History Y10 - Unit 1 Flashcards
What was France’s background before TOV?
Clemenceau has seen Germany attack his country twice in his lifetime - resentment
- Franco- Prussian War of 1870, France signed a humiliating treaty in Versailles
What was Lloyd George like?
He was a realist, he did not have great ambitions for the future and wanted what was best for his country. He wants to keep a balance of power in Europe.
What was Woodrow Wilson like?
Wilson was an idealist, wishing to promote world peace and self determination through the 14 points.
Clemenceau’s aim
Wants Germany demilitarized, independent Rhineland buffer state against Germany
Wants extremely large reparations
wants to annex the industrial Saarland
Lloyd George’s aim
He first promised to punish Germany when he ran for Prime Minister, but later moderates his view
Wants Germany as a stable trading partner, a buffer state against communism in the East (Russia)
Wilson’s aim
He discusses the following points in 14 points:
- The establishment of the LoN
- self determination of countries
- disarmament
- free navigation of the seas
- liberation of Germany’s occupied territories
Clemenceau’s final feelings
Not happy
did get some reparation, but still feels that Germany is too strong
Does not feel secure since there is no buffer state
Lloyd George’s final feelings
Happiest of all 3
content with Germany’s moderate punishment (can still be a trading partner) still feels that ToV is too harsh
Happy that he gets African colonies and Wilson’s call for the free navigation of sees
Wilson’s final feelings
Feels that the ToV is too harsh
self determination was given to new states such as Poland though denied to Germany
unhappy that only the defeated countries disarmed
happy with the league
SADD UP
Saarland - looked after by the League for 15 years, then a plebiscite is held
Alsace- Lorraine - returned to France
Danzig - administered by the League, port that can be used by the Polish for trading, Danzig has to follow a Pole- friendly policy
Demilitarized Rhineland - French and Belgian troops occupy Rhineland for 15 years
Upper Silesia - Given to Poland but the League later divides it into two
Polish Corridor / Posen - given to Poland
Why did ToV strengthen Germany in some way?
Before the Treaty, Germany was surrounded by two powerful empires in the East, but after ww1 Germany was now bordered by 4 weak buffer states
German feelings about ToV
Unfair - Believes that they could have won the war –> Myth that Germany could have won the war but was betrayed by communists and Jews who forced German politicians to sign the armistice
Harsh - reparations, losing Saar, thought the tov would be based on the 14 points, German economy was already damaged by the war and British naval blockade
humiliated - Germans were proud of their military - resents the demilitarization
hypocritical - 14 points talk about self determination but German self determination is denied. Many Germans are forced to live in Poland
When was the ToV signed?
June 28th 1919
military clauses of ToV
army limited to 100,000 men
no tanks
no conscription
no submarines
6 battleships
demilitarization of Rhineland
Territory clauses of ToV
Lost parts of Germany to Denmark, France, Belgium, and Poland
Lost colonies of Germany to France and Britain
Economic clause of ToV
Germany has to pay 6.6 billion pounds of reparation
War guilt clause of ToV
Germany should accept the blame of WW1 fully
Economic effects of ToV
In 1922, Germany fails to pay some of the reparation, so French and Belgian troops occupy the Ruhr in January 1923.
Ruhr people was given order to passively resist
In response, the French expelled more than 100,000 Germans and killed 130.
The Germans lost its economically important area, and has to house 100,000 people
government begins to print money
leads to hyperinflation
“November Criminals” and the “stab in the back myth”
German politicians who signed the armistice in November 1918 were called the “November criminals”
Left wing aggression caused by ToV
March 1920, workers who were the members of the Ruhr Red Army launched a rebellion in the Ruhr.
Right wing aggression caused by ToV
in November 1923, Hitler leads the Munich Putsch
March 1923, The Freikorps (anti-communist vigilante group) nearly overthrew the government when the army refused to intervene
Significance of Saarland
The industrial region of Saar basin was “looked after” the League for 15 years
later held a plebiscite (referendum)
90% voted to be returned
Most of the profit during the time went to France, Germany unable to pay reparations properly
