2. The Peace Settlement (S1)

Question 1

What expectations did Germany have of the Peace Treaty?

Answer 1

They expected that they would be allowed to negotiate, and believed it would be based on Wilson’s 14 points

Question 2

What percentage of land did Germany lose?

Answer 2

13% of its land

Question 3

Name 3 military restrictions under the disarmament of Germany.

Answer 3

• German Army was limited to 100,000 men
• German Navy limited to 15,000 men
• Forbidden from having an air force
• Conscription banned
• Rhineland demilitarised

Question 4

What article is the ‘war guilt clause’ under? What is the clause about?

Answer 4

Article 231 – Germany had to accept responsibility for starting the war and they were liable to pay reparations

Question 5

What was final amount for reparations decided in 1921?

Answer 5

£6.6 billion

Question 6

Name 2 things the German citizens found humiliating about the peace treaty.

Answer 6

• Exclusion from the League of Nations
• The ‘war guilt clause’ which justified reparations
• Being denied national self-determination
• The high amount of reparations

Question 7

When were the terms of the Treaty revealed to the German government?

Answer 7

May 1919.

Question 8

Which Chancellor’s government had to sign the treaty?

Answer 8

Chancellor Bauer as Chancellor Scheidemann resigned due to the treaty.

Question 9

What reactions did the SPD have towards the signing of the treaty? Name 2.

Answer 9

• The SPD believed it was best to comply
• SPD had to ask their main opponents to state those who signed the treaty were not unpatriotic
• Some former supporters of the Republic turned against it due to the humiliation of the treaty

Question 10

What did the Right wing name those who signed the treaty?

Answer 10

They named the politicians that signed the treaty the ‘November Criminals’.

Question 11

What myth did Ludendorff create?

Answer 11

He created the ‘stabbed in the back’ myth.

Question 12

Who were the Freikorps?

Answer 12

A group of violent soldiers cut from the army who couldn’t/ unwilling to adjust to civilian life.

Question 13

How did Britain react to the Peace Treaty? Give 1 way.

Answer 13

• British public opinion was satisfied that Germany couldn’t disrupt Europe’s peace.
• Lloyd George believed that Germany shouldn’t be so weak

Question 14

How did France react to the Peace Treaty? Give 1 way.

Answer 14

• The French people believed they suffered the most and wanted revenge
• Many believed the treaty was too lenient!

Question 15

How did the United States react to the Peace Treaty? Give 1 way.

Answer 15

• Widespread opinion that the treaty was very unfair
• Believed Britain and France were trying to enrich themselves
• Caused the USA to refuse to join the League of Nations