Conflict and Tension, 1918-1939 Flashcards
When was the Armistice signed?
November 11th 1918
What was Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles?
The War Guilt Clause - Germany had to agree to take full blame for the war.
What was Article 232 of the Treaty of Versailles?
Germany had to pay reparations for the damage caused to the victorious countries. In 1921, the figure was agreed at £6,600 million. It was estimated that it would take until 1988 to pay back fully.
What were some military restrictions imposed upon Germany after the Treaty of Versailles?
Germany was not allowed tanks, submarines or an airforce. The land army was limited to 100,000 men and conscription was banned. The German navy was limited to 15,000 men, 1,500 officers and only 6 battleships. The size of these ships was also regulated.
Give some territorial changes that took place after the Treaty of Versailles was signed.
Danzig was taken from Germany and made a free city.
Germany had to relinquish its Polish territories as Poland was made an independent country.
The Rhineland, previously dominated by German soldiers, was demilitarised.
Germany lost 10% of its land, including Alsace-Lorraine, which was returned to France.
Due to territorial changes, how many Germans ended up living outside of Germany?
6 million.
Why would Woodrow Wilson have been unhappy with the agreed-upon terms of the Treaty?
The fact that 6 million Germans ended up living outside of Germany went against his belief in self-determination. Additionally, many of the clauses were harmful and humiliating towards Germany, such as the War Guilt clause and the banning of submarines in airforce. The military clauses in particular were damning for Germany as it left them weak and vulnerable whilst it’s enemies grew more powerful from reparations and territories given from its defeat.
What were the three methods of punishing/opposing countries in the League of Nations?
Moral Condemnation.
Economic Sanctions (member sof the League would not trade with the misbehaving countries.)
Military Sanctions (Members of the League would be asked to lend their armed forces)
Whi were the four permanent members of the League of Nation’s Council?
Britain, France, Japan and Italy
Give one advantage and one disadvantage of the Assembly.
A. Each member could send representatives and each of their votes would be equal.
D. To pass a vote the decision had to be unanimous, which meant it was virtually impossible for people to agree on things.
What was the situation with Vilna in 1920?
Vilna was made the capital of the new state of Lithuania. Poland disagreed with this as many Polish people lived in Vilna. In 1920 a Polish army took control of the city and refused to withdraw.
The League’s response was to protest, but ultimately do nothing and allow Poland to keep Vilna.
What was the situation in Upper Silesia, 1921-25?
Germany and Poland both wanted control of Upper Silesia, as it was a crucial industrial area.
The League’s response was to hold a vote to decide which country got the territory. Germany won 60%, but when Poland complained the League split Upper Silesia into regions according to how people voted. This resulted in Germany losing 3/4 of the coal mines.
What was the situation with the Aaland islands, 1921?
Finland and Sweden claimed a small group of islands located in the sea between them. Each threatened war to control them.
The League’s response was to study both arguments and give it to Finland, but Finland was not allowed to build forts on the island. Both sides seemed content with this resolution. War was avoided.
What was the situation in Corfu, 1923?
An international team was sent to settle a long-standing border dispute between Italy and Albania. An Italian General, Tellini, was killed, which caused the Italian dictator, Mussolini, to blame the Greek Government and in revenge sent out his navy to bombard Corfu.
The League’s response was to force Greece to pay compensation for the killing, but the League would be in control of the money until Tellini’s killers were found. They also condemned Mussolini’s actions.
What was the second incident in Corfu, 1923?
Mussolini refused to accept the League’s decision and complained to the Council of Ambassadors.
The League backed down and gave into his demands. Greece was forced to apologise and compensate Italy in full. This action was likely taken due to the fact that Italy was one of the 4 permanent members of the League’s Council, making them a very important country.
What happened in Bulgaria, 1925?
After Greek soldiers were killed on the Bulgarian border, Greece invaded Bulgaria. Bulgaria sent soldiers to peacefully negotiate with Greece, and also appealed to the League.
The League’s response was to order Greece to withdraw and pay compensation to Bulgaria.
What was that scarily accurate thing Lloyd George said after the Treaty was signed? Why?
“We will have to fight another war in 25 years’ time, and at 3 times the cost!”
He said this because he disagreed withs ome of the harsher clauses of the Treaty, since he believed it could potentially drive Germnay to another war.
What was the British public’s opinion on the Treaty of Versailles?
Generally, the public wholeheartedly agreed with the harsher clauses of the Treaty. Newspaper headlines such as ‘Hang the Kaiser’ were common.
What did Britain gain from the Treaty of Versailles?
Britain’s empire gained more colonies and now covered 1/3 of those globe. Britain also had no incoming threat of Germany’s navy, as it was restricted heavily in the Treaty.
What did France gain from the Treaty of Versailles?
They were no longer threatened by the German military in the Rhineland and they were given back Alsace-Lorraine, which would act as a barrier between them and Germany. They also benefitted financially after being given control over the Saar arra for 15 years.
Why was Clemeceau unhappy with the outcom effort the Treaty of Versailles?
He was angry that Germany was allowed to have an army at all.
He thought reparations should have been greater.
He thought they should have been given the Saar area instead of being lent it.
He believed the Rhineland should have been made into a small, powerless state of its own to act as a buffer between them and Germany.
What was the French public’s reaction to the Treaty of Versailles?
Many believed Germany had been let off too lightly and there wdid not vote Clemenceau back in in the next general election as they felt he had been too lenient.
What was the USA’s public’s reaction to the Treaty of Versailles?
The Treaty was used by Republicans to criticise Wilson. It had to be ratified by the senate to make it a valid treaty, but Republicans argued that as it did not include the 14 Points it was not in America’s best interest. It was not ratified and America could not join the League of Nations as a result.
Give 3 pieces of evidence for the Treaty of Versailles being unfair in terms of reparations.
- The League of Nations decided in 1921, without any German representatives, that the reparations would total to £6,600 million. It was estimated that it would take up until 1988 to pay back in full.
- Basic necessities became unaffordable in Germany as a result - a loaf of bread cost 200 million marks due to hyperinflation.
- In 1923, Germany missed a reparations deadline, and so France invaded the Ruhr area in Germany and took their industrial goods instead. As a result, Germany not only lost money but the source of it.
