treaty of versailles

Question 1

how did WW1 end?

Answer 1

Germany agreed to sign an armistice (a temporary peace agreement). however, they were not invited to the Paris Peace Conference, where victorious powers gathered to decide on the terms of the ToV

Question 2

impact of WW1 on countries

Answer 2

POLITICAL
- fall of empires, pacifist governments, creation of new nation states and territorial boundaries

ECONOMIC
- debt (rebuild infrastructure, compensations, and pensions)
- unemployment

SOCIAL
- many loss of lives

Question 3

intent of tov for britain?

Answer 3

• didn’t want to punish Germany so severely
• however, he promised Britain that he would make Germany pay ( 6,600 million pounds in reparations)
  ~PROTECT BRITISH INTEREST

Question 4

intent of tov for france?

Answer 4

• wanted HARSH PUNISHMENT to deter further German aggression
• cripple Germany of power and create buffer zones between germany and france (Rhineland)

~wanted revenge for fr, and protect fr from future attacks from germany

Question 5

intent of tov for the USA?

Answer 5

• germany to be punished not too severely
• wanted to create a league of nations ( USA not in it due to their policy of isolationism)
• supported the idea of self determination where ppl could choose their own govts and boundaries of their country

~wanted a fair peace treaty that caused the LEAST RESENTMENT

Question 6

military terms of tov

Answer 6

disarmament:
- German army was reduced to 100,000 men, and conscription was not allowed, 15,00 navy men and limited to 6 battleships and a few smaller ships
- Rhineland was to be demilitarized

-Germans could not adequately defend themselves
- they were not able to start a war with its neighbouring countries
- HUMILIATION: no other country was forced to demilitarise to such an extent

Question 7

prevent strengthening of germany

Answer 7

article 231 of the war guilt clause states that Germany was to bear complete responsibility for the war and thus had to pay 6,600 million pounds

~ hatred for the Weimar: the germans felt that by signing this disgraceful treaty, the Weimar had “stabbed them in the back”/ felt betrayed
~ hyperinflation(NEVER INTENDED TO CAUSE THIS): Weimar govt decided to print more money without having a corresponding increase in goods and services so that they could pay back the reparations and debts that they owed. However, money became worthless as it could not be used to buy more goods and services. therefore, there was a sharp increase in prices as people were unable to afford daily necessities

Question 8

preventing the unification of Germany

Answer 8

Germany had to give up Alsace-Lorraine to France, Saar Coalfields(LoN) and the Port of Danzig etc. They were also not allowed merge with Austria-Hungary, and they were to give up all of their overseas colonies

~weakened Germany as they lost a war ally,and it greatly reduced Germany’s standing among world powers