Conflict and Tension - Treaty of Versailles Flashcards
What did Germany sign in November 1918?
In November 1918, Germany had signed a cease-fire. It was called ‘the Armistice’.
Who and/or what were the ‘Big Three’?
The ‘Big Three’ refers to the leaders of the Three most powerful and influential Allied Nations.
Great Britain, America and France were the three most powerful Allies and they wanted to exert their influence upon the Treaty of Versailles. They were led by Georges Clemenceau (Prime Minister of France), David Lloyd George (Prime Minister of Britain), Woodrow Wilson (President of the USA)
True or False:
Clemenceu was the most MODERATE of the Big Three
FALSE!!!
He was the most EXTREME
He wantedrevenge, and topunishthe Germans for what they had done.
He wanted tomake Germany payfor the damage done during the war.
He also wanted toweakenGermany, so France would never be invaded again
True or False:
Wilson was the most MODERATE of the Big Three
TRUE!!!
Wilson was by far the most moderate:
He wanted to make the world safe. He wanted to end war by making a fair peace.
In 1918, Wilson published ‘Fourteen Points’ saying what he wanted.
He said that he wanted disarmament, and a League of Nations (where countries could talk out their problems, without war).
He also promised self-determination for the peoples of Eastern Europe.
What did they decide at Versailles? What does Gargle have to do with Versailles?
The Terms of the Treaty (GARGLE)
Guilt - clause 231, Germany accepted blame ‘for causing all the loss and damage’ of the war.
Armed forces - army: 100,000 - conscription banned - no submarines - no aeroplanes - 6 battleships - Rhineland de-militarised Reparations - £6,600 million – in instalments, until 1984
Germany lost land – including Colonies to Britain
League of Nations – Creation of League of Nations for International co-operation and diplomacy
Extra points - forbade Anschluss (union of Austria with Germany)
- Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania independent states.
What was the German Reaction to the Treaty?
German reaction to the Treaty (U BRAT)
Unfair – Germany thought it was unfair that they were not represented at the Treaty so they had to accept a harsh Treaty without any choice or even a comment. It was also an insult that they were not allowed to join the League of Nations.
Blame – Germany thought that the war guilt should be shared.
Reparations – Germany was crippled by the reparations, the country was already practically economically destroyed after the war and people could not even afford to buy food.
Armed forces - With such small armed forces Germany would be unable to defend themselves if they were attacked and German pride in the army was also hurt.
Territory – Loss of so much German territory was a blow to their pride. The loss of industrial areas such as the Saar (coalfields) also damaged the economy.
Why was article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles so important?
Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, known as the War Guilt Clause, was a statement that Germany was responsible for beginning World War I. It reads as follows:
“The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.”
It was bitterly resented, however, by virtually all Germans who did not believe they were responsible for the outbreak of the war.
When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?
On June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris, France.
The treaty was one of several that officially ended five years of conflict known as the Great War—World War I. The Treaty of Versailles outlined the conditions of peace between Germany and the victorious Allies, led by the United States, France, and the United Kingdom.
Other Central Powers (significantly, Austria-Hungary) signed different treaties with the Allies.
Why did France want Alsace- Lorraine?
Won from France in 1871 initially Germany mainly wanted Alsace-Lorraine to act as a buffer zone in the event of any future wars with France. The area contains the Vosges Mountains, which would be much more defensible than the Rhine River if the French ever attempted to invade.
This was the EXACT reason France demanded this territory back - to give them an advantage in any Future Wars as well as to humiliate Germany and regain their own National Pride after their 1871 defeat.
True or False:
When asked how he thought he had done at the Versailles Conference, Lloyd George replied:
“Not badly, considering I was seated between Jesus Christ and Napoleon.”
TRUE!
This was of course a joke and a metaphor- he was referring to Woodrow Wilson as ‘Jesus Christ’ - meaning he saw himself as a peacemaker and ‘force for good’ and Clemenceu (The Tiger) as Napoleon - meaning he was only interested in France, expansion of its Power and removing any future chance at threat from Germany.
