Was the Treaty of Versailles fair?

Question 1

(a) What did Wilson hope to achieve from the peace settlement of 1919–20? [4]

Answer 1

• Wilson did not want Germany treated harshly because he thought that if Germany was punished severely then, in the future, Germany would want revenge.’
• ‘He wanted to strengthen democracy in the defeated nations so that its people would not let its leaders cause another war.’
• ‘Wilson hoped that nations would co-operate to achieve world peace and in his 14th Point he proposed the setting up of an international body called the League of Nations.’
• ‘Wilson believed in ‘self-determination’ and he wanted the different peoples of Eastern Europe to rule themselves rather than be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.’

Question 2

(a) What military restrictions did the Treaty of Versailles impose on Germany? [4]

Answer 2

• ‘‘The army was limited to 100 000 men.’
• ‘Conscription was banned.’
• ‘Germany was not allowed tanks/armoured vehicles.’
• ‘It was not allowed submarines.’
• ‘It was banned from having (military) aircraft.’ And heavy artillery
• ‘The navy could build only six battleships.’
• ‘The navy was allowed only 15 000 sailors.’
• ‘The Rhineland became a demilitarised zone.’ And no German troops or fortifications were allowed in the area.

Question 3

(a) What did Lloyd George want to achieve from the peace settlement of 1919-20? [4]

Answer 3

Lloyd George wanted a just and firm peace.’
* ‘Lloyd George wanted a less harsh treaty than the French.’
* ‘He wanted a peace which avoided Germany seeking revenge.’
* ‘He wanted to achieve a settlement which satisfied the British people.’
* ‘Lloyd George wanted a share of Germany’s colonies.’
* ‘He wanted Germany’s war-making potential reduced.’
* ‘He wanted a European economic recovery.’
* ‘He wanted the German economy to recover so that Britain could benefit from trading with Germany.’
* ‘He wanted to reduce the threat of the spread of communism from Russia.’
* ‘He wanted to maintain the power of the British navy to protect British colonies.’
* ‘Lloyd George wanted to persuade Clemenceau to make key concessions.’
* ‘He did not want France to become the dominant power in Europe.’
* ‘Lloyd George wanted a justifiable amount of reparations.’

Question 4

(a) In what ways did the Treaty of Versailles weaken the German economy? [4]

Answer 4

Germany had to accept full blame for starting the war and, therefore, had to pay
* reparations of £6 600 million.’
* ‘A reduction in the number of armed forces increased unemployment.’
* ‘Germany lost 16% of its coalfields.’
* ‘Germany lost almost half of its iron and steel industry.’
* ‘Upper Silesia was given to Poland. Upper Silesia had a rich iron and steel industry.’
* ‘Germany had to accept full blame for starting the war and, therefore, had to pay
reparations of £6,600 million.’
* ‘A reduction in the numbers in the armed forces increased unemployment.’
* ‘The Saar and Upper Silesia were lost. These were important industrial areas.’

Question 5

(a) What were Germany’s main territorial losses under the Treaty of Versailles? [4]

Answer 5

They lost the Saar.’
* ‘Danzig was made a free city under the League of Nations.’
* ‘The ‘Polish Corridor’ split East Prussia from Germany.’
* ‘The Saar was put under League of Nations control for 15 years.’
‘The Rhineland was to be occupied by the Allies for 15 years.’
‘Germany gave up West Prussia, Posen and Upper Silesia.’
‘Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France.’
* ‘Eupen, Malmédy, and Moresnet were transferred to Belgium
* ‘Memel was taken under League of Nations control.’
* ‘Germany lost all its colonies in Africa and the Far East to the victorious powers who were to administer them as mandated territories on behalf of the League of Nations.
On the northern frontier North Schleswig was transferred to Denmark
With the cancellation of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were taken away from Germany and set up as independent states.

Question 6

(a) What was decided about the Saar in the Treaty of Versailles? [4]

Answer 6

• ‘It would be taken away from Germany.’
• ‘It would be administered by the League of Nations.’
• ‘This would be for fifteen years.’
• ‘After that time, a plebiscite would be held.’
• ‘The plebiscite would decide whether it should go to France, Germany or remain under League control.’
• ‘During the fifteen years, France would have control over the Saar’s coalmines.’

Question 7

(a) What did Lloyd-George want to achieve for Britain from the Paris Peace Conference negotiations? [4]

Answer 7

• ‘Lloyd George wanted a just and firm peace.’
• ‘Lloyd George wanted a less harsh treaty than the French.’
• ‘He wanted a peace which avoided Germany seeking revenge.’
• ‘He wanted to achieve a settlement which satisfied the British people.’
• ‘Lloyd George wanted a share of Germany’s colonies.’
• ‘He wanted Germany’s war-making potential reduced.’
• ‘He wanted a European economic recovery.’
• ‘He wanted the German economy to recover so that Britain could benefit from trading with Germany.’ ‘He wanted to reduce the threat of the spread of communism from Russia.’
• ‘He wanted to maintain the power of the British navy to protect British colonies.’
• ‘Lloyd George wanted to persuade Clemenceau to make key concessions.’
• ‘He did not want France to become the dominant power in Europe.’
• ‘Lloyd George wanted a justifiable amount of reparations.’

Question 8

(a) How was the Paris Peace Conference organised? [4]

Answer 8

• ‘It lasted for twelve months from January 1919 to January 1920.’
• ‘Thirty-two nations were supposed to be represented.’
• ‘It was a Conference for the victors. The defeated nations were not invited.’
• ‘It was under the chairmanship of Georges Clemenceau.’
• ‘There was a Council of Ten with two members from the five leading countries. These were
• the USA, Britain, France, Italy and Japan.’
• ‘The important decisions were taken by the ‘Big Three’, the USA, Britain and France.’
• ‘There were many diplomats and advisers to support the heads of state.’
• ‘There were over fifty commissions set up to advise on such topics as prisoners of war, who
• was responsible for war and undersea cables.’
• ‘The ‘Big Three’ met informally over one hundred and forty times to determine what would
• happen and then the rest would ratify what had been agreed.’
• ‘It was agreed that five treaties would be drawn up at the Conference.’

Question 9

(a) What were the plebiscites in the peace settlement of 1919-20? [4]

Answer 9

• ‘A plebiscite was a vote/referendum on a single issue.’
• ‘Plebiscites were held after 1918 in areas of uncertain nationality.’
• ‘It was to establish which country the populations wished to be governed by.’
• ‘In a plebiscite, Northern Schleswig voted to join Denmark.’
• ‘In a plebiscite, Central Schleswig voted to remain in Germany.’
• ‘The Saar Basin was to be administered by the League for 15 years when a vote would be held.’
• ‘The plebiscite would decide whether the Saar should go to Germany, France or remain under League control.’

Question 10

In what ways did the Treaty of Versailles restrict Germany’s ability to fight a war in the future? [4]

Question 11

(a) What land did Germany lose in the Treaty of Versailles? [4]

Answer 11

• e.g. ‘Alsace-Lorraine.’
• ‘The Saarland was handed over to the League of Nations for 15 years.’
• ‘Germany lost the city of Danzig.’
• ‘Posen and the Polish corridor were given to Poland.’
• ‘All German colonies were taken.’
• ‘Eupen and Malmedy were given to Belgium.’
• ‘Parts of Schleswig were given to Denmark.’
• ‘Germany lost Memel.’
• ‘Czechoslovakia was given the Hultschin district.’
• Upper Silesia.
• West Prussia, Posen, Polish Corridor.
• Memel.
• Danzig.
• North Schleswig.
• Alsace-Lorraine.
• Saarland.
• Eupen, Malmedy, Moresnet.
• Hultschin.
• Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.
• Overseas colonies