Treaty of Versailles

Question 1

The Treaty of Brest Litovsk of March 1918

Answer 1

• This treaty was between Russia and Germany
• Russia wanted to stop fighting (still in WW1) with Germany and make a deal because they didn’t want their throne to be taken from them.
• Germany agreed and Russia had to lose the following:
  1. A third of agricultural land
  2. Third of population
  3. Half of its industry
  4. Quarter of railways
  5. 90% of its coalmines

Question 2

The mood in France after WW1

Answer 2

They were angry because:

1. 5million troops died
2. They were invaded twice (in 1870 as well)
3. France was damaged and there was a lot of destruction to their land and property.
4. Lots of their money was spent on the war.

= They wanted revenge

Question 3

The mood in Britain after WW1

Answer 3

They were angry because:

1. 750,000 troops died.
2. Germany invaded Belgium - they were a neutral country and were good friends with them.

Question 4

The mood in US after WW1

Answer 4

Wanted to keep peace in Europe

They wanted to stay out of European affairs

Question 5

The mood in Germany after WW1

Answer 5

2m troops died
Surprised they lost the war - civilians weren’t told that they lost
They lost the war
Exhausted and depressed
Guilt and afraid

Question 6

Who was invited to the Paris Peace Conference and who wasn’t?

Answer 6

Soviet Russia wasn’t invited following the revolution in October 1917.
The defeated powers were also not invited
The main peacemakers are France, US and Britain

Question 7

Who represented France, US and Britain?

Answer 7

France - Prime Minister Clemenceau
US - President Woodrow Wilson
Britain - Prime Minister Lloyd George

Question 8

What was the Prime Minister of France main aim?

Answer 8

To achieve a peace to ensure the future security of France. He thought if they were weakened, they would not be able to threaten the peace of Europe again.

Question 9

Reasons why the Prime Minister of France thought his country was open to future attack (3 reasons)

Answer 9

1. France shared a common border with Germany which meant that Germany could invade at any time as there is no barrier.
2. The border didn’t have an natural frontier such as an major river which meant that they could cross the border quickly and easily.
3. France was invaded twice by Germany in which the first time they lost Alsace Lorraine.

Question 10

Reasons why the Prime Minister wanted a harsher punishment (3 reasons)

Answer 10

1. France made a greater sacrifice than the other two countries and had the most casualties.
2. The public had a desire for revenge against Germany.
3. Germany caused a lot of damage in France by flooding mines, destroying bridges, railways, small towns and villages.

Question 11

Clemenceau’s demands he wanted to weaken Germany

Answer 11

1. Permanently breaking up most of Germany’s army, navy and Air Force.
2. A very high level of reparations
3. The return of Alsace Lorraine to France
4. A significant portion of Germany’s colonies to be handed over to Germany
5. The Rhineland area to be formed into an independent state so that France no longer shares a common border with Germany
6. The Saar Basin to be handed to France

Question 12

President Poincaré

Answer 12

French President Poincaré wanted a harsher punishment and wanted Germany to be broken up into smaller states.

Clemenceau didn’t listen to him and went ahead with what he wanted. If he listened to the President, Germany might have not been in a position to challenge the peace of Europe 20 years later.

Question 13

What is Saar Basin and Rhineland?

Answer 13

Rhineland is a strip of German’s area near the border (the border between France and Germany)

Saar Basin is an area of Germany’s. It was rich in coal and iron,

Question 14

America’s reasons on why their desires were different to the French.
What did this therefore mean? What did Wilson do to achieve his goals?

Answer 14

1. America had not declared war on Germany until later than the rest of them and which meant that there were less casualties.
2. America was not invaded and not many American lives were lost where as France’s property was destroyed
3. The war had provided profitable trading and business opportunities for American manufacturers, merchants and financiers.
4. American civilians had a lack of desire for revenge unlike France which meant Wilson could process and think strategically without any pressure.

This therefore meant Wilson wanted to make the contract a fair and lasting peace. He thought that this could be achieved and made The Fourteen Points to ensure this.

Question 15

The Fourteen Points

Answer 15

1. No more secret treaties - signing contracts without telling other countries - could lead to misunderstandings and arguments.
2. Free navigation of the seas in peacetime and wartime - you can go anyway in the sea during wartime and normal times.
3. Removal of economic trade barriers
4. A fair settlement of colonial disputes taking into the interests of all.
5. Reduction of army for all countries and have only what is needed for basic defence.
6. German troops to leave Russia
7. Independence for Belgium
8. Return of Alsace Lorraine to France
9. Readjustment of Italian frontiers in line with nationality
10. Self determination for people of Austria-Hungary
11. Evacuation and restoration of invaded Balkan countries
12. Self determination for people in the Turkish Empire
13. Establishment of an independent Poland with access to the sea
14. Establishment of a general association of nations.

Question 16

Self determination

Answer 16

Allowing countries to decide their political future

Allowing groups such as Slovaks, Czechs, Poles to form independent states which is shown in Points 9,10,12 and 13.

Question 17

Reasons why Britain wanted a harsher punishment like France - November/ December 1918

Answer 17

1. Suffered attacks when German naval ships bombarded a number of Yorkshire coastal towns and during the Zeppelin raids.
2. Suffered heavy casualties
3. Economy had been disrupted.
4. Concerned about the security of France’s eastern frontier as if their troops had crossed than Britain would be threatened too. France’s frontier was part of Britain’s outer defence.
5. Public wanted revenge
6. He knew that if he wanted to be re-elected he had to listen to the public even if he didn’t want to. This meant that he insisted that Germany should pay for the full cost of the war.

Question 18

Lloyd George’s views from Jan 1919

Answer 18

By Jan, he had soon changed his mind. By the time he had reached the conference, he decided a more moderate peace settlement was in their interest. This was because:

1. He came to realise the future economic well being of Britain depended on the economic revival of Europe which depended on the revival of Germany’s economy. Germany was Britain’s most important customer
2. If Germany was deprived of Rhineland, where most of the industry was located, it would not be wealthy enough to buy British goods’ like before the war.
3. A very high reparations figure would also check Germany’s economic recovery and this money could be used for investment.
4. Germany would provide an inadequate barrier against the spread of communism fork the east. Communism was regarded by many as a much greater threat than the revival of German military power.
5. He was also anxious that the treaty should not be regarded as harsh by the Germans which might lead to attempts to overturn the treaty.

Question 19

Lloyd George’s impact on Clemenceau

Answer 19

Because of the previous factors, Lloyd managed to persuade Clemenceau to make a number of key compromises:

1. To abandon the idea of an independent Rhineland state
2. To abandon the idea of naming a very high figure of reparations
3. To abandon the idea that the Saar Basin should be transferred to France
4. To abandon the idea that Danzig should be handed to Poland

Question 20

The main terms of the Treaty of Versailles

Answer 20

1. War Guilt Clause (Article 231) - Germany and their allies had to accept total responsibility for starting the war.
2. Reparations - Germany had to pay £6.6bn which was decided by a Reparations Commission.
3. Disarmament - restricts Germany ability to wage war in the future:
   The German army was restricted to 100,000
   No tanks, armoured vehicles or heavy artillery was permitted
   No military or naval Air Force was permitted
   The navy was to be restricted to 6 battleships, 12 destroyers, 6 light cruisers, 12 torpedo boats and no submarines
   The Rhineland was to become a demilitarised zone
   There was to be an allied army on the West Bank of the Rhine for 15yrs.
4. Territory - Germany territory was to be taken away
   They had to lose all their colonies in Africa and Far East
   Alsace-Lorraine to be returned to France
   Eupen, Malmedy and Moresnet were to be transferred to Poland
   North Schleswig was to be transferred to Denmark
   West Prussia, Posen and parts of Upper Silesia were to be transferred to Poland
   Hultschin was to be transferred to Czeshoslovakia
   The Saar Basin was to be taken over by the League of Nations for 15 years when a plebiscite would decide whether it should belong to France or Germany or remain under League control.
   Memel was to be transferred to Lithuania
   Danzig was to become a free city and the League would look after them. Poland could use the port for its external trade
   The Treaty of Brest Litovsk was to be cancelled with Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania taken away from Germany and be set up as independent states.
   Union between Germany and Austria was forbidden.
5. The agreement of League of Nations - Germany and to agree with this even though they were not allowed to join.

Question 21

Was the Treaty of Versailles fair?

Answer 21

Fair:
1. Paying £6.6bn was justified because they caused a lot of damage

2. They should be blamed entirely for the war as they played the biggest role and caused the most damage to countries
3. Germany didn’t deserve to look after colonies after what they did during the war. The League would take care of them better
4. Stopping them uniting with Austria was good as they might start another war together
5. Saar Basin was taken away from them for 15yrs (at least not forever)
6. Rhineland becoming demilitarised was good as it protects France
7. Their army being limited was fair because then they couldn’t start another war and not gander the countries around them.
8. They weren’t invited to the League was fair because they betrayed Europe and so they need to build up that trust again.

Unfair:
1. Paying £6.6bn was excessive because they already had lost the war and was already in a bad position.

2. Germany shouldn’t be the only ones to lose their colonies as Britain and France also caused damage and they didn’t have to give up theirs.
3. They made an agreement with Austria to help each other and they had to be split up which isn’t fair on Austria as they didn’t do anything wrong.
4. When Saar Basin was taken away from them, they would lose their resources including coal which would be given to France
5. Their army being limited was not fair as then they don’t have a defence so if someone attacks they can’t do anything. Britain and France got to keep their army
6. Rhineland being demilitarised was not fair as then now they don’t babe an outer defence.
7. Not being allowed to join the League was wrong because after all they wanted peace and to exclude them was childish and wrong.

Question 22

Reactions of the Big Three to the Treaty of Versailles - France

Answer 22

Happy:
Given reparations to repair damage made
Alsace Lorraine was returned
Rhineland demilitarised- feel more secure
Gained more colonies
Germany had a loss of land, population and land

Unhappy:
Saar Basin was theirs only for 15 years
They wanted been more reparations
They wanted Germany to have complete disarmament
They wanted a greater territorial punishment (e.g. Rhineland separate state)
Wanted an alliance committing Britain and America to France’s defence.

Question 23

Reactions of the Big Three to the Treaty of Versailles - Britain

Answer 23

Happy:
Given colonies
Given reparations
Public wanted revenge and got that
Military restrictions - no submarines - not surprise attacks now as Britain is an island
Germany punished but not badly because they can still trade

Unhappy:
£6.6bn too might as they might not be able to trade
They wanted more colonies
Places were taken away and given to Poland for example and all German people had to come under the Polish or France rule.

Question 24

Reactions of the Big Three to the Treaty of Versailles - America

Answer 24

Happy:
German disarmament
Alsace Lorraine returned
Self determination was achieved
Reparations was not that much could have been worse
League of Nations was accepted and created
Rhineland not made into another state

Unhappy:
That Britain and France didn’t have to disarm
Colonies were still a thing
Reparations was still £6.6bn
Germany excluded from the League 
No free navigation of the sea

Question 25

The German reaction to the Treaty of Versailles - why they were angry

Answer 25

Rhineland demilitarised- felt vulnerable as France could attack
Loss of colonies
Banned from uniting with Austria 
Lack of self determination
Germany objected that the treaty was a diktat (something is said without discussion)
Clause 231
Loss of land - Alsace Lorraine
Deprived of resources that were needed to pay for reparations
Excluded from the League
Had to pay reparations
Disarmament - no submarines
Unfair on the public

Question 26

Political impact of the Treaty for Germany

Answer 26

When Germany went to sign Treaty, the New German government and the Weimar Government went to sign it. They had to sign because they were threatened and were under pressure. The Weimar Government became unpopular after signing the treaty. The treaty was a sign of Germany’s defeat and the Weimar Government agreed to this.

Germans were angry about this and they tried to overthrow:

Right wing politicians disapproved of their decision and supported people trying the overthrow the government
Right wing extremists carried out a number of assassinations of high ranking government ministers.
Left wing extremists groups promoted rebellions

Many members of the army were furious for agreeing to the disarmament clause and so they joined the Freikorps, an unofficial anti- communist group. When the government tried to get rid of them, they tried to snatch the government and declared a new one. They were about to collapse because of this. It survived because of a general workers strike

Question 27

Economic impact on Germany

Answer 27

When the figure was announced what they had to pay, they said they couldn’t afford it. Germany lost valuable resources and they also had to pay reparations. The war caused unemployment, poverty, homelessness and inflation (value of money goes up). These things were crises for Germany and was triggered because of the reparations issue:

1. They made their first payment in 1921 but claimed they could not pay the 1922 payment.
2. The French thought they were making it up and they took action as Belgium as an ally. In 1923, French and Belgian troops went to Ruhr, their most valuable industrial area, and their plan was to seize resources to pay for what they couldn’t pay.
3. They couldn’t form an army to fight back and so ordered Ruhr’s population to go on a peaceful strike and no help them.
4. The French then expelled more than 100,000 Germans who lived in Ruhr and killed over 130.
5. The Germans now had to spend more money to feed Ruhr’s populations and build new houses. The population decreased which meant less people were paying taxes.
6. Because they ran out of money, they started printing money. This stoked inflation which turned into hyperinflation (the rate of money went up quickly). People with savings had lost their savings because they had to spend more. Bartering became popular which meant eggs and sugar became a form of currency.
7. A new chancellor came in called Gustav Stresemann and introduced a new currency, the Rentemark. This resolved all financial issues and agreed to resume paying reparations.

Question 28

The Treaty of Saint Germain- Austria - 1919

Answer 28

The Austro Hungarian Empire was huge before the war but it collapsed after the war and was cut up into lots of different territories. As a result of this, Austria and Hungary were now two separate countries. Austria suffered severe economic problems as much of its best industry had to gone Czechoslovakia.

Examples of territory lost by Austria was given to Italy such as the town of Trieste and Czechoslovakia.

The following restrictions were made against Austria by other representatives of Britain, France and USA:

1. An union with Germany was forbidden
2. Austria and Hungary were separated as two countries
3. Their army was limited to 30,000 ,em
4. Their army was restricted to three police boats on the Danube
5. They had to pay reparations
6. Austria was reduced to a quarter of their previous area
7. Austria now contained a fifth of their previous population

Question 29

The Treaty of Trianon - Hungary - 1920

Answer 29

Hungary was now an independent country

Examples of territory lost was given to countries such as Romania and Czechoslovakia

They had to:
Pay reparations
Military restrictions
Reduced to a landlocked state (they didn’t have access to the sea because they were not longer near the sea) as Slovenia and Croatia took over their coastal regions.
Their population fell from 21m to 8m in 6 yrs.

Question 30

The Treaty of Neuilly- Bulgaria - 1919

Answer 30

Many citizens of Bulgaria found themselves living in new countries and were no longer citizens of Bulgaria after territorial changes.

Examples of lost territory was given to Greece, Yugoslavia and Romania for example.

They also had to:
Limit its army to 20,000
Pay £100m in reparations

Question 31

The Treaty of Sévres - Turkey - 1920

Answer 31

Turkey was a large empire called the Ottoman Empire and as a result being on the losing side of the war, the empire was broken up into smaller parts, in which Turkey was the biggest. Other areas controlled by the Ottoman Empire was either taken over by Britain and France or given independence.

Examples of territory lost were given to Greece, Italy.

Palestine and Iraq were given to Britain and Syria and Lebanon was given to France. The rest Arab states were made into independent states but only a few could maintain this.

This treaty led to outrage in Turkey. There was an armed uprising by a nationalist movement under Mustapha Kemal who rejected the treaty. He fought with countries like Greece for 3 years and led to a new agreement with Turkey at the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923.

Question 32

The Treaty of Lausanne - Turkey - 1923

Answer 32

In this treaty:
Greece returned the land Turkey lost in the Treaty of Sevrés.
Turkey agreed to give up all its other claims to the other lands they had lost.
The Allies then recognised Turkey’s new borders as of 1923.
Restrictions on armed forces were removed
Turkey no longer had to pay reparations