1.1.2 Aims of the Peacemakers

Question 1

Who was Georges Clemenceau?

Answer 1

The Prime Minister of France in 1918

Question 2

What were the aims of Georges Clemenceau? (4)

Answer 2

• Wanted Germany to pay for reparations to rebuild areas of France badly affected by war
• Wanted revenge for all the lives lost
• Aimed to weaken Germany so it could never attack again; he wanted their armed forces to be dramatically cut and there to be a demilitarised border between France and Germany
• Wanted to push German border back to the Rhine so French people would feel safer

Question 3

Why did Georges Clemenceau want to punish the Germans so violently? (2)

Answer 3

• The First World War had been fought on French soil so they had seen much of their land and resources (like railways) destroyed.
• Also suffered the most deaths: 1.4 million dead

Question 4

How many deaths did France suffer from in WW1?

Answer 4

1.4 million

Question 5

Why did the French want to cripple Germany economically?

Answer 5

To make sure that there was no way they could be attacked by them ever again

Question 6

What did France see the reparations from Germany as?

Answer 6

A form of compensation so that the French could repair their country

Question 7

What is a famous quote that describes France punishing Germany?

Answer 7

“We shall squeeze the German lemon until the pips squeak!”

Question 8

Why were the Americans nearly unphased by World War 1? (4)

Answer 8

• They joined the war late
• Lost fewer men
• Didn’t see the physical effects of war on their soil
• Had made lots of money from the war selling weapons to the allies

Question 9

What were the aims of Woodrow Wilson? (2)

Answer 9

• Wanted a fair peace, so Germany would not seek revenge
• Proposed the Fourteen Points, including foundation of a League of Nations, self-determination and freedom of the seas; but the American public didn’t want the USA to get involved in European affairs again

Question 10

Wilson didn’t want to be harsh on Germany and he wanted them to have ‘self-determination’. What is this?

Answer 10

This is where countries are allowed to rule themselves

Question 11

What were the aims of David Lloyd George? (4)

Answer 11

• Wanted a cautious approach: British public wanted Germany to be punished, but Lloyd George was conscious that this would provoke another war as the Germans would seek revenge
• Wanted to keep Germany strong enough to retain trade links with other countries and act as a buffer to Communism
• Aimed to gain German colonies to add to the British Empire
• Wanted naval supremacy by reducing Germany’s navy

Question 12

What did David Lloyd George want to gain from Germany?

Answer 12

Germany’s colonies