1.2 Impact Of The Versailles Settlement On Germany

Question 1

When was the armistice that needed fighting on the western front?

Answer 1

11 November 1918

Question 2

When was the conference convened at the palace of Versallises?

Answer 2

18 January 1919

Question 3

When are German delicates given a document containing the first draft of the terms of the treaty?

Answer 3

7 may 1919

Question 4

When are German delicates given 7 days to sign the treaty?

Answer 4

16 June 1919

Question 5

When does the coalition cabinet collapse because of divisions over signing the treaty?

Answer 5

20 June 1919

Question 6

When do the Riechstag vote to accept the treaty?

Answer 6

22nd June 1919

Question 7

When do German delicates sign the treaty of Versailles?

Answer 7

28 June 1919

Question 8

What is a Diktat?

Answer 8

An order or decree imposed by someone in power without popular consent

Question 9

What were the key sub topics for the terms of the treaty?(6 aspects)

Answer 9

-disarmament of Germany
-war guilt
-The Rhineland
-The Saarland
-other terms of the treaty
-territorial losses

Question 10

The treaty: war guilt?

Answer 10

-Germany has to accept full responsibility for starting the war under article 231

-war guilt clause made Germany liable to pay reparations to the allies over the cost of damage suffered in the war
(6.6 billion in reparations)

-Germany have to hand allies most of its merchant shipping fleetm railways and overseas investments

Question 11

Treaty: Rhineland?

Answer 11

-permanently demilitarised and allied occupation to ensure Germany fulfilled treaty obligations

Question 12

Treaty Saarland?

Answer 12

-contained rich reserves of coal, was taken away from Germany and put under the control of the League of Nations

-France allowed to exploit the coal mines in the area
(Germany would supply free coal to France,Belgium and Italy as part of reparations)

Question 13

Treaty:other terms of the treaty?

Answer 13

-Austria forbidden from uniting with Germany

-Germany not allowed to join League of Nations(Kaiser and Germans put on trial for war crimes)

Question 14

Treaty: Disarmament of Germany?

Answer 14

-Germany surrender all heavy weapons

-conscription to German armed forces forbidden and army limited to 100,000

-German navy limited to 15,000 men allowed 6 battleships but no submarines

-Germany forbidden from having an airforce

Question 15

Treaty:territorial losses?

Answer 15

-Germany lost 13% of land (70,000 km squared) and all overseas colonies

-Alsace-Lorraine returned to France
-most of west Prussia given to Poland
-Northern Schleswig given to Denmark

-Danzig becomes a free state under League of Nations protection

-Germany losses 75% of iron ore, 68% of zinc ore, 26% coal and 13% land

Question 16

What was the reaction of the treaty to the German people?

Answer 16

Horror and disbelief

Question 17

Why was the reaction to the treaty so severe?

Answer 17

-Germany’s war effort was portrayed by propaganda

-the soldiers and civilian population were not told how severe the situation was

Question 18

Why did Germans not like the disbarment of Germany?

Answer 18

-that and exclusion from League of Nations was seen as unjust discrimination against a proud nation

Question 19

Why did Germans not like reparations?

Answer 19

-they felt it was higher and would cripple the economy and they did not accept the ‘war guilt clause’ which justified the reparations

Question 20

Why did the Germans disagree with the war guilt clause?

Answer 20

Unjust national humiliation since Germans believed they had been forced into a war against the allies whom had encircled Germany

Question 21

Why did Germans resent the separation of East Prussia?

Answer 21

-millions of people who spoke and considered themselves German were now living in Poland of Czechoslovakia

Question 22

Reasons to justify the conditions of the treaty?

Answer 22

-the reparations were not beyond the capacity for the German people to pay

-If Germany had one they would have annexed territory and demanded reparations which would have been harsh on the allies

-treaty did not punish Germany as much as their treaty onto Russia in March 1918(broken their empire and taken large amounts of territory)(+Austriahundary was completely broken up)

-Wilson’s 14 points made it clear that Alsace-Lorraine must be returned to France

Question 23

What did President Ebert say to Groener about the treaty?

Answer 23

He would support the rejection of the treaty if military action could be successful

Question 24

What is the policy of fulfilment?

Answer 24

Most sensible course of action to go along with the treaty and make gradual modifications to it

Question 25

Why did the moderates become alienated?

Answer 25

They had no problem accepting new constitution and the promise of a better Germany but they could not stomach politicians who in their view betrayed Germany

Question 26

What did the signing of the treaty do to the right?

Answer 26

Strengthened the hatred of the constitution

Question 27

For extremists what were the 3 examples of the government betraying the motherland?

Answer 27

-dethroning the Kaiser
-signing the armistice
-accepting the treaty

(Became known as the November criminals)

Question 28

What was Britain’s reaction to the treaty?

Answer 28

-she Prime minister Lloyd George retuned home he was met with a large reception from the crowd

-satisfied Germany had lost overseas colonies
-satisfied lost its fleet
-Germany should not be so weak that it is unable to resist the expansion of the USSR

—Wanted Germany to be a string trading partner with Britan

(Reparations we’re too high)

Question 29

French reaction to the treaty?

Answer 29

-seeking revenge with the treaty

-Key demand that had been met: -Alsace-Lorraine, reparations, demilitarisation of the Rhineland

-too lenient on Germany with too many concessions (French prime minster Clemenceau looses the next election in 1920)

Question 30

USA reaction to the treaty?

Answer 30

-generally negative

-opinion Britain and France had tried to enrich themselves
-republicans opposed the treaty

-USA had to make a separate treaty with Germany in 1921
-USA refused to John the League of Nations and retreated from European affairs