Background Info (Germany After the War)

Question 1

What happened to the dictator kaiser during WWI?

Answer 1

He fled to Holland as he was forced to abdicate so a republic could be formed. He fled in the middle of WWI so Germany was left without a leader

Question 2

Why were Germany suffering from bankruptcy in 1918?

Answer 2

A large decrease in national income due to the war

Question 3

Why was the fact that there was a high loss in men lead Germany to surrender in the war?

Answer 3

Jobs were becoming difficult to fill as there were less men, eg. There were less farmers so there was less food so families were in low supply

Question 4

Why was illness a big risk in Germany in 1918?

Answer 4

There was a big flu epidemic spreading through the country and with the rations weakening the families they were prone to dying of the flu

Question 5

What was the treaty of Versailles?

Answer 5

The agreement between Germany, UK, France and USA that Germany lost and surrendered the war. The peace treaty ended the war between Germany and the allies

Question 6

What did the treaty state about Germany?

Answer 6

It said that Germany was to blame for the war so they should pay for the damage

Question 7

Who were the big three in the treaty of Versailles?

Answer 7

• British PM David Lloyd George
• USA president Woodrow Wilson
• French PM Georges Clemenceau

Question 8

What were the intentions of George Clemenceau for the treaty?

Answer 8

• draining Germany’s power so they can’t act in another war again or hurt France (as France is only over the border so is not sheltered from Germany like UK and USA)
• demand payment from Germany for French land and human loss
• France took back Alsace Lorraine and other land from Germany to weaken them (to protect France and get revenge on Germany)

Question 9

Name 4 reasons Germany called for an armistice in WWI

Answer 9

• kaiser had abdicated
• Germany were bankrupt
• illness posed a big threat
• high loss in men

Question 10

What were the intentions of Woodrow Wilson for the treaty?

Answer 10

• he didn’t understand why UK and France were so angry and had so much hatred for Germany
• fighting was only in Europe so USA didn’t suffer from land damages
• set up League of Nations and follow his 14 peace points (main ones being: self determination for people in Eastern Europe, no secret treaties, League of Nations setup, colonies to have a say in their future, all countries work towards disarmament)

Question 11

What were the intentions of David Lloyd George for the treaty?

Answer 11

• reelected for saying he would make Germany pay because Britain wanted Germany to suffer
• if he angered Germany they will seek revenge or turn to communism or refuse to trade with Britain

Question 12

What was the war guilt clause in the treaty of Versailles?

Answer 12

Germany had to accept full responsibility for the war

Question 13

Why was the war guilt clause seen as unfair?

Answer 13

Germany weren’t to blame for the war because they didn’t start it, they joined it because of treaties made between Serbia and Germany. Although Germany caused a lot of damage, they were not to blame for the war

Question 14

Wherever many allowed to join the League of Nations?

Answer 14

No

Question 15

What did the major powers agree Germany had to pay for the reparations for the allies war damage?

Answer 15

It was decided two years after the treaty of Versailles that Germany would pay 6.6billion pounds for reparation fees

Question 16

What plan came in in 1929 to help Germany pay the reparation fees?

Answer 16

The Young plan came in because Germany would have been in debt for years to pay off the reparations

Question 17

What restrictions were made to the German army in the treaty of Versailles?

Answer 17

• only allowed 100,000 men
• no conscription, volunteers only
• no armoured vehicles or submarines or aircrafts
• only 6 battleships (for protection and defence)
• therein eland was to be demilitarised (no German troops allowed)

Question 18

What happened to the land that Germany stole from France before the war?

Answer 18

France demanded it back in the treaty of Versailles

Question 19

What happened to Germany’s borders after the treaty?

Answer 19

They broke Germany up I to lots of little colonies, some under control of France and Britain via the League of Nations

Question 20

What happened in regards to Austria in the treaty?

Answer 20

Germany were forbidden from joining with their former ally, Austria

Question 21

Why was the treaty of Versailles known as a dictated peace?

Answer 21

Germany were not allowed to negotiate the terms

Question 22

Remember GARGLE!!

Answer 22

G-guilt 
A-armed forces 
R-reparations 
G-German Territories lost
Le-league of nations

Question 23

What was Clemenceaus nickname?

Answer 23

The tiger, because he was so brutal in the treaty of Versailles towards Germany

Question 24

How did Germany as a country react to the treaty of Versailles?

Answer 24

They were horrified and their lives were turned upside down

Question 25

How much of Germany’s population were lost?

Answer 25

12.5%

Question 26

How much of Germany’s land was lost?

Answer 26

10%

Question 27

Where did the missing 12.5% or population and 10% of land go?

Answer 27

To France or Poland

Question 28

Where did half of their iron and steel industry go and what did this cause?

Answer 28

It was taken away with the land and this caused Germany to be unable to trade with other countries

Question 29

What was Germany’s reaction to not being invited to join the League of Nations?

Answer 29

They were insulted

Question 30

How were Germany operating a double standard?

Answer 30

The Germans punished Russia for dropping out of the war when Germany surrendered with much harsher conditions than the treaty of Versailles

Question 31

How did Germany punish Russia?

Answer 31

• took away 1/3 of their population
• took away 1/2 of their industry
• took away 9/10 of their coal mines
• took away 6 billion marks in reparations