited to 15,000 men, the Navy allowed a maximum of six battleships, no submarines, small number of coastal defence vessels, and forbidden from having an Air Force

Question 13

What was war guilt?

Answer 13

Under article 231 of the Treaty, Germany had to accept responsibility for starting the war, making them liable to pay reparations to the Allies to cover the cost of the damage suffered from war

Question 14

What was the total amount of reparations paid?

Answer 14

Final amount was fixed by a commission in 1921 at £6.6 billion

Question 15

What happened to the Rhineland?

Answer 15

Areas of the Rhineland were permanently demilitarised, an Allied army occupied the Rhineland to ensure Germany fulfilled the obligation

Question 16

What happened to the Saarland?

Answer 16

Separated from Germany and placed under League of Nations control for 15 years, supplying France, Belgium, and Italy with free coal as part of reparations, France was allowed to exploit coal mines in the area

Question 17

What were other terms of the treaty?

Answer 17

Austria was forbidden from uniting with Germany, Germany not allowed to join new League of Nations, Kaiser and other Germans on trial for war crimes

Question 18

How did Germans react to the treaty being signed?

Answer 18

Shock, horror, and in disbelief and thought victory was only a matter of time (as had been portrayed in all German war propaganda)

Question 19

What were the Germans main objections to the treaty?

Answer 19

Wilson’s 14 points stressed importance of national self-determination but this was denied to many Germans, war guilt clause seen as unjust national humiliation, felt reparations were too high, continuing friction from allied occupation and french control of Saarland coal mines, disarmament and exclusion from League of Nations seen as unjust discrimination

Question 20

How justified were German reactions?

Answer 20

Possible to sympathise but in many ways based on unrealistic expectations.
Many terms made clear in Wilson’s 14 points and armistice, treaty not as sever as might have been, didn’t punish Germany as severely as they punished Russia in treaty of Brest-Litovsk, Germany’s war aims meant it would have been harsh if it were the other way around, reparations bill much lower than demanded by french and not beyond Germany’s capacity to pay.

Question 21

What did ministers of all parties in Germany agree with Chancellor Scheidemann about in May 1919?

Answer 21

That accepting the terms of the treaty would be incompatible with German honour

Question 22

What caused the political crisis in Germany?

Answer 22

The rejection of the German requests for extensive changes to the terms of the treaty and the demand for acceptance of the treaty within seven days

Question 23

Why did Scheidemann resign and what did this lead to?

Answer 23

Him and some of his ministers wanted to reject the treaty but the majority of the cabinet and SPD members believed Germany had no other choice but to sign.
A new coalition cabinet led by Gustav-Bauer was formed.

Question 24

What were some high-ranking German officers discussing?

Answer 24

The possibility of resisting the signing of the treaty through renewed military action

Question 25

What did Ebert and Groener discuss at this point?

Answer 25

Ebert said he would support rejection of the treaty if there was any chance military action could be successful but Groener informed Ebert that military resistance would be futile and Germany had no choice but to accept

Question 26

What was the reaction of pro-republican parties?

Answer 26

Policy of fulfilment - outwardly complying with terms while negotiating modifications.
Turned people against Weimar Republic.
Republic once again associated with weakness and failure

Question 27

What was the reaction on the right?

Answer 27

Increased resentment of the republic.
Many joined groups committed to overthrowing the republic.
Labelled governing politicians ‘November Criminals’ and referring to their actions as ‘the stab in the back’.
Many ex-soldiers joined Friekorps and right-wing nationalist groups and were a threat to the Weimar Republic.

Question 28

What was the reaction from Britain?

Answer 28

British public satisfied that Germany wouldn’t be able to threaten European peace.
Lloyd George believed Germany should be able to resist USSR and wanted trade partnership.
Many in Britain saw French as greedy and felt Germany was treated unfairly.

Question 29

What was the reaction from France?

Answer 29

Felt they had suffered most out of all combatant nations and were determined to seek revenge.
Got key demands but still regarded treaty as too lenient towards Germany.
Clemenceau blamed and defeated at next election.

Question 30

What was the reaction from the USA?

Answer 30

Generally negative.
Unfair on Germany and Britain and France were enriching themselves at Germany’s expense.
Republicans in congress opposed treaty and Wilson failed to win Congressional vote to ratify treaty so USA had to make separate peace with Germany in 1921.
Refused to join League of Nations.
In 1920s retreated from involvement in European affairs