Treaty of Versailles Flashcards
Why were the Big Three under pressure to deal severely with Germany?
They felt (especially Britain and France) that Germany was responsible for the war and should be punished.
Felt that Germany should pay for all the damage and destruction caused by the war.
What were the total BR and FR casualties?
Probably over 9 million
What was the view of the Br public regarding Germany?
Huge casualties left mark on British public.
DEMANDED A HARSH PEACE settlement with Germany
When was the case for treating Germany harshly strengthened?
Germany had treated Russia HARSHLY in the ToBL in 1918. Allies felt that this is what Germany would have done to them had they lost the war.
- Stripped Russia of lots of land
- 25% of population
What were the differing aims of the PPC?
punish Germany
cripple Germany so that it could not start another war
reward winning countries
establish a just and lasting peace
What was Clemenceau’s character?
tough, harsh and uncompromising
Why did Clemenceau demand a harsh peace treaty with Germany?
France had suffered enormous damage to land, industry and people. 2/3 of men fighting in the army had been killed/injured.
Compared with France, Germany seemed as powerful and threatening as ever. German land and industry had not suffered as much as France’. French population was also in decline compared to Ger.
What did France see the Treaty as?
an opportunity to cripple Germany so that it could not attack Fr again
What did Fr President Poincaré want?
to split Ger into a collection of smaller states
What did Clem need to do as the PM of France?
demand a harsh peace settlement despite him knowing that Br and USA wouldn’t agree to show that he was AWARE of public opinion in France.
What was Wilson like?
an idealist and reformer
What were Wilson’s aims?
To build a better more peaceful world from the ruins of war.
He didn’t want to punish Germany too harshly otherwise it would recover and want revenge.
He wanted to strengthen democracy in the defeated nation so that its people would not let its leaders cause another war.
What did Wilson want all nations to do and how did he contribute?
COOPERATE to achieve world peace
He published his Fourteen Points
What did Wilson strongly believe in that contrasted very much with Clemenceau and LG?
SELF-DETERMINATION
Br and Fr felt it would be too difficult to give this to the peoples of E.Europe as they were scattered among many countries.
They felt that he didn’t really know what was going on there.
What was LG’s character?
realist
What did LG want in the treaty?
Germany to be punished but not too harshly. Didn’t want Ger to seek revenge and start another war.
Wanted Ger to lose overseas colonies b/c they threatened the Br empire.
Wanted to trade with Ger again: Ger was Br’s 2nd largest trading partner before the war and trade with Ger meant more jobs for the public.
What were LG’s public pressures at home?
He had won the 1918 election by promising to make Germany pay but he realised the dangers and losses to Britain with this course of action.
What were 4 of the 14 Points?
Free trade between countries
Free access to the seas in peacetime or wartime
Self-determination for the people in the Turkish Empire
League of Nations to be set up