The Armistice and the Aims of the Peacemakers

Question 1

What was the ceasefire that ended WW1 called?

Answer 1

The Armistice

Question 2

When was the armistice signed?

Answer 2

The armistice was signed at 5:12am on 11th November 1918, although it was agreed the ceasefire would begin at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month.

Question 3

Germany was dealt with by which Treaty?

Answer 3

Treaty of Versailles

Question 4

When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?

Answer 4

On 28th June 1919

Question 5

What was the name of the French member of the Big 3?

Answer 5

Georges Clemenceau

Question 6

What was the name of the British member of the ‘Big 3’?

Answer 6

David Lloyd George

Question 7

What was the name of the American member of the ‘Big 3’?

Answer 7

Woodrow Wilson

Question 8

What did Woodrow Wilson want the Treaty to be based on?

Answer 8

His 14 points

Question 9

Give examples of some of the 14 points.

Answer 9

• self-determination
• freedom of the sea
• disarmament
• banning of secret treaties
• setting up the L of N

Question 10

What was Wilson considered to be?

Answer 10

An idealist

Question 11

Did Woodrow Wilson want a fair, easy or harsh treaty and why?

Answer 11

• Fair
• As he did not want Germany to seek revenge and leading to another war
• His views reflected American public opinion

Question 12

Did George Clemenceau want a fair, easy or harsh treaty?

Answer 12

Harsh

His views reflected French public opinion.

Question 13

Why did Clemenceau want a harsh treaty?

Answer 13

• He had seen France invaded by Germany twice in his lifetime
• France had suffered the loss of 1.4 million soldiers and 300,000 civilians in the First World War.
• The most damage had occurred on French soil destroying agriculture, industries, transport and towns.

Question 14

Did David Lloyd George want a fair, easy or harsh treaty and why?

Answer 14

His outward appearance demonstrates that he wanted a harsh trial, as he wanted to become reelected- and the British hated the Germans due to being fed anti-German propaganda throughout the first world war.

His personal view demonstrates that he wanted a fair treaty, as he did not want to risk a potential future war with Germany, he saw Stalin as a bigger threat and believed Germany could act as buffer against communism and he wanted Germany as a potential future trading partners.

Question 15

What terms did the British public coin?

Answer 15

“Hang the Kaiser”

“Squeeze the German Lemon till the pip Squeak”

Question 16

What was David Lloyd George’s election promise?

Answer 16

‘Make Germany Pay’

Question 17

What were David Lloyd George’s two main areas of concern at the Paris Peace Conference?

Answer 17

He wanted Britain to retain naval supremacy and imperial supremacy, therefore he wanted Germany to lose its colonies and navy.

Question 18

Where was the armistice at the end of the First World War signed?

Answer 18

The armistice that ended the First World War was signed in a railway carriage in Compiegne, France.

Question 19

What were Georges Clemenceau’s aims for the peace settlement? (6)

Answer 19

❖He wanted Germany punished and to pay reparations for the damage caused.

❖He wanted an independent Rhineland in order to make Germany weak and defenceless, and to protect France from future attack.

❖He wanted the German Army disbanded to prevent any future attack on France.

❖Germany had taken the French region of Alsace-Lorraine in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71. Clemenceau wanted it returned.

❖He believed the Saar Basin, a rich coal-mining region of Germany, should be given to France.

❖He wanted France to be given many of Germany’s overseas colonies as mandates

Question 20

What did Georges Clemenceau agree about with the other Big Three leaders in relation to the peace settlement?

Answer 20

Clemenceau did not agree on much with the other leaders of the Big Three. He was determined to cripple Germany and, while this was a popular feeling among the British people, it was not a view held by their prime minister.

Question 21

What did Georges Clemenceau and the other Big Three leaders disagree on in relation to the peace settlement? (3)

Answer 21

❖Clemenceau disagreed with Lloyd George on the issue of armaments. He wanted Germany’s army completely disbanded, while Lloyd George wanted a strong Germany to act as a buffer against communism.

❖He disagreed with Lloyd George on the issue of reparations. Clemenceau wanted huge reparations from Germany, whereas Lloyd George wanted an economically stable Germany for Britain to trade with.

❖Clemenceau disagreed with Wilson on assigning blame for the war. France wanted a settlement based on revenge and for Germany to accept full blame, whereas Wilson wanted a settlement that would encourage world peace.

Question 22

What were David Lloyd George’s aims for the Paris peace settlement? (5)

Answer 22

❖He was re-elected in November 1918 on the promise he would ‘make Germany pay’. He wanted a ‘just’ peace that would be tough enough to please the public but also leave Germany strong enough to trade. These made his position more complex than the other leaders as his aims were at odds with the British public.

❖He wanted to retain naval supremacy; therefore he wanted to see Germany’s navy reduced.

❖He wanted to reduce the risk of another war. He believed a very harsh treaty might lead to resentment and revenge from Germany later on.

❖He wanted to retain a trade relationship with Germany. He was concerned that a weak, poor Germany might become communist, as Russia had.

❖He wanted to reduce the German Empire and preserve the British Empire.

Question 23

What did David Lloyd George agree on with the other Big Three leaders in relation to the peace settlement?

Answer 23

Lloyd George mostly agreed with Wilson on the long-term consequences of a harsh settlement on Germany. He agreed with Wilson that Germany should not pay high reparations for the cost of the war, as he wanted Germany as a potential trading partner.

Question 24

What did David Lloyd George disagree about with the other Big Three leaders in relation to the peace settlement? (4)

Answer 24

❖Woodrow Wilson disagreed with David Lloyd George over his wish for British naval supremacy, as Wilson believed in freedom of the seas.

❖Lloyd George disagreed with Clemenceau over the issue of German armament. He wanted Germany to remain militarily strong, to act as a buffer against communism, whereas Clemenceau wanted Germany weak and defenceless.

❖Lloyd George disagreed with Clemenceau over the issue of reparations. Lloyd George wanted an economically stable Germany for Britain to trade with, whereas Clemenceau wanted Germany to pay huge reparations.

❖Lloyd George disagreed with Wilson over ambitions for the British Empire. Lloyd George wanted to expand the empire, whereas Wilson believed in the idea of national self-determination.

Question 25

What did Woodrow Wilson and the other Big Three leaders agree on in relation to the peace settlement?

Answer 25

Wilson’s views on the peace settlement were mostly in line with those of the British leader Lloyd George. Both men agreed that a harsh settlement on Germany would have long term consequences for future world peace and stability, the war was still vivid in their minds, and they wanted to avoid any future conflicts.

Question 26

What did Woodrow Wilson and the other Big Three leaders disagree on in relation to the peace settlement? (3)

Answer 26

❖Wilson believed in the ‘freedom of the seas’. However, David Lloyd George believed in the naval supremacy of Britain.

❖Wilson believed in the idea of ‘self-determination’. However, David Lloyd George saw the peace settlement as an opportunity to strengthen the British Empire.

❖Wilson had a vision for post-war peace based on international cooperation and each nation working together through the creation of the League of Nations. However, Clemenceau was guided by the idea of taking revenge for the damage done to France by Germany, therefore preventing Germany from joining the league.