WW1 & treaty of versailles flashcards

When did World War I end?

World War I ended on 11 November 1918 when Germany signed an armistice, and fighting stopped at 11am, a day now known as Armistice Day.

Why did Germany surrender?

They were :Losing the war, having Food shortages, Strikes across Germany, Kiel Mutiny (sailors rebelled) And their Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated

What was the Kiel Mutiny?

An event on october 1918, german sailors refused orders, spreading strikes and protest

What was the Weimar Republic?

The new german government, formed after kasier abdicated, lead by fredrich ebert and they signed the armistice

What was the Treaty of Versailles?

A peace treaty ending WW1, signed on 28 june 1919, negotiated at Versailles paris, germany had to accept its terms

Why germans were angry about the treaty?

Because they were not invited to the negotiations, though terms were unfair, felt humiliated and expected wilson’s 14 points

Who were the big three

Georges Clemenceau (france)

David Lloyd George (britain)

Woodrow Wilson (USA)

What did clemenceau want?

MAKE GERMANY PAY

Punish germany harshly, wanted reparations, reduced german military, return alsace-lorraine.

What did Wilson want?

Peace not punishment

Lasting peace,14 points, self-determination, disarmament, league of nations, strong germany for trade

What did Lloyd george want?

Middle ground

Fair compromise, punish germany moderately, keeping germany strong enough to trade, reduce german navy and satisfy british public

What was the war guilt clause?

Germany accepted full blame for ww1

Article 231

What were the reparations?

Germany had to pay £6.6 billion

Compensation for war damage

What territorial losses did germany suffer?

alsace-lorraine returned to france, lost overseas colonies, anschluss with austria banned

What military restrictions were placed on Germany?

Army was limited to 100,000 soldiers, no tanks, no airforce, only 6 battleships and rhineland demilitarised.

What was the legue of nations?

Wilson’s idea of international organisation and aimed to prevent future wars.

How did Germans react to the treaty?

Called weimar government november criminals, claimed army was stabbed in the back, hated treaty and felt betrayed and humiliated.

Compare the aims of the big three

Clemenceau: harsh punishment

Wilson: soft peace

Lloyd George: moderate comprimise