Impact of the Treaty of Versailles

Who was Woodrow Wilson?

President of the USA.

How was Woodrow Wilson typically portrayed?

As an idealist, as he had a strong religious background.

Initially, he had been an academic but was drawn into politics when he had campaigned against corruption.

What was Woodrow Wilson’s view on the USA’s entry to war?

At first he opposed.

Once he had declared war in Germany in April 1917 he drew up the 14 points in hope of creating a more just world.

When did Woodrow Wilson declare war in Germany?

April 1917

Give 2 of Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points that hoped to create a more just world.

• To reduce armaments (military weapons)

• To apply principle of self-determination (right to choose your own political, economic and cultural status).

Who was George Clemenceau?

The Prime minister of France.

What was Clemenceau’s views?

An uncompromising French nationalist. Germany had invaded France twice in his lifetime and he was deeply influenced by the devastation from the world war in Northern France.

What motivated Clemenceau after the war?

Motivated by revenge and was determined to gain financial compensation and to satisfy France’s security concerns.

What did Clemenceau aim to do?

• annex the Rhineland and to create a ‘buffer state’.

• to impose major disarmament on Germany.

• to impose heavy reparations on Germany in order to weaken it and to get compensation for damage of war.

Who was David Lloyd George?

Prime Minister of Britain.

What was David Lloyd George?

A pragmatist. Keen to uphold British nationalist interests, though initially he played on the idea of revenge. 

What did Lloyd George recognise?

That there needed to be a compromise. He saw the need to restrain Clemenceau’s revenge.

What did Lloyd George aim to do?

• Guarantee British military security, especially to secure naval supremacy.

• To keep communism at bay.

• To limit French demands because he feared that excessively weakening Germany would have serious economic consequences for the European economy.

What territorial requirements were included in the Treaty of Versailles?

• Saar was coal rich. Given to the League of Nations for 15 years.

• Alsace Lorraine was returned to French provinces.

• North Schleswig subject to plebiscite, Germany to hand over to Denmark.

What military requirements were included in the Treaty of Versailles?

• German army restricted to 100,000 men.

• Navy - 6 battleships, 6 cruisers, 12 destroyers. No submarines.

• No airforce allowed.

• Rhineland demilitarised.

• Conscription abolished.

What economic requirements were included in the Treaty of Versailles?

• Would have to pay 132 billion gold marks in reparations.

• Not allowed to join League of Nations.

• Germany to make substantial payments in kind, for example, timber. 

What was the War Guilt clause?

Germany had to sign this clause. Said they had to take responsibility for losses caused.

Justified punishing Germany.

What did the government hope would happen given the position of Germany at the end of the war?

Hoped that it would be able to negotiate a moderate peace so that it would be able to recover its strength.

Did Germany want to pay reparations?

No, not even the cost of damage in Northern France and Belgium, but it was willing to give up Alsace Lorraine and some land in Poland.

What did Germany expect from Austria and other German speaking regions?

That they would be able to join Germany. Germany expected to join the League of Nations and become a great power.

How much of its land did the Treaty of Versailles meant they lost?

10% of its land.

How much of its population did the Treaty of Versailles meant Germany lost?

12.5% of population.

How much of its coal and iron industry had Germany lost due to Treaty?

Coal - 16%

Iron - 48%

Where did they lose lands beside the Saar and Alsace Lorraine?

• Upper Silesia.

• West Prussia and Posen.

• The Rhineland, which was to be occupied by Allied forces for 15 years.

How many men was their navy reduce to?

15,000 men.

What happened to their General Staff?

General Staff was disbanded.

What did the unknown amounts of damage mean was established?

The establishment of the Reparations Commission to investigate how much Germany could afford.

Commission did not report until 1921.

Why has the ability of Germany to pay 132 gold marks caused debate?

Germany claimed it could not afford to pay, while historians have argued that it could, and the demands were less than it gave to Russia at the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

Why did Germany have little choice but to sign the treaty?

• The naval blockade was still in force.

• Allies were in the Rhineland, ready to invade.

What made it harder for Germany to pay reparations?

Seizure of industrial lands and loss of colonies.

What did many Germans live under?

Allied ocupation, while others were forced to live in other countries, such as Poland.

How did Germans feel about the treaty?

They disapproved. The government lost support by signing it; and it created long-term bitterness.

Why was the treaty not as harsh as it appears?

German views that they had not lost the war meant that no matter what treaty had been signed there would have been opposition.

Creation of new, smaller states in Central Europe also meant that Germany was still the strongest power there, and as Gustav Stresemann would show, it could soon recover.