Treaty of Versailles 1919

Question 1

What do Germany feel about the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 1

Germany see it as unfair

Question 2

How many nation representatives attended?

Answer 2

27

Question 3

How did Britain, USA and France feel about the Treaty?

Answer 3

They all wanted different things

Question 4

What is happening in Berlin at this time?

Answer 4

killing of communist revolts and uprisings

Question 5

What is the ‘Polish Corridor’?

Answer 5

Strip of Land given to newly independant Poland- Germany split into 2 by ‘Polish corridor’, East Prussia split into 2.

Question 6

What impact did the Treaty have on the German military?

Answer 6

• Rhineland was demilitarised
  
  • No longer allowed to have a Germany-Austrian military agreement
  • Military reduced to 100,000 men (small)
  • No aircraft, no submarines, no tanks

Question 6

Under the treaty, what land is given to the French?

Answer 6

Alsace Lorraine given back as French Territory
- French have right to mine in German Saar region for 15 years

Question 7

What is Article 231?

Answer 7

• Article 231 (war guilt clause): Germany has to accept the war was their fault.

Question 8

Who did Germany have to pay reparations to?

Answer 8

• Germany liable to pay for physical damage (most going TO Belgium and France)
  
  • PayIng for war pensions (reparations mainly for Britain)

Question 8

How did the German people show they blamed the government for signing the treaty?

Answer 8

• March 1920- attempted takeover of Berlin
  
  • Political extremism on the rise

Question 8

What did France want from the Treaty of Versailles 1919?

Answer 8

France wanted Carthaginian Peace
Wants to ensure Germany cannot start another war

Question 9

How much reparations did Germany pay and how did they pay them?

Answer 9

Reparations Bill= £6,600 million
- Paid in goods and money (ie industrial materials, steel, coal)
- More debt adding to all their other debt-> hyperinflation of the German currency

Question 10

What did the USA want from the Treaty of Versailles 1919?

Answer 10

USA wants Wilson’s 14 points adopted. Germany wants peace on these terms

Question 11

What did Britain want from the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 11

Britain concerned with maintaining Germany as a trading partner

Question 12

How did the German government at the time feel about the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 12

Terms of treaty were not in line with conditions which upon Germany laid down arms. Schiedemann’s (chancellor, SPD) government horrified by terms and resigned 20th June rather than accept treaty

Question 13

Who was the new government after Schiedemann’s resignation and how did they feel about the Treaty?

Answer 13

New government led by Chancellor Gustav Bauer (SPD). They and Parliament in Weimar accepted they had no choice but to sign, signed 28th June 1919

Question 14

Who were the 4 main leaders that influenced the treaty?

Answer 14

• Most work was done by council of 4 government leaders- President Wilson (USA), French PM Clemenceau, PM David Lloyd George (Britain), Italian PM Orlando

Question 15

How were the Allied nations passionate about the treaty due to their experiences of total war?

Answer 15

December 1918, Lloyd George won the election on an Anti-German, nationalistic platform. French determined to exact revenge + remove Germans from Rhineland so threat of further German invasion was ended
Britain + France pointed out that the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Russia, March 1918 showed German harshness in peacemaking + their assumption that a defeated enemy paid the cost of the war-> Allied economic naval blockade of Germany continued until the peace treaty was signed

Question 16

What was the treaty created in fear of?

Answer 16

• Fear of communism spreading from Bolshevik Russia

Question 17

What were some key points from Wilson’s 14 points?

Answer 17

• Every nation or people had the right to govern themselves rather than be ruled by another country
  Examples of some points include
  
  • Wanted the creation of Independant Poland + state to have secure access to the sea
  • Autonomy for the peoples of Austria-Hungary
  • Evacuation + Restoration of French territory + return of Alsace Lorraine to France
  • Evacuation + Restoration of Belgium

Question 18

What was the effect on Germany of the Treaty?

Answer 18

• Lost 13% of territory
  
  • Lost 12% of population (6.5 million), half of whom were ethnic Germans. 1.5 million Germans became part of the new Polish state
  • Lost 48% of its iron ore, 16% of coal, 15% of agricultural production

Question 18

What happened in October 1918 in terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 18

German government seeks armistice on basis of Wilson’s 14 points. Britain + France broadly accept but stipulate there should be compensation for damages to the civilian population

Question 18

What happened in January 1919 in terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 18

Peace conference begins, Germany not invited

Question 19

What happened on the 7th May 1919 in terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 19

Terms formally presented, Germany allowed 15 days (later extended to 21) for observations

Question 20

What happened on the 29th May 1919 in terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 20

German counter-proposals only lead to minor changes

Question 21

What happened on the 16th June 1919 in terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 21

Germany presented with final terms, acceptance required in 7 days. German government discusses possibility of renewed fighting. Hindenburg says success is impossible but favours heroic defeat

Question 22

What happened on the 20th June 1919 in terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 22

Chancellor Scheidemann resigns rather than signs terms. President Ebert persuaded not to resign

Question 23

What happened on 22nd June 1919 in terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 23

Constituent Assembly accepts terms 237 to 138

Question 24

What happened on the 28th June 1919 in terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 24

Foreign Minister Muller signs treaty. 19 minutes before deadline, German fleet is scuttled at Scapa Flow

Question 25

What was in the Treaty of Versailles about Disarmament?

Answer 25

Section V - Abolition of conscription + reduction of military to 100,000 men. No tanks or military aircraft allowed - Navi limited to 6 battleships, 6 cruisers, 12 destroyers, 12 torpedo boats. No Submarines allowed

Question 26

What was in the Treaty of Versailles about War guilt?

Answer 26

Reparations in article 231 - Confirmed to the Allied governments that Germany takes responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all loss and damage to the Allied Governments

Question 27

What were the estimated costs of war for France?

Answer 27

1.3 million dead, 4 million wounded, 300,000 buildings destroyed, 21,000 km2 farmland destroyed

Question 28

What were the estimated costs of war for the British Empire?

Answer 28

1 million dead, 2 million wounded

Question 29

What were the estimated costs of war for Germany?

Answer 29

2 million dead, 6.3 million wounded

Question 30

What was the overall financial cost for the Allies?

Answer 30

£29,000 MILLION

Question 31

What was the overall financial cost for Germany?

Answer 31

£8,500 million

Question 32

What happened in the Rhineland as a result of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 32

- Under the Treaty of Versailles, the area either side of the river Rhine was demilitarised (stated to be permenant) - The 4 Allied powers occupied the West Bank to ensure Germany's compliance (expected to last 15 years) - From 1924 troops were withdrawn

Question 33

What was the 1925 Locarno Pact?

Answer 33

- Germany voluntarily accepted the Western Borders, including permenant demilitarisation - France agreed not to invade unilaterally as she had done in 1923 - Allies withdrew their last troops in 1930

Question 34

What happened in the Ruhr as a result of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 34

- France and Belgium extended occupation into Ruhr Region in 1921 and for a year in 1923 in reaction to Germany's technical infringement of reparation payments - French invasion provoked crisis in Germany