Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations (Video Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, definitions, and concepts from the notes on the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations.

War guilt clause (Article 231)

Clause in the Treaty of Versailles declaring Germany and its allies bore the full responsibility for starting World War I.

Reparations

Payments for war damages imposed on Germany; fixed at £6,600 million in 1920.

Military restrictions

Germany’s armed forces were limited (Army 100,000; conscription banned; no air force, submarines, or tanks; Navy limited; few vessels).

Rhineland demilitarisation

Rhineland designated a demilitarised zone; Allied troops occupied it for 15 years (until 1934).

Alsace-Lorraine

Territory returned to France as part of postwar territorial settlements.

Polish Corridor

Land given to Poland to provide a route to the sea, separating East Prussia from Germany.

Saar (coal region)

Coal-rich area placed under Allied control for 15 years, with a plebiscite after to decide sovereignty.

Anschluss prohibition

Germany was not allowed to unite politically with Austria (no anschluss).

Colonies loss

Germany’s overseas colonies were controlled and administered by the Allies.

Self-determination

Principle that peoples should determine their own political status; Germans felt it was not applied equally to them.

Diktat

Term used by Germans meaning a dictated peace; viewed Versailles as imposed rather than negotiated.

Brest-Litovsk

Russia’s separate peace with Germany earlier in 1918 was cited to argue Germany obtained harsher terms in Versailles.

League of Nations

International organization created to maintain peace, security, and cooperation among nations.

Aims: collective security

All member states would defend each other against aggression to prevent war.

Aims: disarmament

Global reduction of military armaments and capabilities.

Aims: dispute resolution

Platform (General Assembly, Court of Justice) to settle disputes peacefully.

Aims: international law

Development and registry of international treaties to ensure transparency and fairness.

Aims: open diplomacy

Encouraged openness and cooperation among nations to maintain peace.

Disarmament Conference (1932)

Germany sought parity in disarmament; France refused; Hitler withdrew and began rearming.

Aland Islands decision (1921)

League awarded the Åland Islands to Finland; Sweden accepted the decision.

Upper Silesia plebiscite (1921)

Plebiscite supervised by the League divided Upper Silesia between Germany and Poland; both sides accepted the result.

Greece–Bulgaria dispute (1925)

League demanded Greece withdraw from Bulgaria; Greece complied, resolving the dispute.

Corfu Crisis (1923)

Italy occupied the Greek island of Corfu; League could not enforce withdrawal, showing its weakness.

Ruhr occupation (1923)

France and Belgium occupied the Ruhr due to reparations dispute; the League failed to act effectively.

USA absence

The United States Senate refused to join the League, weakening its power and credibility.

League’s weakness (no standing army)

Without US support and a lack of willingness from members to contribute troops, enforcement was limited.