The Treaty of Versailles Flashcards
When was the Treaty of Versailles?
1919
Who requested the Armistice at the end of WWI?
The German Supreme Command
Who were the German Supreme Command?
Hindenburg and Ludendorff
What were the terms of the armistice for Germany?
immediately withdraw from France, Belgium and Alsace-Lorraine + surrender vast amounts of war materials and weapons
Who were the ‘big three’?
The U.S (President Woodrow Wilson), Great Britain (Prime Minister Lloyd George) and France (Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau)
what was France’s (Prime Minister Clemenceau’s) main aim in Versailles?
To exact revenge from Germany, to keep her economically and militarily weak
What was the aim of President Wilson in Versailles?
To remove the causes of war to make the world ‘safe for democracy’
What was the last of Wilson’s ‘Fourteen Points’ ?
To establish the League of Nations
what was Great Britain’s (Prime Minister Lloyd George) aim in Versailles?
GB knew that revenge was a popular goal (George’s party campaigned on the slogan ‘hang the Kaiser’, however also knew that it was a short-term goal– they knew the dangers of humiliating the powerful nation [“we cannot both cripple her (Germany) and expect her to pay” (Lloyd George)]
What were the military costs for Germany following Versailles?
army reduced to 100,000, u-boats prohibited and navy severely restricted, no tanks or air force allowed
what were the economic costs for Germany following Versailles?
pay for the costs of the entire war, both sides. (the exact amount had not been determined yet when Germany signed, and came to about 6.6 billion euros). Belgium and France were given machinery + infrastructure
How many tons of coal and timber were to be given to France each year? (by Germany)
8 million
What happened to German overseas colonies following Versailles?
They had to all be given up
What happened to the Rhineland following Versailles?
It became a demilitarised zone
What happened to East Prussia following Versailles?
It was lost to Poland (originally belonged to Germany)
What aspect of the Treaty imposed on Germany full responsibility for the war?
War Guilt Clause 231
Who from Germany were deemed as war criminals by the War Guilt Clause 231?
The Kaiser (Wilhelm II) and his chief generals
When was Germany finally able to join the League of Nations?
1926
Who did the German public believe initiated the Armistice at the end of WWI?
The Provisional Government (socialist politicians), which culminated the entire ‘stab in the back’ myth
Why was Japan disappointed at the results of Versailles?
They were hoping to gain Germany’s former trading rights with China, however were unsuccessful
Why was Italy bitterly disappointed at the results of Versailles?
They did not gain any new territory or share of Germany and Turkey’s colonial possessions
What did Germany’s loss of territory and economic punishment feed into?
the German people’s hate for internationalism (this aided Hitler and the Nazi Party’s rise to power)
What is a ‘diktat’ ? (which Hitler famously referred to the Treaty of Versailles as)
an order or decree imposed by someone in power without popular consent
