Paris Peace Settlements Flashcards
What was the clause that stated Germany was guilty for starting WWI?
Article 231, it provided the moral justification for the harshness of the Treaty of Versailles
What was the final reparation sum?
132 billion gold marks
What was stated by the French finance minister after WWI?
Klotz: “Germany will pay”
What was the ratio of reparations between Britain and France?
25:55
What was the disarmament settlement?
The regular army was reduced to 100,000.
The air force was dissolved and the navy was reduced to a handful of ships.
What was agreed over the Saarland?
A conflict was seen between the fourteen points and France’s interests. Lloyd George agreed a compromise where the Saar coalmines where given to France while the League of Nations governed the Saar. After 15 years, there would be a plebiscite to return to German rule.
Why was there a conflict of interests between Britain and France over the Rhineland and what was the resolution?
France wanted to deprive Germany of the natural defensive line of the Rhine while Britain did not want to decisively tilt the balance of power in Europe towards France. It was agreed that the Rhineland would be split into three zones which would be evacuated after 5, 10, 15 years. The Rhineland was to be permanently demilitarised.
What was the Anglo-French disagreement over Germany’s eastern frontiers? (Poland)
Lloyd George opposed Danzig and Marienwerder joining Poland, fearing German resentment. He forced Clemenceau to agree to a plebiscite in Marienwerder. Danzig became a free and autonomous city.
What happened to former German colonies?
Despite playing lip service to the League, Britain and France were able to secure mandated status for former German colonies.
What was the significance of the dispute over Shantung?
Japan kept hold of Shantung despite Wilson’s concerns about growing Japanese influence in the Pacific. It was a humiliating defeat for Wilson and turned the US Senate against the Treaty of Versailles.
What are examples of territory being ceded in the Treaty of St Germaine (1919) despite a strong German population?
- South Tyrol was awarded to Italy, despite 230,000 Ethnic Germans living there
- Bohemia and Moravia were ceded to Czechoslovakia despite 3 million Germans living there (a third of the population)
What was Article 88 of the Treaty of St Germaine?
Article 88 stated that only the League of Nations could permit Anschluss. This meant that France had a veto.
What did Hungary lose due to the Treaty of Trianon (1920)?
It lost 2/3 of its territory and 41% of its population. It arguably suffered the most of the defeated powers. The loss of territory was justified on the principle of self-determination.
It lost territory in the North, East, South and West to Czechoslovakia, Romania, Yugoslavia and Austria respectively.
What was the decision over Fiume, Istria and Dalmatia, a clash between the Fourteen Points and Italy’s interests?
- Istria was partitioned between the two powers
- Fiume became a self-governing free city
- The rest of Dalmatia went to Yugoslavia
What was the Sykes-Picot agreement? (1916)
It was the division of Türkiye’s Middle Eastern territories: Mesopotamia, Syria and Lebanon. Britain were the only power with a large army in the Middle East so claimed the whole of Palestine. They gave backing for Zionism (Balfour Declaration) so gained US support for their aims.
