history versailles core content

Alsace-Lorraine

Region on the border between France and Germany; taken by Germany from France after the Franco-Prussian War in 1871; given back to France in the Versailles Settlement

Anschluss

Political union/alliance between Austria and Germany; banned in the Versailles Settlement

Armistice

11 November 1918; brought the First World War to an end

Big Three

Phrase used to describe the leaders of France, Great Britain and the USA during the post-WWI peace negotiations

Georges Clemenceau

Leader of France during the post-WWI peace negotiations; sought revenge, security, reparations

Conscription

Forced participation in a country's military for a certain number of years; banned in Germany in the Versailles Settlement

Danzig

City taken from Germany in the Versailles Settlement to become a 'Free City'

Disarmament

Following the Versailles Settlement, Germany was only allowed 100,000 soldiers, six battleships, no heavy artillery, no submarines, no air force, and no conscription

Diktat

Term used to describe the fact Germany had no option but to accept the terms of the Versailles Settlement

Fourteen Points

January 1918; statement of principles of peace that was sought by USA President Woodrow Wilson in the post-WWI peace settlements

League of Nations

Organisation established in the Versailles Settlement; idea of Woodrow Wilson; sought to bring all states in the world as a world parliament

David Lloyd George

Leader of Great Britain during the post-WWI peace negotiations; sought to protect the British Empire, protect trade, limit threat of communism

Mandate

Term used to describe the process of the League of Nations taking control of Germany's former colonies (e.g. the Cameroons) and allowing Great Britain, France and Japan to govern them on the League's behalf

Polish Corridor

Composed of West Prussia, Posen and parts of Upper Silesia; given to Poland from Germany in the Versailles Settlement

Reparations

Article 232; Germany forced to pay £6,600 million to the Allies (mainly France and Belgium) in yearly instalments

Rhineland

Region on border between France and Germany; after the Versailles Settlement it remained part of Germany but became a demilitarised zone with an Allied military occupation for 15 years

Russian Revolution

1917; victory for the communists

Saar

Industrial region of Germany; the Versailles Settlement stated that its mining profits were to be given to France for 15 years

Self-determination

Establishment of nation-states rather than great empires; ambition of Woodrow Wilson during the post-WWI peace negotiations

Treaty of Versailles

June 1919; treaty that dealt with Germany following the First World War

War Guilt Clause

Article 231; Germany forced to accept guilt for the First World War

Woodrow Wilson

Leader of the USA during the post-WWI peace negotiations; sought the Fourteen Points, disarmament, self-determination, "fair and lasting peace"