Treaty of Versailles Flashcards
1
Q
Clemenceau attitute towards Germany
A
- Had seen first hand damage Germany caused to France - Franco-Prussian war 1871 where they took Alsace-Llorraine
- Hated Germany and wanted to make sure they could never attack again
- Suffered 6 million casualties in army, 1.4 million deaths
- Vast amounts of damage in economy and infrastructure
2
Q
Clemenceau aims
A
- Disarmament
- Reparations
- Alsace-Lorraine
- German colonies
- Rhineland and Saar
3
Q
Lloyd George attitude towards Germany
A
- Britain had suffered attacks on mainland
- Sustained heavy casualties during the war
- Economy was severely disrupted
- Concerned about security of France’s border
4
Q
Lloyd George aims
A
- Economic revival of Europe
- keep reparations low + let them keep Rhineland for trade
- Germany rebuild to defend (provide buffer) against communism in the east
- Prevent Germany from regarding it as too harsh - wanting revenge
5
Q
Wilsons attitude towards Germany
A
- Had not declared war on Germany until April 1917 and was not involved until around a year later
- At no point was territory invaded
- Few American lives lost: less than 800 civilian casualites
- War provided trade and business opportunities
6
Q
Wilson aims
A
- Wanted to achieve 14 points
- Included open diplomacy/no secret treaties
- Disarmament
- Principle of self determination
7
Q
Terms of treaty: territory (6)
A
- Alsace-Lorraine went to france
- Saar basin administered by league of nations for 15 years
- Eupen-Malmady went to Belgium
- West Prussia and Upper Silesia went to Poland
- Danzig was to be run by League of Nations
- North Schleswig went to Denmark
8
Q
Terms of treaty: Reparations
A
- Had to pay £6,600 million
- Decided by Reparations Commission in 1921
9
Q
Terms of treaty: Armaments
A
- Rhineland to become a demiliterised zone with allied occupation for 15 years
- Army restricted to 100,000
- No tanks, armoured vehicles or heavy artillery
- No airforce
- Navy restricted to 6 battleships and no submarines
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10
Q
Terms of treaty: War guilt clause
A
- Article 231 - Germany and her allies were to take full responsibilities for starting the war
11
Q
Terms of treaty: League of Nations
A
- Germany had to accept the covenant of the League of Nations
12
Q
Germany colonies
A
- German east africa - Britain
- German South West Africa - Britain
- Togoland and Cameroon - Britian and France
- Marshall, Mariana and Caroline islands - Japan
- New Guinea - Australia/Britain
- Samoa - New Zealand
- Turkish colonies: Iraq, Transjordan and Palestine - Britain
- Turkish colonies: Syria and Lebanon - France
13
Q
France successes
A
- Alsace-Lorraine
- German colonies
- Reparations
- Secure easter border
14
Q
France failures
A
- Clemenceau was afraid eastern border would still not be safe
- He proposed the Anglo/American Treaty of Guarantee for France - Britian and USA would be committed to protection of France against future aggression - failed to materialise
15
Q
USA successes
A
- League of Nations + creation of Poland
- Defeated powers disarmed
- Reduced harshness of peace - able to continue business with Germany + not to high reparations
16
Q
USA failures
A
- Treaty was too harsh
- Principle of free navigation of seas was rejected
- Colonies went to main powers - supposed to be under LoN
- Exceptions to self-determination - Austria + Sudatenland
17
Q
Britain successes
A
- Persuaded France to take a more moderate approach
- Promoted British interests - colonies
- German naval threat removed fro forseable future
18
Q
Britian failures
A
- German speaking people under French or Polish rule
19
Q
Impact of treaty to Germany: too harsh
A
- Vast reparations
- Deprived of resources needed to pay these reparations
- HOWEVER, Germany imposed equally harsh reparations on Russia at Brest-Litovsk
20
Q
Impact of treaty to Germany: Diktat
A
- A dictated punitive peace
- Excluded from negociations
- No choice but to sign
21
Q
Impact of treaty to Germany: War guilt cause
A
- Article 231 - Germany were to take entire responsibilty for starting the war
- Not true - first military action was Russian mobilisation July 1914
22
Q
Impact of treaty to Germany: Political impact
A
- Weimar republic little option but to sign - instantly unpopular for having done so
- Symbol of Germany’s dishonor and humiliation
- Right wing extremists supported attempts to overthrow government: Munich Putch November 1923
- Right wing extremists carried out a number of assasinaitons including the killing of (finance minister) Matthieus Erzberger and (foreign minister) Walter Rathenau
- Left wing extremists exploited the unpopularity of the Weimar Government by promoting rebellions e.g that in the Ruhr in March 1920
- Feikorps, under command of Wolfgang Kapp, staged a coup in Berlin and declared a new national government - government survived due to general workers strike
- Not allowed to join the league
23
Q
Impact on Germany: Economic impact
A
- No fee when treaty was signed
- £6,600 million was too high
- Had lost valuable economic resources e.g Rhineland
- Had to pay debts
- Led to hyperinflation, unemployment and poverty
- Led to Ruhr crisis
24
Q
Ruhr Crisis January 1923
A
- Germany paid first installment in 1921 but couldnt pay in 1922
- France and Belgium decided to take action: occupied area to sieze coal and other resources to account for missed payments
- Population went on strike and French responded by expelling 100,000 from the region and killing 130
- Led to hyperinflation from printing more money
25
Q
Impact on Germany: Disarmament
A
- Status and prestige
- Claimed it was insufficient for border defence
- Would be difficult to deal with revolts and uprisings e.g Munich putch November 1923
26
Q
Impact on Germany: 14 Points
A
- Thought treaties would be based off wilsons 14 points
- Not followed: no disarmament for all countries, no self determination, no mention of war guilt in 14 points,
27
Q
Could the treaties be justified at the time? Yes:
A
- Effect on France was vast: casualties, not as harsh as some people wanted which shows extent of damage to France
- Russia treated harshly in Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 1918 + France treated harshly in 1871 - France were taking back what was theirs
- Demilitarisation of Rhineland justified - they wanted to prevent future war and avoid aggression
- Germany economic problems were self inflicted - taxes not raised to pay for the war + still head industrial potential
- Best that could be done - Wilson
28
Q
Could the treaties be justified at the time? No
A
- Vindictive punitive peace - ‘Diktat’
- Very harsh - loss of land and defences, not allowed into league, reputation destroyed
- War guilt - could Germany be blamed for starting the war? COULD be blamed for the damage
- Crippled Germany’s economy, signed a black cheque
