Treaty of Versailles Flashcards

1
Q

which nations were not present at the Paris Peace Conference

A

The defeated nations (including Germany) and Soviet Russia

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2
Q

When did the Paris Peace Conference begin

A

January 1919

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3
Q

Who were the Big Three

A

GB: PM Lloyd-George
France: PM Clemencau
USA: President Woodrow Wilson

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4
Q

What were Clemenceau’s priorities

A

Defending France

  • return of land previously lost to Germany
  • action regarding Alsace-Lorraine, the Saarland and the Rhineland
  • Germany to be punished harshly + prevented from waging war again
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5
Q

when did France originally lose land to Germany

A

1871 Franco-Prussian war

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6
Q

What were Lloyd-George’s priorities

A
  • “just and firm” peace that did not create a desire for revenge in Germany
  • Germany to pay for starting the war (he insisted on chairing a committee at Versailles to investigate how much Germany should pay)
  • a share of Germany’s territories to strengthen Britain’s global position
  • strengthen Britain’s navy which was important for protecting their empire (therefore he supported restricting Germany’s navy to 36 ships)
  • economic revival in Europe (Germany included), which would prevent war
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7
Q

what did Woodrow Wilson want

A
  • peace based on his 14 points

- increased international cooperation and negotiating rather than using violence as a tool to settle differences

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8
Q

what were Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points

A
  1. No more secret agreements between countries. Diplomacy shall be open to the world.
  2. International seas shall be free to navigate during peace and war.
  3. There shall be free trade between the countries who accept the peace.
  4. There shall be a worldwide reduction in weapons and armies by all countries.
  5. Colonial claims over land and regions will be fair.
  6. Russia will be allowed to determine its own form of government. All German troops will leave Russian soil.
  7. German troops will evacuate Belgium and Belgium will be an independent country.
  8. France will regain all territory including the disputed land of Alsace-Lorraine.
  9. The borders of Italy will be established such that all Italians will be within the country of Italy.
  10. Austria-Hungary will be allowed to continue to be an independent country.
  11. The Central Powers will evacuate Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania leaving them as independent countries.
  12. The Turkish people of the Ottoman Empire will have their own country. Other nationalities under the Ottoman rule will also have security.
  13. Poland shall be an independent country.
  14. A League of Nations will be formed that protects the independence of all countries no matter how big or small.
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9
Q

What was the Peace Settlement of 1919-1920

A

The 5 peace treaties signed with the defeated powers after WW1:

Versailles (Germany)
St Germain (Austria)
Trianon (Hungary)
Sevres (Turkey)
Neuilly (Bulgaria)
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10
Q

What was the Peace Settlement of 1919-1920

A

The 5 peace treaties signed with the defeated powers after WW1:

Versailles (Germany)
St Germain (Austria)
Trianon (Hungary)
Sevres (Turkey)
Neuilly (Bulgaria)
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11
Q

What was anschluss

A

the term given to the unification of Germany with its neighbour, Austria

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12
Q

What were the main terms of the treaty of Versailles (7 points)

A
  • war guilt clause (Germany must take full responsibility for starting the war)
  • Germany must accept liability for the damage caused by the war and pay reparations (£6,600 million)
  • Rhineland must be demilitarised
  • Anschluss was forbidden
  • disarmament: army limited to 100,000 men, conscription was banned, navy limited to 36 warships, forbidden from possessing any tanks or airforce
  • loss of territories in Europe
  • Germany’s colonies became mandates of the League of Nations
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13
Q

The treaty of Versailles was negotiated with Germany. True or False

A

False. The terms of the treaty were presented to the German delegation at the peace conference in May 1919

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14
Q

Describe the military restrictions placed on Germany as a result of the treaty of Versailles

A

army limited to 100,000 men, conscription was banned, navy limited to 36 warships, forbidden from possessing any tanks or airforce

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15
Q

How much was Germany meant to pay in reparations

A

£6,600 million

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16
Q

Describe the Germany’s territorial losses in Europe according to the TOV (4 points)

A
  • lost land to France (Alsace-Lorraine), Belgium (Eupen and Malmedy) and Denmark (North Schleswig)
  • also lost land to newly created states: Poland (West Prussia, Posen and parts of Upper Silesia) and Lithuania (Memel)
  • Saarland to be given to the League of Nations for 15 years and then a plebiscite will decide its fate
  • Danzig became a free city administered by the League of Nations
17
Q

What aspects of the TOV was Clemenceau most happy with (4 points)

A

Return of Alsace-Lorraine to France
Reparations
Weakening of Germany’s military
Increased security for France as Rhineland was demilitarised

18
Q

What aspects of the TOV was Clemenceau unhappy about

A

Saarland under the League of nations instead of being given to France

USA’s refusal to sign an Anglo-American treaty if Germany became aggressive with France

19
Q

What aspects of the TOV was Lloyd-George most happy with

A

extension of GB’s empire through mandated colonies that previously belonged to Germany

Germany not completely destroyed economically so they can still play a part in Europe’s economy

20
Q

What aspects of the TOV was Lloyd-George unhappy about

A

Many German speaking people not ruled by Germany and found themselves in other countries e.g. Poland + Czechoslovakia

21
Q

What aspects of the TOV was Wilson unhappy about

A

self-determination did not apply across the whole of Europe

treaty was much harder than his 14 points

US congress did not approve the TOV and the USA never joint the LON

22
Q

What aspects of the TOV was Wilson most happy with

A

creation of the League of nations
some degree of disarmament took place after the war
principle of self-determination resulted in the creation of new countries out of old empires

23
Q

what were mandated territories

A

former colonies of defeated countries of the Ottoman Empire e.g. Palestine, Syria and mesopotamia which were taken over by the LON and transferred to other countries

24
Q

what was the German reaction to the TOV and why

A

Strongly disliked it because:

  • did not think the war guilt clause was fair as they didn’t think they were solely to blame for starting the war
    (argued that Serbia and Russia provoked Austria and Germany was merely assisting their ally)
  • disarmament was a blow to national pride as the military was a source of German strength and prestige
  • Germans thought they would be signing a treaty based on Wilson’s 14 points when they agreed to armistice in 1914. The TOV was much harsher
    (plus they had already given into some of Wilson’s demands eg deposed the Kaiser and technically they hadn’t even been invaded)
  • The peace settlement was inconsistent: self determination for some (e.g. poles) but not germans
  • it was imposed on them (a diktat)
  • claimed it was impossible to pay reparations and refused to pay anymore at the end of 1922
25
Q

Describe the key points of the Treaty of St Germain with Austria

A

Disarmament: army limited to 30,000, no conscription, no navy

Reparations: agreed but never set due to Austrian bankruptcy

Loss of territory: Austro-Hungarian empire broken up, Anschluss forbidden

New countries created from their land: Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland, Yugoslavia

26
Q

What was the treaty with Austria and when was it signed

A

Name: Treaty of St Germain
Signed: September 1919

27
Q

What was the treaty with Bulgaria and when was it signed

A

Name: Treaty of Neuilly
Signed: November 1919

28
Q

Describe the key points of the Treaty of Neuilly with Bulgaria

A

Disarmament: Army limited to 20,000, no conscription, 4 torpedo boats allowed, no air force

Reparations: £90 million

Territory lost to: Greece, Romania and Yugoslavia

29
Q

Describe the key points of the Treaty of Trianon with Hungary

A

Disarmament: Army limited to 35,000, no conscription, 3 patrol boats only

Reparations: 200 million gold crowns

Loss of territory: Fiume to Italy

New countries created from territory: Czechoslovakia, Romania, Yugoslavia

30
Q

What was the treaty with Hungary and when was it signed

A

Name: Treaty of Trianon
Signed: June 1920

31
Q

What was the treaty with Turkey and when was it signed

A

Name: Treaty of Sevres
Signed: August 1920

32
Q

Describe the key points of the Treaty of Sevres with Turkey

A

Disarmament: army limited to 30,000, 6 torpedo boats only

Reparations: none as the allies didn’t think Turkey would be able to pay but they did take control of Turkey’s finances

Loss of territory: Smyrna and East Thrace given to Greece, Rhodes given to Italy

New countries created from their land: Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Kurdistan, Armenia

33
Q

Describe the viewpoint from people at the time that the treaties were too harsh

A

Lloyd-George: treaties may stir up resentment and lead to war

British economist John Maynard Keynes: prevent Germany’s economic recovery and impact prosperity in the rest of Europe

34
Q

Describe the viewpoint from people at the time that the treaties were not harsh enough

A

Many people in France feared that it only offered temporary protection against Germany. Wanted Germany broken into smaller states and have its industrial capacity completely destroyed

Italian PM Orlando was criticised for not demanding extra territory to be given to Italy from Austria

35
Q

Describe the viewpoint from people at the time that the treaties were fair

A
Wilson argued that the treatment of defeated nations was appropriate 
Edward House (American diplomat at Versailles) said it wasn't perfect but it was the best that could have been achieved
36
Q

what was the Versailles settlement

A

Term used to collectively describe the entire peace settlements of 1919-1923

37
Q

when was the treaty of Lausanne signed and who was it with

A

Turkey

June 1923