TREATY OF VERSAILLLES Flashcards
what the big three aims were?
what happened after WW1?
The leaders of winning countries met to discuss how to deal with the losing countries. They wanted to build a more peaceful world and seek renvenge
What was the Paris Pecae Conference?
In January 1919, representatives from 32 winning countries met to decide the terms of the final peace treaty, known as the Paris Peace Conference. The discussions were led by the Big Three who had a lot of pressure to ensure they make peace with Germany but act quickly
George Clemenceau
-Much of the fighting took place in France so mines, railways, factories and bridges were destroyed. Many wanted revenge and Clemenceau was under pressure to make that happen
-Wanted to cripple Germany to make sure it couldn’t attack France again
-Wanted to reduce armed forces and push German border back so France would be less vunlerable to attack
-Wanted Germany to pay compensation in reparations to rebuild France and pay for the damage
Lloyd George
-Many young men died in the trenches so people wanted revemge.
-Lloyd George was more cautious as he was concerned if Germany was treated harshly, it could lad to Germans wanting revenge and another war
-Wanted to keep Germany strong so they could trade and to act as a buffer to Communism to stop other countries becoming to powerful
-Wanted to gain German colonies to add to the Empire as it was an important source of income that would keep the empire safe
-Wanted to have naval supremacy to reduce the German navy and stop it rivalling with Britain’s powerful navy
Wilson
-No fighting took place in America so there was no need for revenge.
-Americans made a lot of money selling weapons to the Allies
-Concerned that Germans could sek revenge and start another war if they were too strict so wanted a fair peac
-He was an idealist and wanted a future where everyone would be treated fairly so he suggested the League of Nations where countries could work and trade together
-Believed in self-determination where countries had the freedom to rule themselves
-His ideas for a better world where known as the Fourteen Points
Armistice
When Germany first surrendered they agreed to sign an armistice to make fighting stop immediately which included Germany paying reparations and giving the Alsace-Lorraine region back to France/moving army out of the Rhineland
Agreements
During the war, the Allies had made a lot of promises to different countries in return for support. These countries wanted to claim what was rightfully theirs.
Conflicts
All three men had to balance what was morally and politically right but ensure they pleased voters at home. They all brought different ideas, views and experiences with them. Clemenceau wanted revenge for destruction and death they suffered. Lloyd George was under pressure from the government but was concerned with the impact a harsh treaty could have. Wilson wanted a treaty that would build a fairer world
Time Constraints
The Big Three met in January but only had 12 months to decide what treaties would be adequate for Germany and there allies. The diplomats from 32 countries discussed each point in detail but were pressured to come to a decision quickly so they could start rebuilding their economies from reparations.
The treaty
The treaty was signed on the 28th June 1919 where it was announced that Big Three had reached an agreement. Germany were not allowed to negotiate nor go to the peace talks so the called it a Diktat as they were devastated by the way they were treated. The German government were informed of the terms which aimed to punish Germany by preventing them attacking France, weakening them and giving the countries compensation. They were told if they refused the terms the Allies would resume the war.
Economic Damage
Article 232 - Germany were blamed for the war and had to pay reparations to the winners. This figure was agreed to be 6600 million in 1921
The Saar, an important industrial part of Germany, was given under the control of the League for 15 years
Territorial Loss
The Rhineland, a strip of land on the border, was to be demilitarised meaning Germany couldn’t put defences or an army in this area
Germany was split in two by the Polish corridor which was a strip of land designed to give Poland access to the sea
Danzig was taken from Germany and made a free city under the League of Nations control
Germany’s colonies in Africa were given as mandates to the League of Nations so Britain and France controlled them
Germany lost 10% of its land such as Alsace Lorraine, returned to France, Eupen and Malmedy, given to Belgium and North Schleswig, given to Denmark.
Military Loss
The German navy was limited to 15,000 men with 1500 officers and 6 battleships.
Germany weren’t allowed tanks, submarines or an air force
The Germany navy was reduced to 100,000 men
Conscription wasn’t allowed
Damage to Pride
Article 231 was the war guilt clause that stated that Germany was to take full responsibility for starting the war
Anchluss between Germany and Austria was forbidden
The League of Nations was formed but Germany weren’t allowed to join
German reaction
Germany were outraged by the terms. They had been the strongest country in Europe but now the country was in turmoil, with the Kaiser fleeing to Holland, different political parties arguing and people frustrated about the Treaty.
It gave Hitler the excuse to invade other countries to reclaim what had been unfairly taken away from Germany so the general attitude was that the Treaty was unjust towards Germany and they had a right to hate it.
Germany objections
The people of Germany had been told they were winning the war so they were shocked by how severely they were punished by the Treaty
The German people hoped the Treaty would be fair and guarantee future peace as they needed help to rebuild a country that was damaged.
The Allies blamed the Kaiser for the war and said he needed to abdicate before the treaty was signed. When he fled to Holland, people felt the person responsibl had been punished so there was no need for further punishment.
The German people were shocked by the severity of the Treaty as they had not been allowed to negotiate the terms and people felt this was a Diktat that wasn’t fair or justified. They felt it was forced on them like a dictated peace.
The German government knew they had no choice but to agree with the Treaty so were hated by the population who felt they had ben stabbed in the back and betrayed by the government. The government was known as the November Criminals.
The abdication of the German Kaiser left no one to run the country so a new democratic government was set up but some felt it wasn’t strong enough to run the country. They wanted a strong leader as the government wasn’t helping people fast enough with revolts breaking out and the country being violent and unstable
The Germans hated the war guilt clause as it meant full responsibility over starting the war. Thy hated this clause the most and paying reparations.
People were starving from a British blockade that had prevented food begin imported to Germany. They were desperate and needed help to cope with the punishment they were facing.
Germans had to give up the rich coal fields of the Saar and oversea colonies. They lost 16% of coal and 13% of land with nearly 6 million Germans now living in different countries under the control of governments that resented Germany.
Germany were humiliated by the loss of their army, which was a source of national pride during the war. They felt vulnerable and hated by enemies and felt they could be easily attacked at any stage. The new Communist Russia was a threat and no one knew what this government was like.
Impact of the Treaty
1918 - revolts in Germany, protests about war and food shortages, armistice signed
1919 - communists attempt to take over, Treaty is signed, weimar constitution is accepted
1920- kapp putsh is an attempted revolution in Germany
1921- league agree on re[arations
1923- germany fail to make a reparations payment and the French invade the Ruhr - seize German goods and causes hyperinflation, munich putsch
1924- dawes plan for USA to lend Germany 800 million gold marks to rebuild country
Advantages of the Treaty
The Treaty ws signed at the end of the most devastating war so it ws right that countries payed for the damage caused, The war had caused lots of damagae so reparations were needed to rebuild
Many areas were now given independence as they didn’t want to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Many have said that if Germany had won, they would’ve treated the Allis much harsher as it was normal for the victor to agree to harsh terms.
Europe was falling apart with the empires having ruled over most of Eastern Europe collasping, Politics became unstable and under pressure, the peacemakers had to act quickly
Disadvantages
Around 6 million Germans now found themselves living outside of German territory and they feared persecution as forced to sign the war guilt clause
Germany lost 13% of its land and families were forced off land they had owned for generations as it was claimed by other countries undr the terms of the Treaty
Many people said the Treaty was too harsh and that it would lead to another war
Germans felt vunerable as they rfeared thei reduced army and navy weren’t big enough to protect them from an attack.
The Treaty was a Diktat with Germany not allowed to send representatives into the conference and accept the terms discussd.
The Germans felt the peace treaty was th 14 points set out to achieve a fair world for everyone
The reparations crippled Germany. adn leaving tghem bankrupt and vulnerable to attack,
Austria and Hungary lost so much land, the economies crashed in 1921
Neither of the peacemakers were satisified with the terms as France felt it should have been harsher and USA and Britain feeling it was to harsh and would lead to another war in the future.
People in defeated countries felt hated and humiliated by the treaties with revolts in countries
The Treaty of Sevres was so hsrsh and proved that treaties couldn’t be enforced asa the country revolted against it. It showed popl that the Allies were willling to undermine treaties if they were threatened.
French Reaction
Most of the fighting had taken place in France so the country was badly affected by the war. The French people were determined that Germnay should be severely punished by the Treaty. In reality, people were furious about the Treaty as they felt their suffering had been far breater so Germany should have a tougher Treaty. They felt the terms weren’t harsh.
