Versailles for optimal memorisation Flashcards
(20 cards)
When and where was the Treaty of Versailles signed?
June 28, 1919, at the Palace of Versailles near Paris.
What was the main purpose of the Treaty of Versailles?
To punish Germany for starting WWI and prevent future German aggression.
Who were the ‘Big Four’ negotiators at Versailles?
The United States, Britain, France, and Italy.
How much territory and population did Germany lose under Versailles?
About 13% of territory and 10% of population.
Name three major territorial changes imposed on Germany by the treaty.
Alsace-Lorraine returned to France; Saarland under League control until 1935; Eupen-Malmédy given to Belgium.
What was the Polish Corridor?
Territory given to Poland that separated East Prussia from the rest of Germany.
What happened to Germany’s overseas colonies?
Taken by the Allies as League of Nations mandates, mainly given to Britain, France, Japan, Belgium, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
What military restrictions were placed on Germany?
Army limited to 100,000 soldiers with no conscription; no tanks or air force; navy limited to 6 battleships; Rhineland demilitarized.
What was Article 231, the ‘War Guilt Clause’?
It placed full responsibility for WWI on Germany and its allies, justifying reparations.
How much were Germany’s reparations set at?
132 billion gold marks (about $33 billion), a huge economic burden.
What were the economic effects of reparations on Germany?
Hyperinflation, economic crises in the 1920s, occupation of Ruhr in 1923, loss of 48% iron and 16% coal industries.
How did the Treaty affect Germany politically?
Created resentment, undermined the Weimar Republic, fueled extremist groups like the Nazi Party & the Freikorps & Spartacists -> freikorps killed rosa luxumburg lol
When did the Nazis become the largest party in the Reichstag?
July 1932, with 38% of the vote.
What was the social impact of the Treaty on Germany?
National humiliation, loss of pride, social unrest, unemployment, and political polarization.
What international organization was created by the Treaty?
The League of Nations, aimed at preventing future conflicts.
Why did the League of Nations have limited effectiveness?
The U.S. never joined; it lacked military power; Allied powers disagreed on enforcement.
What was the long-term consequence of the Treaty of Versailles?
It failed to secure lasting peace and contributed to the outbreak of WWII in 1939.
What was the Dawes Plan (1924) and Young Plan (1929)?
Revisions to reparations payments to ease Germany’s economic burden and stabilize its economy.
What was the status of the Saarland after Versailles?
Administered by the League of Nations until 1935; coal mines given to France.
What happened to the Rhineland under the Treaty?
It was demilitarized and occupied by Allied forces as a buffer zone.
