What did people want from the treaty of Versailles? Flashcards
What did President Woodrow Wilson want after World War 1?
He wanted a fair peace and created 14 points which he thought would help achieve this. Three examples are:
- Open diplomacy and no more secret treaties. (as they lead to misunderstanding and suspicion)
- reduction of armaments for all countries
- self determination for peoples of Austria-Hungary
What did George Clemenceau of France want after World War 1?
- Permanent disarmament most of Germany’s army, navy and air force
- High levels of reparations
- The return of Alsace Lorraine to France
- A significant portion of Germany’s colonies to be handed to France
- The Rhineland area to be formed an independent state (so that France no longer shared a common border with Germany)
- The Saar Basin to be transferred to France
What did David Lloyd George of Britain want after World War 1 (1918)?
1918: - shared the French desire for a harsh peace settlement to be imposed on Germany. The British public demanded vengeance, so he insisted
1. Germany should pay for the full cost of the war
2. Britain to have a sizeable amount of Germany’s colonies
1919: - changed his outlook, and decided that a more moderate peace settlement was in British interest.
What did David Lloyd George realise between 1918-1919 that would affect his opinion on the harshness of the treaty of Versailles?
- the economic well-being of Britain depended on the economic revival of Europe, and in turn Germany
- he wanted Britain to remain trading partners with Germany like before the war
- if Germany was deprived of the Rhineland, where much of it’s industry was located, it would not be able to afford British goods
- a very high reparations fee would not only anger Germany but affect her economy, therefore her business
- a weak Germany is an inadequate barrier against the spread of communism from the east
- if the treaty was to harsh, the Germans may try to overrun it
Why was it important for Lloyd George to stop communism from spreading across Europe?
Because Britain was a Capitalist country and as communism was spreading across Europe it would get to Britain unless stopped by countries such as Germany. (who would be useless if they had a small army)
Britain was selfish and had priorities, and Lloyd George wanted to keep his job. He could do this by keeping Britain Capitalist and by pleasing the British public.
5 simple, main agreements of the Treaty of Versailles.
remember GARGLE
- War guilt clause (article 231) - Germany and allies to accept full blame for the war.
2.Disarmament - army decreased to restrict Germany’s ability to wage war in the future. 100,000 men, no tanks, vehicles or artillery, no military of naval air force, 6 battleships no submarines. - Reparations - pay lots of money to the other countries because of the damage the war caused.
- Germany territory was lost - including Alsace Lorraine back to France, and Danzig a free city.
- league of Nations was formed
(extra points e.g no union between Austria and Germany.
How did the Germans initially feel about the Treaty?
That the Treaty was too harsh: had to pay reparations, lost land and resources such as coal, iron and ore that were needed to pay the reparations.objected that the treaty was ‘diktat’ or dictated peace.
What was the economic impact that the treaty had on Germany?
- Paid First reparation instalment 1921, claimed couldn’t afford the 1922 instalment
- French felt Germany was just avoiding the terms of the Treaty, they were angry for not getting their payment
- 1923 France with Belgium, sent troops into the Ruhr to seize coal and other resources of the value of the missing payment
- Due to disarmament, Germany was in no positions to fight back with force
- ordered the people of the Ruhr to offer passive resistance (peaceful strike action, but the government still paid them)
- Therefore the French expelled more than 100,000 Germans from the region and killed 130
- to make up for the lost money printed money - THIS HAD A DIRE EFFECT ON THE GERMAN ECONOMY.
What effect did printing money have on the German economy?
printing money caused hyperinflation across Germany. The German mark became worthless and middle class saving lost their value. The more money they made, the less value it had. Things like bread became very expensive, the prices of everything went up. (bartering became popular, things like eggs, cigarettes and bags of sugar were used a s currency)
What country did the Treaty of Saint Germain deal with?
Austria
What were the main points of the Treaty of Saint Germain?
- The new republic of Austria had to accept the break up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
- Austria recognise the independence of Hingary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Yugoslavia, Italy and Romania.
- Territory from the former Empire was given to the former countries
- Union between Austria and Germany is forbidden
What country did the Treaty of Trianon deal with?
Hungary
What were the main terms of the Treaty of Trianon?
- Hungary to accept the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
- Hungary recognise the independence of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia
- Territory of former empire transferred to Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Romania
What Country did the Treaty of Neuilly deal with?
Bulgaria
What were the main terms of the Treaty of Neuilly?
- Bulgaria had to recognise the independence of Yugoslavia
2. Bulgaria lost territory to Greece, Yugoslavia, and Romania
