Were the peace treaties of 1919-23 fair? Flashcards

1
Q

Motives and aims of Clemenceau (TOV)

A
  • to ensure the future security of France as Germany had attacked France twice in the previous 50 years
  • to punish Germany severely, leaving it weak
  • the permanent disarmament of Germany
  • a very high level of reparations to pay for the destruction caused by Germany
  • the return of Alsace-Lorraine to France
  • the Rhineland to become an independent state so that France no longer shared a common border with Germany
  • the Saar Basin to be transferred to France
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2
Q

Motives and aims of Wilson (TOV)

A
  • a fair and lasting peace to prevent Germany seeking revenge
  • aimed to allow nations to decide their own political future (self-determination)
  • international cooperation with countries working together to settle disputes peacefully in the future
  • his ‘Fourteen points’
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3
Q

Motives and aims of Lloyd George (TOV)

A
  • a “just and firm” peace which avoided Germany seeking revenge but satisfied the British people
  • a share of Germany’s colonies
  • the economic revival of Europe and the German economy so trade would be re-established
  • to reduce the threat of the spread of communism from Russia
  • to maintain the strength and power of the British navy to protect Britain’s colonies
  • to persuade Clemenceau to make key concessions to ensure France did not become the dominant power in Europe
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4
Q

Key terms of the Treaty of Versailles

A
War guilt (Article 231)
Reparations
The Rhineland 
Anschluss
Disarmament
League of Nations
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5
Q

Description of war guilt (TOV)

A

Germany was forced to accept total responsibility for starting the war

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6
Q

Description of reparations (TOV)

A

Germany had to accept liability for the damage caused by the war and pay reparations. The figure for reparations was not decided at Versailles. It was agreed on in 1921 and was set at 6.6 billion pounds

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7
Q

Description of the Rhineland (TOV)

A

The Rhineland was to be demilitarised zone. German troops were not allowed in the area as it formed the border between Germany and France. In addition, there was to be an Allied army of occupation on the west bank of Rhine for 15 years.
Key word: Demilitarised - no troops, armaments or fortifications present

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8
Q

Description of Anschluss (TOV)

A

Germany and its former ally Austria were not allowed to unite

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9
Q

Description of Disarmament (TOV)

A
Army - 100,000 soldiers, no conscription
No tanks
No submarines
36 warships
6 battleships
15,000 sailors
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10
Q

Description of League of Nations (TOV)

A

An international police force was to be set up to prevent future wars

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11
Q

What was to happen to Alsace-Lorraine under the TOV?

A

Returned to France

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12
Q

Clemenceau’s satisfied demands (TOV)

A
  • demilitarisation of the Rhineland secured its eastern frontier
  • Germany’s economic power and military capacity was reduced
  • Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France
  • France was to be a major recipient of reparations
  • France was to gain some of Germany’s colonies
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13
Q

Clemenceau’s unfulfilled demands (TOV)

A

To avoid France becoming a dominant power in Europe, Lloyd George persuaded Clemenceau to:

  • abandon the idea of an independent Rhineland state
  • avoid giving the scale of reparations in the treaty
  • abandon the idea that Danzig be given to Poland
  • abandon the French claim to the Saar Basin
  • abandon the French President’s idea of splitting Germany into a collection of smaller states
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14
Q

Wilson’s satisfied demands (TOV)

A
  • reference to a League of Nations was included in each of the peace treaties
  • there was partial satisfaction with the requirement that the defeated nations should disarm
  • the Rhineland was to remain part of Germany, allowing a return of economic strength and trading possibilities
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15
Q

Wilson’s unfulfilled demands (TOV)

A
  • he thought that the Versailles Treaty was too harsh on Germany
  • the principle of free navigation of the seas was abandoned at Britain’s insistence
  • Britain, France and Japan had rewarded themselves with Germany’s former colonies
  • self-determination failed to apply in some areas such as the Sudetenland
  • the US congress failed to approve the treaties and the League of Nations
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16
Q

Lloyd George’s satisfied demands (TOV)

A
  • he had successfully persuaded Clemenceau to moderate his approach towards Germany
  • he was able to extend the British Empire
  • Germany would be able to contribute to the future economic prosperity of Europe which was reassuring for those who feared the spread of communism
17
Q

Lloyd George’s disapprovements

A

Lloyd George did now approve of the decision to place German speaking people under the rule of other countries

18
Q

Impact of TOV on Germany up to 1923

A
  • A fragile new government, the Weimar Republic, had been set up, and was forced to sign the hated Treaty of Versailles
  • An attempted revolt against this democratically elected government by the Freikorps, led by Kapp, failed but left Germany in chaos
  • The Republic was under threat from the Spartacists who wanted a system of government based on communism, as recently establish by the Bolsheviks in Russia
  • When the reparations figure was announced, Germany claimed it could not afford to pay. It made a payment in 1921, but no in 1922, resulting in French and Belgian troops occupying the Ruhr. Armed resistance to the invasion was not possible, so the response was peaceful strike action
  • As revenue declined, the German government began to print more money. This stoked up the existing inflation into hyperinflation. The German mark became worthless
19
Q

German reaction to the Treaty of Versailles

A
  • The German people and government were horrified at the harshness and injustice of the TOV
  • They objected to the “diktat” (imposed peace), as they thought they should be allowed to participate in the discussions
  • The reduction in armaments brought a loss of pride and resentment. This also contributed to a feeling of insecurity as the size of the army was thought to be too small to defend against a possible French attack
  • Some German people were now living under foreign rule resulting in a loss of pride
  • It was seen as insulting that they were not invited to join the League of Nations
20
Q

Common features between TOV and other peace treaties

A

A war guilt clause
An obligation to pay reparations
Reduction in armament
Acceptance of the Covenant of the League of Nations

21
Q

What was to happen to the Saar Basin under the TOV?

A

To be administered by the League of Nations for 15 years. After that time a plebiscite would be held to decide if is should belong to France, to Germany, or remain under League control

22
Q

What was to happen to Danzig under the TOV?

A

Was to become a Free City administered by the League of Nations. Poland could use the port and the strip of land known as the the “Polish Corridor”

23
Q

What was to happen to West Prussia, Posen, and parts of Upper Silesia under the TOV?

A

Transferred to Poland

24
Q

What was to happen to Memel under the TOV?

A

Transferred to Lithuania

25
Q

What was to happen to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania under the TOV?

A

Set up as independent states

26
Q

What was to happen to German colonies under the TOV?

A

These became mandates of the League of Nations, which effectively meant that Britain and France controlled them

27
Q

What is Plebiscite?

A

A vote by the people of a country or region on an important issue

28
Q

What was to happen to Eupen, Malmedy and Moresnet under the TOV?

A

Transferred to Belgium

29
Q

What was to happen to North Schleswig under the TOV?

A

Transferred to Denmark

30
Q

What is a mandate?

A

The authority, given by the LoN, to Britain and France to govern the former German colonies

31
Q

What are reparations?

A

The payment for damaged caused during the war